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Alzheimer’s disease

Posted By: mobilephone | Posted On: 2008-09-09 | Article ID: 92440

Most people face the difficulty of taking care of one or more elderly people in their families who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. The difficulties faced by the caregivers of the patients of the Alzheimer disease are as many as the difficulties faced by the patient himself. The patient has to be fed, bathed, clothed and constantly kept an eye on. This takes a toll on the lives of the caretakers and their livelihood also might get affected with increased absences at work. Many people find it so nerve wrecking and cumbersome and are turning towards long term care facilities or hospices to admit the patients. Even when they are taking care of an Alzheimer’s patient, many people do not know what Alzheimer’s disease is or how it occurs.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative disease of the brain, it is not curable by any medication or surgery, and often leads to the death of the patient. It is manifested in different forms. The main symptom which often leads to a suspicion of the disease is dementia, which is forgetfulness. Most of the time, people ignore the presence of dementia as age related changes or related to stress of the modern day life. Though a level of forgetfulness is possible as age related changes, or even related to stress, if the patient demonstrating the alzheimer's dementia is over 65years of age, Alzheimer disease should be suspected and ruled out. There are several tests to identify the degeneration of the neurons in the brain, and cognitive tests which would detect the level of alzheimers symptoms. This would aid in the diagnosis of the disease.

How does the Alzheimer’s disease occur?

There are several theories proposed to state the cause and mechanism of the Alzheimer’s disease. The first theory stated that there is a lack of acetylcholine in the synapses of the neurons. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter found in the space between the neurons, which helps the transfer of the neural impulse from one neuron to the other. If acetylcholine is not present in the optimal amount, the impulse which is transferred would be incomplete. This theory was supported by a lot of scientists, but was opposed by a group of people who had experimented on giving acetylcholine as a medication in the patients with Alzheimer disease. It was seen that the medication did not result in any decrease in the alzheimers symptoms of the disease. Another theory came in force was that there might be some protein deposits in the brain which result to the degeneration of the neurons. This was supported by the evidence of formation of plaques in the brain. Researchers working to find a genetic link to the disease went to support this theory, and it has been proven that there are at least three genes which might lead to the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease.

So is Alzheimer’s a hereditary disease?

The answer to this question is Yes & No. Work done on people with Down’s syndrome had identified three genes, and the same were identified in patients with Alzheimer disease. But this doesn’t prove a familial link to the disease. Research is yet to prove this connection.

 

Article Source: http://www.articlecell.com

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