Alzheimer's and the Brain

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Alzheimer's disease is ending the brains and lives of our country's people, stealing them from memory, the ability to reason, and affecting their emotions and behavior. Alzheimer's disease weakens the brain. The longer we live the greater the risk: one out of every two Americans aged 85 and older and one out of every 10 aged 65 and older are afflicted with the disease. It affects two groups: those with the disease and the loved ones who care for them. Alzheimer's diseases changes the way people view the world. Alzheimer's disease is a disease of the brain. This may be considered a steady loss of memory and other mental functions. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia; a term stating to loss of memory and the ability to think, reason, function, and behave properly (Clinic, 2013). The word dementia derives from two Latin words, which mean away and mind, respectively. It's different from the mild forgetfulness normally observed older people. Over the years of this disease, people with Alzheimer's disease no longer know who they are or know much about the world around them. Alzheimer's disease is a disorder marked by a gradual decline brain function that gets worse with time. It used to be assumed that this change was a normal part of aging we called senility. Several people grow this illness when they become the age of 40 ("Biomarkers Key to Future of Alzheimer's Diagnosis, 2010"). However, the disease is most common in persons over the age of 65. It is predictable about 10 percent of people over 65 years of age may have Alzheimer's disease and that in persons over the age of 85; up to 50 percent may be affected ("Risk Factors", n.d.). Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of the aging process. It is not contagious,... ... middle of paper ... ...trieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/alzheimers-disease/research.html Biomarkers Key to Future of Alzheimer’s Diagnosis | IVD Technology. (2010, July 6). Retrieved from http://www.ivdtechnology.com/blog/ivdt-insight/biomarkers-key-future-alzheimer’s-diagnosis Hallucination definition - Mental Health Disorders on MedicineNet.com. (2012, June 6). Retrieved from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=24171 Mayo Clinic Staff (2013, April 16). Dementia: Symptoms - MayoClinic.com. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dementia/DS01131/DSECTION=symptoms Paranoia - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paranoia Vorvick, L. (2012, November 2). Agitation: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003212.htm

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