Progressive Brain Disease: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) Symptoms & Signs - Essay Sample

Introduction

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a gradual ailment that causes the cells of the brain to deteriorate or lose connections and die. The disease is the mostly causing dementia which is a constant waning in thinking, behavior and the social skills that causes disruptions of one's ability to operate alone. The first signs of the disease may include forgetting events that have occurred or conversations that one has been involved in. As the progression advances, the patient is likely to experience a permanent memory loss, bad temper and aggression, confusion among others (Heiko and Braak 199). Nevertheless, in case one resolves to get medications, the rate at which the brain cells deteriorate will reduce thus improving the functioning of the brain. Currently, there is no cure to the disease or a medication that will hinder Alzheimer's progression in the brain. In later stages, the disease cause problems that arise from the loss of the normal functioning of the brain thus resulting in death. Such problems include undernourishment of the brain, dehydration or even contagion. Alzheimer disease was a topic of interest as it involves memory losses.

Cause of Alzheimer's Disease

There has not been accord on the exact causes of Alzheimer's disease. However, some leads have been discovered. One of the leads may include the reduction of the synthesis of a neurotransmitter known as acetylcholine. The neurotransmitter is used for communication by the brain neurons.

Another theory is focused on two proteins which include tau and amyloid-beta which are necessary for the normal functioning of the brain. However, these two proteins run out of control or become deficient in the patients diagnosed with the disease.

The tau protein supplies the brain's nerve cells with nutrients, other essentials required by the brain and steadies' microtubules that communicate messages through neurons. The tangles change their shape and structure themselves into structures known as neurofibrillary tangles (Cummings et al., 311). These tangles interfere with the communication system by cutting off the supply of nutrients. The cutting off of nutrients occurs when the neurofibrillary tangles collapse the transport system of the neuron. Cutting off of nutrients results to the killing of the brain cells.

The other protein (Amyloid beta or beta-amyloid) is used in the normal functioning of the brain. However, in Alzheimer's early stages, a form of leftover fragments of amyloid plaques which are larger proteins interfere with the neural communication when they cluster together to form large deposits. These deposits include other cellular debris (Chertkow and Bub, 403).

Amyloid-beta helps predicts the dangers of AD, the quantity of tau protein associates with the development and sternness of the disease. Further formation of the tangles and plaques in the brain cause the neurons not to function efficiently causing lack of communication in the brain and thus resulting in death (Jahn 445).

Types of Memory Affected by Alzheimer's Disease

Long-Term Memory

The part of the brain for storage, management, recall of information is found in the long-term memory. The forms of long-term memory include:

Procedural memory is non-declarative and entails the basic steps on how to accomplish a task. They are difficult to explain in words. For example, you just know how to ride a bicycle.

Episodic memory is a form of declarative memory inclusive of the ability to remember immediate life experiences. Example, you can remember your sister's wedding and recall those who were present.

Semantic memory is also a form of declarative memory and stores vocabulary, key facts, and general knowledge (Howard and Bub 407). The memory also involves knowing the meaning of words.

Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

There is not a globally agreed staging system of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, healthcare providers might use a staging system that they are most comfortable with. The stages of the disease may range from mild to severe. People who have Alzheimer's are likely to have different rates of progression.

Stage One: Preclinical Alzheimer's

The first stage is also known as no impairment stage. At this stage, there are no noticeable signs or symptoms of the disease. The stage can last for several years or decades. As much as there are no visible signs during this stage, imaging technology can spot deposits of amyloid-beta (Pearce et al., 176). Biomarker detection and genetic testing can also be used to detect the presence of the disease during this early stage.

Stage Two: Mild Cognitive Impairment

The disease affects mainly older adults above 65 years old. This is an age where difficulties like forgetfulness may arise. In stage two, Alzheimer's decline occurs rapidly as compared to aged people without the disease.

Stage Three: Mild Impairment or Decline

The symptoms at this stage are not clear and last for approximately seven years. Noticeable symptoms will only be shown between two to four years. Those close to the infected are the ones who are likely to notice the signs (Pearce et al., 177). The signs may include: difficulty in remembering learned information, repeatedly asking the same question, trouble completing duties and problem-solving, lapse judgment, getting lost or misplacing items, unusually angry or irritable, less motivated to complete given tasks, reduced concentration among others.

Stage Four: Mild Alzheimer's

The stage is also known as moderate decline or moderate dementia. The stage lasts for approximately two years, and the disease is diagnosable during this time. The visible signs at this stage include decreased awareness of current events, personal memory lost, having problems managing finances, decreased emotional response, excessive suspicion of family and friends, hallucination, memory gaps, among others (Sperling et al., 33).

Stage Five: Moderate Dementia

The stage is also known as moderately severe decline. The stage lasts for 18 months. During this stage, people have a memory of their names and those of close family members. However, memories of major events or weather conditions are difficult to reminiscence. Other symptoms include: lack of ability to control bladder and bowel movements, difficulty to walk without needing help, difficulty in communicating correctly, among others (Grossberg and Desai)

Stage Six: Moderately Severe Alzheimer's

The identifiable features at this stage develop for about two years and six months, and they include the inability to choose clothes and put them correctly, the decline in oral hygiene such as measuring water temperature, inability to control the bowel and the bladder, confusion, among others (Pearce et al., 178).

Stage Seven: Severe Alzheimer's

The stage lasts for about 18 months, and the symptoms may include: limited speech of about six words, inability to sit independently, grey facial movements, inability to support their head, rigid body movements, the formation of contractures and muscle hardening, infantile reflexes among others (Pearce et al., 178).

Current Recommendations Before and After Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

• Avoiding brain injury by wearing protective gear on the head when involved in vigorous activities.
• Getting enough sleep is likely to reduce the effect of the disease or reduce the risk of contracting the disease.
• Ensuring you have good cardiovascular health by avoiding high blood pressure and diabetes obesity (Cummings et al., 313).
• Research studies have also shown that when one quits smoking the risk of Alzheimer's disease is likely to be reduced
• Visiting a therapist when depressed since those suffering from anxiety and depression are at risk of the disease.
• A caregiver can create a daily routine to be familiar with the patient (Grossberg and Desai).
• Constant medication can also help treat memory loss, behavioral changes, sleep problems, among others.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is also likely to help lower Alzheimer's disease in women after menopause.
• Treating with Reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (Gold and Budson 1881).

Other Recommendations

• Your diet should include the following, fish, legumes, vegetables, cereals, unsaturated fatty acids and partial consumption of meat and dairy foods. The above diet helps the brain become healthy.
• Consuming supplements containing omega-3, vitamin E and B to improve the strength of the brain to function correctly.
• Being involved in regular physical activities to increase the blood flow to the brain and increase the heart rate.
• Being involved in leisure and social happenings to be socially engaged with other people.
• Getting involved in activities such as solving puzzles to stimulate the brain's activity.
• Seeking knowledge about Alzheimer's disease from those who have the same experience or other community groups to find a way of helping yourself or who is suffering from the disease.
• Having pinned reminders on the walls to help you remember essential issues or guide you on what to do on a particular time.

Conclusion

In summary, Alzheimer's disease risks can be reduced if the above recommendations are put into practice. People should also be taught on how to treat those suffering from memory loss for them not to feel neglected. Eating Mediterranean style-diet and involving the brain in activities helps reduce the risk (Cummings et al., 321) A research should also be conducted to come up with the exact progression on the disease to enable a better understanding of the stages and when they are likely to occur.

Works Cited

Braak, Heiko, and Eva Braak. "Development of Alzheimer-related neurofibrillary changes in the neocortex inversely recapitulates cortical myogenesis." Acta neuropathologica 92.2 (1996): 197-201.DOI: 10.1007/s004010050508

Chertkow, Howard, and Daniel Bub. "Semantic memory loss in dementia of Alzheimer's type: What do various measures measure?." Brain 113.2 (1990): 397-417. DOI: 10.1093/Brain/113.2.397

Cummings, Jeffrey L., et al. "A practical algorithm for managing Alzheimer's disease: what, when, and why?." Annals of clinical and translational neurology 2.3 (2015): 307-323. DOI:10.1002/acn3.166

Gold, Carl A, and Andrew E Budson. "Memory loss in Alzheimer's disease: implications for the development of therapeutics." Expert review of neurotherapeutics vol. 8,12 (2008): 1879-91. DOI:10.1586/14737175.8.12.1879

Grossberg, George T., and Abhilash K. Desai. "Management of Alzheimer's disease." The Journals of Gerontology Series A: biological sciences and medical sciences 58.4 (2003): M331-M353. DOI: 10.1093/gerona/58.4.M331

Jahn, Holger. "Memory loss in Alzheimer's disease." Dialogues in clinical neuroscience 15.4 (2013): 445. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3898682/

Pearce, Alison, Linda Clare, and Nancy Pistrang. "Managing sense of self: Coping in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease." Dementia 1.2 (2002): 173-192. DOI:10.1177/147130120200100205

Sperling, Reisa A., et al. "Functional alterations in memory networks in early Alzheimer's disease." Neuromolecular medicine 12.1 (2010): 27-43. DOI: 10.1007/s12017-009-8109-7