Alzheimer's Disease Research Paper

Alzheimer’s Disease
There is a disease that runs in my family. This disease has killed my maternal great grandmother, my maternal grandmother, and will soon claim the life of my maternal grandmother’s sister. This disease is Alzheimer’s disease. While there is no gene that you can have that can guarantee you will get Alzheimer’s disease, there is a gene which seems to increase your risk of getting the disease. The gene is called APOE-e4. One of my mother’s greatest fears is that she has this gene and therefore is at high risk of falling victim to Alzheimer’s disease. My mother is not alone in this fear as Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States today.
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia which

causes difficulty with memory, thinking, and behavior. It is a progressive disease, which means that the symptoms get worse over time. Two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are women and most of its victims are over the age of 65. However, there is an early-onset type of dementia which occurs in people in their 40’s and 50’s and accounts for about 5% of Alzheimer cases. Alzheimer’s disease has seven stages which progress at different rates for different people. A person who has this disease has abnormal structures in their brains called tangles and plaques. These structures are thought to prevent some brain cells from functioning normally, which causes the thinking and memory problems. The most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are memory loss, especially of recent events and placement of items; an inability to do tasks of everyday living, such as paying bills and getting dressed; confusion about the time of day; confusion about the location of places; and changes in mood or personality.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are medications that may be used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. These medications are known as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantines. They are thought to temporarily delay the progression of cognitive symptoms. Medications typically used for sleeping problems, depression, anxiety, and psychosis may be used to help with behavioral issues.
There is no known definitive way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease. However, some researchers believe it may be beneficial to live a brain healthy lifestyle which includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, mental stimulation, quality sleep, stress management, and an active social life.
It is my hope that in the near future a cure will be found for Alzheimer’s disease. This hopefully will be in time to help my mother and the millions of other people of my mother’s generation who are at a high risk for falling victim to this killer disease.