When I first heard of Alzheimer’s disease I always pronounce it as “Old-Timer’s” disease, and I’ve always knew it had to do with old people and memory lost. I did not know much else about this particular disease, nor do I have any interest in it. Not until two years ago, that is. But I choose this disease as my research essay because my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about two years ago. My parents always go back to Vietnam every two to three years. They had gone back to Vietnam to see him last year, and my grandfather cannot recognize them or my uncle who is taking care of him. My parents are bringing me to Vietnam to visit my grandfather for the first time, so this is a good opportunity to learn about this disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurologic disease distinguished by loss of mental ability severe enough to obstruct with normal activities of an individual’s daily life, not present from birth, and lasting at least six months (Sims & Odle, 2006). It is the most common form of dementia, and usually occurs in old age (. Alzheimer’s disease is “…marked by a decline in cognitive functions such as remembering, reasoning, and planning” (Sims & Odle, 2006). Between two to four million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, and it is expected to grow up to fourteen million as the population ages (Sims & Odle, 2006). The disease usually begins in your 60s, but it can start developing in your 40s, which is very rare (National Institute of Health (HIN), 2011). Women also have a slightly higher rate of developing Alzheimer’s than men (Sims & Odle, 2006). This is because women do live longer than men. The risk of developing the disease gets higher as you age. “Your risk is also higher if a family member has had the disease” (HIN, 2011).
The most noticeable early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are gradual disturbances in memory (Huffman, 2010, p. 266). It may just start out as simple incidents of forgetfulness such as not remembering where you’ve stored your keys. As the disease progress, it changes into something more serious like not remembering important date or events; asking the same information over and over; forgetting how to do simple daily tasks and eventually leading into trouble with speaking, writing, or eating; or unable to change your own clothes and need’s total care (HIN, 2011). The Alzheimer’s Association (2011) has developed a list of ten signs of Alzheimer’s disease, and they are:
Memory loss that disrupts daily life; challenges in planning or solving problems; difficulty completing familiar tasks at home; at work or at leisure; confusion with time or place, trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships; new problems with words in speaking or writing; misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps; decreased or poor judgment;, withdrawal from work or social activities; changes in mood and personality.
If you or someone you know experience several of those symptoms should immediately see a physician for an evaluation. Although Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cure, but there are medications approved by the FDA used to slow down its progression.
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