Alzheimer's Disease
The disease called Alzheimer’s is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States (Weiner, 1987). It is estimated that the elderly population will double between now and 2030. During this period, the number of elderly will grow by an average of 2.8% annually (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001). By 2050, the number of people with Alzheimer’s is estimated to range from 11.3 million to 16 million (Alzheimer’s Association, 2005). These startling numbers should prompt an examination into one of the leading causes of death among this group of people. Understanding what Alzheimer’s is and the known causes of the disease are a good starting point. For those who have aging family members, knowing the risk factors and warning signs of Alzheimer’s can be beneficial to both the patient and his family. Finally, once the patient has been diagnosed as having Alzheimer’s, a plan for treatment as well as providing the family and caregivers with a support system can help ease those involved through a very challenging, heartbreaking time.
The Alzheimer’s Association (2005) defines the disease as “a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate, and carry out daily activities”. Contrary to popular belief, Alzheimer’s is not the result of normal aging, although it normally occurs more frequently in people who are over the age of 65 (Gruetzner, 1988). Studies performed on the brains of deceased Alzheimer’s patients show several irregularities. The most obvious abnormality is in the signal-transmitting chemicals, where a 40-90% decrease in the enzyme CAT is found. This enzyme lies in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus regions of the brain. When CAT is decreased, it causes cholinergic or acetylcholine-releasing nerve terminals to diminish. These chemicals are important for communication between nerves. Also found during these autopsies were double strands of neurofibullary tangles, senile plaque (decayed neural material), and granulovacular degeneration-all which are associated with mental impairment. Neurofibullary tangles normally do increase with age, but Alzheimer’s patients show a very high density of the tangles. The brain has also been found to contain abnormally high concentrations of aluminum (Weiner, 1987).
While much is known about the end results of Alzheimer’...
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...illick, 1998).
While at the present time little is known about the causes of Alzheimer’s and there is no existence of a cure, current research combined with the latest in technology is hopeful for a breakthrough. Not only are new drugs being developed, but also the possibility of vaccines are on the horizon. Keeping up with the latest clinical trials, findings and treatment options can be a challenge, but doing so can arm patients and caregivers with a powerful tool. Only through education and progress in research can this deadly disease become extinct.
Works Cited:
Alzheimer’s Association. (2005). What is Alzheimer’s disease? Retrieved March 30, 2005, from http://www.alz.org/AboutAD/WhatIsAD.asp
Gillick, Muriel R. (1998). Tangled minds: understanding Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. New York: Penguin Group.
Gruetzner, Howard. (1988). Alzheimer’s: a caregiver’s guide and source book. New York: Stephen Kipper.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2001). Sixty-five plus in the United States. Retrieved March 30, 2005, from http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html
Weiner, Michael A. (1987). Reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s. New York: Stein & Day.
Lisa Genova, the author of Still Alice, a heartbreaking book about a 50-year-old woman's sudden diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, graduated valedictorian from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University. She is a member of the Dementia Advocacy, Support Network International and Dementia USA and is an online columnist for the National Alzheimer's Association. Genova's work with Alzheimer's patients has given her an understanding of the disorder and its affect not only on the patient, but on their friends and family as well (Simon and Schuster, n.d.).
Pah-Lavan, Z. (2006). Alzheimer's disease: the road to oblivion. Journal of Community Nursing, 20(5), 4. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
When the story of Vladek is not being told, the reader often sees the relationship between the author, Art, and his father. For the most part, these instances are often disagreements between the father and son. Because Vladek thought Art’s jacket was raggy and unacceptable, he threw it in the garbage and gave him a new, up to date, jacket: “Such an old shabby coat. It’s a shame my son would wear such a coat! ... “I have for you a warmer one. I got at Alexander’s a new jacket, and I can give you my old one; It’s still like new” (69). Despite the fact that Art is not very pleased with his father throwing away his jacket, the reader can find humor due to the fact that Vladek thinks that the jacket is so torn up and old, not actually realizing that the style of jacket is a part of Arts culture, therefore it is how Art wants to look. Another instance in which the father and son divide happens is when Vladek compares his son to the famous cartoonist, Walt Disney: “Yah. Someday you’ll be famous. Like what’s-his-name...You know... the big-shot cartoonist... Walt Disney!” (133). Even though Art takes offense to this because he and Walt Disney are not the same type of cartoonist, the reader can find humor in this because Vladek is oblivious to the difference between what Art does versus what Walt Disney
over 35 million.Now in 2008 the number is over 45 million people.(US Census 2008) The
Nissenbaum’s main point for the odd lead in was to point out that reconstruction, “Above all, it addressed not at all the one issue that had been responsible for the rumors of the ‘Christmas Riots’ of 1865: the confiscation and redistribution of lands formerly belonging to wealthy white slaveowners. Instead, the legislation of the period of Congressional Reconstruction was focused on black political equality.” The story is about the blacks and whites of the south that were spreading rumors and making assumptions about each other while determining how to provide the newly freedmen a more stable life. The main topic was how to divide the land, which was the main source of income as well as pride for most southerners. The approaching Christmas was raising blood pressures because historically, Christmas was a time of drink, games, and social freedom, when the whites gave presents to their slaves and let them roam free.This more lifted hopes partnered with the newly legally free men, which created the assumption that they might be granted the land they want. In turn, rumors started to spread, that upset the whites, and as things escalated promises were made and even the government got involved, only to have nothing happen come
In 2008, RWJF and Institute of Medicine (IOM) launched an initiative mandated to assess and transform
about 4% of the Canadian population was over the age of 65. In 1989 that figure
Nerney, C. (2014, April). Dementia. Lecture conducted from Massachusetts’s College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, MA.
The use of spanking is one of the most controversial parenting practices and also one of the oldest, spanning throughout many generations. Spanking is a discipline method in which a supervising adult deliberately inflicts pain upon a child in response to a child’s unacceptable behaviour. Although spanking exists in nearly every country and family, its expression is heterogeneous. First of all the act of administering a spanking varies between families and cultures. As Gershoff (2002) pointed out, some parents plan when a spanking would be the most effective discipline whereas some parents spank impulsively (Holden, 2002). Parents also differ in their moods when delivering this controversial punishment, some parents are livid and others try and be loving and reason with the child. Another source of variation is the fact that spanking is often paired with other parenting behaviours such as, scolding, yelling, or perhaps raging and subsequently reasoning. A third source of variation concerns parental characteristics. Darling and Steinberg (1993) distinguished between the content of parental acts and the style in which it was administered (Holden, 2002). With all this variation researchers cannot definitively isolate the singular effects of spanking.
First of all, spanking does not lead to violence. Our surrounding world and media do. "The average sixteen-year- old has watched 18,000 murders during his formative years, including a daily bombardment of stabbings, shootings, hangings, decapitations, and general dismemberment" (Meier 34). It seems unjust to blame parents who are trying to raise their children properly for today's violence. If a child touches a hot stove he does not become a more violent person because of it, he just learns not to do it again because he learned a valuable lesson from the pain (Meier 34).
Alzheimer’s disease got its name from the German doctor, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, he noticed that there were abnormal clumps and bundles of fibers i...
Alzheimer's Disease Introduction to Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain. It was first described by the German neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915). in 1905. This disease worsens with advancing age, although there is no evidence. that it is caused by the aging process.
Spanking can cause a child’s perception to become confusing. They start to recognize adults as violent, and get scared of them, making them questionable of family, teachers, and other adults. They see their parents hitting them, so they think that it’s okay to hurt others, and they think it’s okay to put their anger on someone else. Spanking teaches a child fear, teaching them that they have to lie so they don’t get struck, causing them to continually lie throughout their life. It’s not right to hit your child, while teaching them not to hurt others, it can often confuse them, and that’s when they start to make up their own rules. “Spanking teaches your child to fear you -- not to listen to you or respect you. He may also be humiliated and resentful, and retaliate by being uncooperative.” Spanking teaches your child that they should fear adults, and if they fear adults, how are they going to advance? How are they going to get guidance from you and family, or teachers in school? Spanking your child affects their whole life, and not in a good way. You have to give your child sympathetic guidance and teach them that mistakes are okay. Parenting is about guiding children to be the best they can, parents need to help them learn in a healthy
Spanking is not a good discipline and it should not be used on children. It is not any more effective than any other punishment like grounding the child. So why get physical when there are many other options, the kid can be grounded, lose privileges, another good way is to be verbal with them. Tell the child what they did wrong rather than hitting them and moving on, that will not change their behavior.
Many studies show that physical punishment on a child will lead to increased aggression, mental health problems, and anti-social behavior. These parents believe that if you teach a child that every time they do something bad they will get hit that that is what they believe they should do to other people when other people are doing negative things. By spanking a child the child will pick up on the pattern of when the child is getting physical punishment and learn negative behavior and display it on other people in the future (Moyer,