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Description Of Alzheimer's Disease

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In 1906, Dr. Alois Alzheimer recognized a change in a fifty-year-old woman’s brain tissue post mortem now known as Alzheimer’s disease. Today, Alzheimer’s is the most prevalent form of dementia affecting about 5.3 million people in the United States (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2015). This disease gradually destroys memory and thinking skills, eventually preventing the ability of simple tasks to be performed. In this research paper I will first discuss my personal reason for researching this topic and give a description of Alzheimer’s disease. I will also go through the history and important demographics behind this disease and describe three purposed hypothesis behind the cause of Alzheimer’s. Next I will describe the various symptoms …show more content…

It primarily targets the central nervous system, which includes the brain the spinal cord. Specific brain abnormalities such as plaques and tangles have been seen in those with Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s Association 2011). Although this disease is seen in majority of people 65 or older it is not a normal part of aging. Increasing age is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s but it is seen in individuals in their 40s and 50s (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2015). Alzheimer’s disease is progressive with symptoms slowly getting worse over time. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is poorly understood. There is no current cure, however, there are treatments that target symptoms. There has been great effort through research to find better ways to treat Alzheimer’s and stop it from …show more content…

Dr. Alois Alzheimer, the man this disease is named after, recognized a change in a fifty-year-old woman’s brain tissue post mortem. He witnessed many irregular clumps and tangled bundles of fibers. He also saw a loss of connection between neurons. This women, Auguste Deter, had various symptoms before her death including memory loss, language difficulties, and erratic behavior (Alzheimer’s Association 2015). Not much understanding of the mechanism underlying this disease was known until beta-amyloid and tau protein was discovered in 1984 and 1986, respectively (Alzheimer’s Association 2015). Mutations in these proteins’ genes seem to be causing early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease and frontal temporal dementia (Alzheimer’s Association 2015). Seven years later, the first drug, Cognex, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration targeting memory and thinking symptoms (Alzheimer’s Association

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