Alzheimer's Research Paper

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s are hardly ever the same for any one patient. Although the side effects of Alzheimer’s can result in the similar symptoms, such as memory loss, cognitive impairment, difficulty focusing, and taking care of ones self can be an outcome for most patients. Many will have a different personality, loss of sight, sense of smell, as well as no longer being able to taste (Medicine).

During the onset of the disease, symptoms are usually non-existant, and progress slowly over the course of many years, often going unnoticed until they become more severe. Alzheimer's is somewhat difficult to diagnose, but there are some common symptoms to all patients. Memory loss occurs in all patients. The person may have trouble remembering small things such as phone numbers, or where he/she put the keys. Eventually, short term memory is lost, and only memories in the far past are able to be recalled. People with Alzheimer's can become disoriented and can get lost easily when out on their own. Mood changes also occur, and the person can be easily irritated or agitated by seemingly insignificant things. Cognitive deterioration also occurs, with the person losing the ability to understand spoken language or recall the meanings of different words (Grayson, "Recognizing Alzheimer's" 1). Despite these common symptoms, making a diagnosis is difficult since Alzheimer's patientscan display the same symptoms as a head injury or depression.

When this occurs, it is known as early onset Alzheimer’s. The first sign that sparks a concern is difficulty remembering new information and other symptoms include disorientation, mood and behavior changes, deepening confusion, difficulty walking and/or swallowing, unfounded suspiciousness of family, friends, or caregivers. (Engdahl,

Alzheimer’s is a disease in the brain that affects a person’s memory, thinking, and behavior. It is the most common form of dementia and is common in adults older than 65. More than five million Americans are being affected by Alzheimer’s at this moment. Alzheimer’s comes in three stages; early, middle, and advanced. The disease is caused by the shrinking of the brain due to many risk factors and genetics.

In all the three stages of Alzheimer’s disease there are tons of sign to look for, to tell if they have the disease and what stage they are in. it is very crucial to pay attention and go to the doctor and get tested for it if you have any of the symptoms. Finding the disease early on, can help slow the process down sometimes, if you get on medication fast enough. {Added a conclusion paragraph}

One of the signs that were new to me was understanding visual and spatial relationships. I did not realize that it was the lack of spatial abilities that cause Alzheimer patients to have trouble while driving. Another warning sign that was new to me, is withdrawal from work or social activities. The withdrawal is due to the fact that the individual cannot keep up with certain social situations. It is hard to identify Alzheimer’s because it can be easily confused with aging. There’s a lot of similarities between natural aging and Alzheimer’s. However, Alzheimer’s seems to be a more aggressive form of aging.

Alzheimer's is an adult onset disease that is caused by a genetic mutation in chromosomes 21, 14, and 1. Alzheimer’s is a complex series of brain changes that occur over a long period of time. It is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other important mental functions, this disease is the most common form of dementia; it is irreversible and scientist have not found a cure for it.

Alzheimer 's is a degenerative disease of the brain that causes dementia, which is a gradual loss of memory, judgment, and ability to function. It is the most common form of dementia, and may hinder an individual 's performance of daily function. Sixty to eighty percent of dementia cases are caused by Alzheimer 's.

There are so many signs and symptoms that correlate to the Alzheimer's disease, which include but are not limited to: having a worsened ability to take in and remember new information, impairments to reasoning and changes in personal behavior. Usually those who have Alzheimer's will have a hard time taking in and remembering new information, meaning they will ask repetitive questions or start conversations that were previously mentioned. A lot of times they will also misplace their personal belongings and may even forget important appointments or their grand-children's baseball game. When you have the Alzheimer's disease you may also find out that you get lost very easily on a commonly traveled route.

There are other symptoms ,though, that come before memory loss in the extremely weird case of Alzheimer’s disease. Other symptoms include disorientation, trouble in focusing and communication, trouble sleeping, confusion, trouble coming up with the right words or using the wrong words, and dramatic mood swings ("Alzheimer's Disease Information: Facts, Causes, Definition, and

Difficulty remembering new information that was just obtained is the first common symptom. Alzheimer’s usually begins in the part of the brain where we learn things. Many different symptoms can happen as Alzheimer’s increases through the brain. These symptoms include: disorientation; mood and behavior changes; deepening confusion about events, time, and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends, and professional caregivers; more serious memory loss and behavior changes; and difficulty speaking, swallowing, and walking. Many people who get this disease do not see themselves as having a problem.

Early warning signs usually arise when people are older, around the age of sixty-five, and they can help prepare your family and yourself for the road ahead. Some of the warning signs may include memory loss, changes in vision, and becoming non-social. Once someone has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the symptoms can be devastating. In mild Alzheimer's, one may feel the lack of motivation to do everyday things, become less social, forget recent memories, and they may experience mood swings. In moderate Alzheimer's, someone may experience loss of thoughts or words, confusion of time or place, trouble sleeping, and wandering.

Physicians can most of the time determine a person's dementia. Sometimes, it’s harder to point out the exact cause of the problems. Diagnosing alzheimer's requires cautious medical assessment, checking the patient's medical history, mental status testing, and a physical and neurological exam to find out if the gene is substantial in the family. Dozens of studies around the world have shown that when a person has one type of the APOE gene, called APOE4, it increases their odds of getting Alzheimer's at some point in their lives. There are many issues that can cause problems with memory and thinking, with this disease it is harder for a doctor to determine if it is alzheimer's disease or just another

Some of the basic symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include, memory loss, difficulties in speech, disorientation to time and place, poor or decreases judgment, difficulties in performing familiar tasks, misplacing things, changes in mood or behavior, and a loss of initiative. There are two types of symptoms, cognitive and behavioral. Behavioral symptoms include agitation, anxiety, delusions, depression, hallucinations, insomnia, and wandering. While cognitive symptoms include memory loss, disorientation, confusion, and problems with reasoning and thinking. (American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Alzheimer Disease and Other Dementias)

Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that destroys the connections between cells in the brain. Eventually the cells will die. It causes the cells a hard time to communicate with the body and to be able to function right. Even though the inheritance of Alzheimer’s is still unknown it still has genetic mutation which is a permanent change in a gene that can be passed down to children.