Brain-Heart Interdependence: A Deep Connection? - Essay Sample

Introduction

Heart-head relationship- There exists a strong interrelation between the brain and the heart. Scholars try to prove the relationship between the head and spirit through various theories; the heart pumps nourished blood to the brain via a network of blood vessels. The existence of such a great relationship explains why patients with brain issues are likely to suffer heart failures causing sudden death.

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Incidences of increased risks of dementia condition or Alzheimer Vascular conditions result in potential damage to heart muscles leading to heart failure. Some heart-related conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes are sometimes as a result of brain problems. Plaques and tangles are the major causes of Alzheimer's as per the studies provided by donating brain tissue."

When specific accelerators such as damage to the blood vessels and stroke are present within an individual, getting Alzheimer's becomes more prevalent over time. Family history is a cause of dementia where it is believed that if one individual suffers from the disease, other people within the family are also at considerable risk of getting the disease.

Characteristics

The disease affects the brain leading to neurotransmitters (chemical messengers), which help inactive signals and message sending between brain cells. People experiencing Alzheimer's issues have low acetylcholine and neurotransmitters in their brains. This results in different brain areas collapsing, especially the area responsible for memories. The condition may grow worse, affecting most brain parts. The most common symptoms portrayed by people with Alzheimer's disease are language and poor vision as opposed to memory. The most known factor causing Alzheimer's is an increase in aging. Most Scholars argue that an increase in age is not directly attached to the disease. Most individuals affected by the disease are aged 65 years and above. Risk of getting the disease doubles as the person continues to grow older (Alzheimer's, 2015). When a person reaches over 85 years, the expected potential risk is almost a third.

Prevalence

The mortality rate for older adults report indicates that one among three adults die of dementia or Alzheimer's. The total cost spent on Alzheimer's treatment is over two hundred billion dollars. Close to 150 billion dollars is spent on Medicaid and Medicare. According to the 2013 health report, 60% of caregivers for people who have Alzheimer's suffer from stress and pay close to 9.3 billion dollars to maintain their situation (Vos et al., 2015). Also, the impact caused by the disease is evident across a large number of individuals. Many caregivers spend most of their time attending the patients while sacrificing their alternative duties.

Assessment

Severe condition of Alzheimer's disease usually leads to cases of dementia; therefore, since there are available tests for dementia, which include examinations of the lumbar puncture, it is possible to judge that all patients who test positive on dementia, have Alzheimer disease. Individual patients, family members, or both can generally present to health care, especially when they realize that memory loss is building up.

Memory loss may manifest through acts such as, forgetting of activities very fast, childish behaviors such as inability to count or see things as they are, among other activities that may raise questions over one's brain fitness. This is because brain loss is the significant effect of Alzheimer's disease, and also, dementia, which is caused by the same, even has more triggered influences.

Treatment

Various medications and management measures that aim to either prevent or reduce its effects are available. Cholinesterase inhibitors can work best in controlling the behavioral symptoms and reducing other potential signs of Alzheimer's illness (O'Regan et al., 2015). Also, medications such as galantamine and rivastigmine can be essential.

Meanwhile, change of lifestyle choices like involvement in physical activities and change of diet may help in stabilizing the brain health, preventing Alzheimer's (Vos et al., 2015). Physicians or family members taking care of patients with Alzheimer's should ensure that they closely monitor and offer assistance whenever help is needed. In case the symptoms of Alzheimer's becomes severe, geriatricians and geriatric psychiatrists should be informed as they have a comprehensive knowledge of how to deal with mental or emotional disasters for both older and young adults.

Therapy Activities

some of the ways to manage the illness include; maintaining the quality of life at its higher standards, getting involved in daily physical activities to avoid cases of stress and depression which may cause memory losses, encourage social engagement activities, by becoming social and sharing most of their time with others, and finally enhancing cognition, behaviors, and mood.

Theories

Most researchers argue that Alzheimer's disease lacks a specific cause. Several factors within a Human life may result in developing Alzheimer's disease. Several factors, such as living environment, people's lifestyle, and genetics, have been reported to be significant accelerators. Scientists have specified certain known risks that cause Alzheimer's disease. Most factors, such as age, hereditary genes, and family history, remain a challenge to most people.

However, other factors are influenced by human behaviors such as lifestyle. Alzheimer's disease is believed to develop from the build-up of Protenous substances within the brain cells. Specific proteins referred to as amyloid from Plaques around the brain cells through deposits. Tangles can also be formed by other forms of proteins such as tau. The exact cause of protein to appear is not yet established. However, most scientists argue that it begins many years before the emergence of symptoms.

References

Alzheimer's, A. (2015). 2015 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. Alzheimer's & dementia: the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 11(3), 332.

O'Regan, J., Lanctot, K. L., Mazereeuw, G., & Herrmann, N. (2015). Cholinesterase inhibitor discontinuation in patients with Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Vos, S. J., Verhey, F., Frolich, L., Kornhuber, J., Wiltfang, J., Maier, W., ... & Frisoni, G. B. (2015). Prevalence and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease at the mild cognitive impairment stage. Brain, 138(5), 1327-1338.