Alzheimer's: Mental Illness Progressively Robbing Memory & Thinking - Essay Sample

Introduction

Alzheimer's disease is a term used to denote the permanent and progressive mental illness that gradually terminates a person's reminiscence and thinking capacity leading to inability to perform regular and straightforward activities. The disorder takes after Alois Alzheimer, who discovered it through the alterations on the brain tissue of a patient who died of unknown disease by then, 1906. Some of the predominant symptoms in this patient included memory loss, impaired judgment, language issues, as well as unpredictable and unusual behaviors. Alzheimer realized the patient had amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary. His discovery formed the foundation of the study of mental disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. The mental disorder can occur in a person at an early age of 30 years, though in rare situations. It can also occur to people in their 60s, which is the most exhibited case. Thus, AD can either be the early-onset or late-onset type. Studies on Alzheimer's disease reveals that it is amongst the common cause of adulthood dementia. The review addresses characterizations, symptoms and possible available treatments and control for AD, as well as some of its roots.

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The pathological characteristics of AD include the intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and the deposits of the extracellular amyloidal proteins. These serve as the primary contributors to the senile plaques in the brain. Additionally, advanced degeneration of the cortical and subcortical configurations form part of the pathology of the AD. The primary symptoms of AD include memory loss, unpredictable behaviors, impaired judgment, confusion, and communication problems (Lanctot, et., Al, 2017). Minor signs and symptoms of AD can take a broad category of cognitive, behavioral, psychological, and mood variations. The cognitive signs and symptoms include deterioration of the mental capacity, delusions, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, and confusion, among others. Lack of personal control may lead to changes in the behaviors of a patient and they may experiences signs such as aggression, changes in personality, irritability, and lack of self-care capacity. Anger, loneliness, and mood swings generally affect people with AD as a result of either paranoia or depression. However, medical diagnosis is essential to determine the possibilities of these symptoms emanating from other disorders and health problems (Lanctot, et., Al, 2017).

The discovery of AD led to massive pathogenesis research to establish its causes and possible curative measures. The pharmacological therapeutics and the pathophysiological events investigations on the disease have brought about significant development in the treatment and control of the disease. Some of the mainly available therapies for the disease include the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl d-aspartate receptor antagonist. Rivastigmine and galantamine are the primary components of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors used as a possible treatment for AD. The treatment mechanisms available reduce the severe effects of the disease. They decelerate the development and advancement AD, as well as offering symptomatic aid on the condition. However, the treatment mechanisms available so far do not provide a definite cure for AD (Kumar, & Singh, 2015).

The significant stride made in the study of AD is the establishment of the neuropathological features. According to Bondi, Edmonds, and Salmon (2017), the neuropathological feature of Alzheimer's disease can either be positive or negative. The positive ones hallmarks include the amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles, while the negative ones include the neuronal and synaptic depreciations. Understanding the neuropathological hallmarks forms the foundations upon which the treatment and control of the AD and its associated symptoms stems. Nevertheless, the lack of a progressive understanding of the pathogenic development forms the roadblock to the effective treatment and control of the disease. Currently, prevention of the onset and advancement of AD is the primary research issue concerning the disease (Vossel, Tartaglia, Nygaard, Zeman, & Miller, 2017).

Currently, the leading cause of Alzheimer's disease, just like other mental disorders, is the death and depreciation of the brain cells. Salawu, Umar, and Olokoba (2011) argue that AD being a neurodegenerative disorder arises from the gradual and progressive deaths of the brain cells occurring over time. However, there are no single established causes of Alzheimer's disease, which leaves room for further research. Recent findings of the study conducted on the causes of the disease indicate that the disease most likely develops and progresses as a result of a combination of different factors. Kumar and Singh (2015), suggests that AD arises and progresses as a result of the genetic factors intertwined with the lifestyle and environmental conditions. However, genetic changes in an individual contribute insignificantly to the likelihood of developing AD in the future.

In conclusion, AD is an irreversible and advanced mental disorder that leads to memory loss. AD, in most cases, manifests in people over 60 years. However, it can also occur as early as 30 years. The pathological characteristics of AD form the basis for the study of the disease, and this includes the intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and the deposits of the extracellular amyloidal proteins. The signs and symptoms of AD can either be cognitive, behavioral, psychological and mood changes. The primary symptoms thus include memory loss, unpredictable behaviors, impaired judgment, confusion, and communication problems. Although there is no available permanent cure for AD, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl d-aspartate receptor antagonists are essential to control and symptoms treatment remedy for the disease. The primary cause of AD is the gradual and progressive degeneration of the brain cells.

References

Bondi, M. W., Edmonds, E. C., & Salmon, D. P. (2017). Alzheimer's disease: past, present, and future. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 23(9-10), 818-831. DOI: 10.1017/S135561771700100X

Kumar, A., & Singh, A. (2015). A review on Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology and its management: an update. Pharmacological reports, 67(2), 195-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharep.2014.09.004

Lanctot, K. L., Amatniek, J., Ancoli-Israel, S., Arnold, S. E., Ballard, C., Cohen-Mansfield, J., ... & Osorio, R. S. (2017). Neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease: New treatment paradigms. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, 3(3), 440-449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trci.2017.07.001

Salawu, F. K., Umar, J. T., & Olokoba, A. B. (2011). Alzheimer's disease: a review of recent developments. Annals of African Medicine, 10(2). DOI: 10.4103/1596-3519.82057

Vossel, K. A., Tartaglia, M. C., Nygaard, H. B., Zeman, A. Z., & Miller, B. L. (2017). Epileptic activity in Alzheimer's disease: causes and clinical relevance. The Lancet Neurology, 16(4), 311-322. DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(17)30044-3