Alzheimer's Disease

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the symptoms, the research, and the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. The paper explains the symptoms and stages of Alzheimer's, the medication available to Alzheimer patients which slows the onset, but does not cure the disease, the method of diagnosis, which is through the elimination of other possible illnesses rather than positive identification of the disease, and the ongoing research into Alzheimer's disease of which there is biologically-based research and a cognitive-behavioral approach to research.

From the Paper:

"Alzheimer's Disease currently affects more than four million Americans. Alzheimer's is a disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of areas within the brain, resulting in cognitive and physical decline that will eventually lead to death. It is important to emphasize that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not a normal part of aging. Although AD typically appears in those over sixty-five, it is a neurodegenerative disease, quite distinct from any aging-related cognitive decline. Because Alzheimer's is eventually fatal, and because the decline typical of an Alzheimer's patient is so devastating, much research is currently being done to investigate potential treatments. With the elderly population the fastest growing segment of North American society, Alzheimer's threatens to be an even greater health concern in the future decades. For patients exhibiting mild cognitive impairment, research is being done on ways to slow the disease's progression. The two main thrusts of Alzheimer's research are biological, which seeks to determine organic, systemic contributing factors to the disease, and cognitive-behavioral, which examines whether the disease can be held at bay by engaging the brain in novel functions. Pharmaceutically, there are a few drugs approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's. These drugs just postpone the dementia-related declines, however, they don't offer any cure."

More papers on Alzheimer's Disease:

• Article Review # 113435 : "Alzheimer Disease and Exercise"
• Essay # 64343 : "Alzheimers Disease"
• Research Paper # 92033 : "Alzheimer's Disease"
• Research Paper # 113314 : "Alzheimer's Disease"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: