ALzheimers Disease
By: Bridget Hill
What is Alzheimer's Disease?
History
People have been aware of Alzheimer's disease since 1906. It has been around long before that but had not yet been discovered. It was first discovered by a German Physician, Dr. Alois Alzheimer. He studied this case in a 51-year old woman that passed away after living with a rare brain disorder. This discover lead to further information and better diagnosis.
Warning Signs
There are many things that can be considered warning signs of Alzheimer's disease. These are ways that someone can predict if a person has Alzheimer's disease without an actual diagnosis. Although someone may portray some of these signs, it doesn't mean that they definitely have Alzheimer's disease. The only way to know for sure is through medical tests and thorough monitoring of the person.
- Memory loss of things such as recent events and names.
- Misplacement of objects
- Trouble with familiar tasks such as brushing of teeth and getting dressed
- Trouble following conversations
- Changes in mood and personality
Diagnosis
Symtoms
There are symptoms that someone portrays when they are living with Alzheimer's. The following are only some examples.
- Short term memory loss
- Poor judgement
- Change in mood and behavior
- Misplacing items
- Unable to do familiar tasks such as brushing teeth or getting dressed
- Trouble following conversations
- Repetition of questions in a short period of time
- Trouble completing tasks with numbers or critical thinking such as card games.
What causes Alzheimer's disease?
Treatment
- CholInesterase inhibitors for mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease.
- NMDA receptor antagonist for severe Alzheimer's disease