Alzheimer's Disease

Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that most people mistake for madness even though medical world provides information that is contrary to this common myth. Madness is mostly caused by collateral brain damage from accidents or heavy physical impacts on the head, or excessive consumption of illicit drugs. On the other hand, Alzheimer’s disease is a form of disease that affects the brain and its normal function through destruction of its memory, reasoning and cognitive functions. Therefore, it largely interferes with the normal activities a person carries out on a normal day especially in social environments. It emerges as a result of declining cognition as a result of aging, hence is part of a broader class of mental diseases called dementia (Knowles, 2004).

The term Alzheimer’s disease was first coined in Germany by a neuropathologist called Alois Alzheimer resulting to the disease being named after him in 1906. One of the most prevalent characteristic of this disease is the fact that it has no cure and its detrimental effects to the mental health of a person cumulate as the disease progresses. Currently, there is no means to stop the disease from occurring, but there is a range of medications such as Piracetam that has been developed to slow down the effects of the diseases temporarily.

Although the medication increases the victims functionality and independence, this trend of symptoms continues until the disease becomes fatal; causing the victim to die. Very few cases of Alzheimer’s disease have been recorded among young people and in most of these cases, it was a diagnostic error. This is because the disease affects mostly the people of the age above 65 years even though its initial symptoms start revealing themselves at an earlier stage of life (Knowles, 2004).

Alzheimer’s disease is currently not preventable but there are some risk factors that can be tied to the disease. These have been inferentially developed since they are things that are only observed in the people with the disease hence denote direct connection. For the purpose of clarity in this paper, the risk factors are in two categories; avoidable and unavoidable. The unavoidable risk factors include family history, sex and age. The avoidable include other related diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, traumatic head injury and sleeping disorders like sleep apnea.

Unavoidable Risk Factors

Age- Alzheimer’s disease, as shown by recent data on the disease, mostly affects people of the age above 65 years. Most cases in this group have been recorded among the higher end of this age group (80-85 years) therefore aging increases the risk of getting the disease.

Family history- this makes the second highest risk factor of getting the disease. Families with someone that has the disease are at a higher genetic risk of obtaining the disease since the hormonal discharges of the brain are largely affected by genes. Recent research shows that having a particular gene composition may increase the level of vulnerability to this disease (Barrack 2012). For example, the apolipoprotein gene E, commonly referred to as APOE gene, generates a risk factor that is eight times more potent than that of a person without the gene (Perry, 2006).

Sex- statistical studies show that women have recorded more numbers than men with respect to this disease. Medically, this has been thought to be as a result of women being more emotional than men. A woman releases a lot of emotional hormones to the brain hence is more susceptible to mental stress compared to a man. This makes them at a higher level of risk due to the constant pressure to the brain.

Avoidable Risk Factors

Related Diseases- Studies show that diseases involved with blood vessels like high blood pressure increase the risk to Alzheimer’s disease. This is because diabetes, cholesterol-related diseases and high blood pressure result to the distortion of the normal blood flow in the body. The brain cannot survive without blood since it is highly dependent on oxygen blood transports for it to function at an optimum rate. Moreover, these diseases increase the risk level of getting a stroke; stroke is major cause of dementia Alzheimer’s disease being among the different types.

Traumatic head injury-This type of injury increases the level of risk to this disease in the same way the diseases mentioned above work. Traumatic head injuries result to constriction of some of the vessels that feed the brain. A worse case occurs when the vessels, due to constriction that increases the pressure they are subjected to, rapture resulting to brain hemorrhage. This may work with other physiological factors to result to Alzheimer’s disease.

Sleeping disorders-The relation between Alzheimer’s disease and sleeping disorders has not been scientifically understood so far. Mental health scientists are trying to tie these two but have not come up with any specific conclusion. It is however a general observation that people with Alzheimer’s disease experience sleeping irregularities. These include inconsistent sleeping patterns, insomnia, wake-sleep-wake sleeping patterns and heavy sleeping during the day. This can be worked reversely to denote a risk of getting the disease (Perry, 2006)

Causes and Symptoms

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease has not yet been clearly defined since scientists have not comprehensively understood the origin and root cause. The latest studies indicate that the diseases results from a series of processes that occur in the brain after a very long time. These processes and events culminate from a combination of diet and lifestyle, environmental factors and genetic composition of a person. There have been several explanations to the cause of this disease. However, these explanations have not been scientifically proven hence are just hypotheses.

Genetics Hypothesis

This is the causative agent of the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease that occurs among the people between the age of 30 and 60 years. This from of the disease is very rare as it only accounts for less than 7% of the total number of people with Alzheimer’s disease. The genetic factors causing this form of the disease are familial forms of genes that are not sex-linked but are inheritable. The other form of the disease, here referred to as late onset for purposes of distinction in this paper, develops in people above the age of 60 years. This from is mainly caused by the apolipoprotein E, also called the APOE gene, that has several forms.

The form that has high potency in increasing the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease is APOE ε4. APOE ε4 genes carry instructions for the making of proteins that plays a role in carrying cholesterol and fats in the blood. However, having this gene in one’s genetic framework does not necessarily mean that one will get the disease and does not, in the same way, exempt those who do not have it. Rather, this gene jus increases the risk of getting the disease (Kuhn, 2003).

Environmental and Lifestyle Hypothesis

This hypothesis serves to combine the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease, decline in cognition and conditions of vascular and metabolic nature within the body. Conditions like stroke, diabetes, obesity and heart disease have a direct relationship with Alzheimer’s disease in the sense that they all affect the level of flow of blood into the brain. Consumption of junk and unhealthy foods, lack of exercises and social activity and engagement in mentally challenging activities like chess, puzzles and reading are all lifestyle downfalls that may lead to getting Alzheimer’s disease at old age (Callone, 2010).

Symptoms

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease occur throughout the progressive stages of the disease. They vary in intensity and direct effect to the cognition of a person. The symptoms and the stages of the disease will be highlighted simultaneously in this section.

The first stage of Alzheimer’s disease is pre-dementia. This raises less alarm since it is disguised by some of the things that come along with ageing or mental stress like occasionally forgetting things. The symptoms in this stage can hide for more than eight years before one is fully diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms like loss of memory; forgetting things they learnt most recently like the names of a new born, and difficulty in acquiring new information. This stage also comes along with depression and high irritability and victims of the disease have high apathy (Callone, 2010).

The second stage of Alzheimer’s disease is the early stage in which diagnosis can be made due to the high distortion of the learning and memory processes. They have more problems in language and articulation, perception and struggle while making movements and less memory deficiencies. This stage affects mostly the short-term memory of the person and they lack the capacity to remember things learnt in the recent past. The fluency of their speech and loss of vocabulary makes it hard for them to read, write and communicate verbally. They are still independent since they can still write, draw and dress but they struggle with movement and planning and this can go unnoticed (Ballenger, 2006).

The third stage is the moderate stage where independence is largely compromised; impoverished speech can be noted since they frequently use wrong vocabulary substitutions and reading and writing skills are highly reduced. The victims demonstrate less coordination in movement and they occasionally fall. Memory loss of both the long-term and short-term memories intensifies and they cannot remember close relatives. They are normally very highly irritable, cry for no reason and resist any help given to them by caregivers. They also experience urinary incontinence (Ballenger, 2006).

The third and final stage is the advanced stage where there is no level of independence. The victims’ language becomes completely impaired and they use very simple phrases, sometimes even single words to express themselves. However, they understand emotions but experience very high levels of apathy. They forget simple behavioral concepts like using a fork to eat and become completely immobile hence are bedridden. They cannot even feed themselves and progression of the disease can lead to death (Ballenger, 2006).

Initiatives to address Alzheimer's disease

The government has devised initiatives to address Alzheimer’s disease in the US. The national plans to address the disease include creating a public awareness of the disease. The government plans to increase the public awareness of the disease to the people (Brill 2005). In addition, it plans to improve the healthcare individuals with the disease receive. This includes a national improvement of the quality of individual healthcare. The government also plans to expand the existing health care capacity in order to meet the rising number of needs of Alzheimer’s patients. In addition, there are plans to better equip the professionals in the health care through training on how to deal with Alzheimer’s patients (Hooper 2000).

There are also plans to develop a workforce that will cater for the increasing number of aging individuals and those who have Alzheimer’s disease. There is a nationwide appeal by the government for researchers and other stake holders in the health docket to conduct research on the disease (Barrack 2012). Extensive research on the disease will ensure that the information collected is studied and analyzed for possible causes and ways to cure the diseases. With time, there may be a breakthrough. This is facilitated by the government through creating an improved system of data collection in regard to Alzheimer’s diseases and the burden it causes to public health and social livelihoods (Hooper 2000). The government encourages all individuals to undertake in activities which will improve and maintain the general health of the brain. This will reduce the rate of individuals contracting the disease as healthy brains give little room for attack by Alzheimer’s.

Plans in the state level to address the disease are more precise and specific in nature. They are not generalized as those in the national agenda of address because in there is direct contact of the disease and its effect in the state (Hooper 2000). At this level, there are plans to pursue funding from philanthropists to address the hefty financial need of dealing with the disease. In addition, the funds collected will also be used to carry out statewide educational campaigns.

At the state level, plans to develop content that will create awareness on a variety of issues as regards to Alzheimer’s including the early signs of the disease, strategies for obtaining effective diagnosis, support and treatment, the financial cost to an individual of the care (long-term) and the personal and community responsibility (Hooper 2000). In addition, the content will also contain encouragement messages and images of people who are living positively with the diseases.

The state also plans to partner with the education department of elementary and secondary level and educate young student on the facts and conditions an individual encounters when aging while laying emphasis on reduced physical and cognitive abilities and how these are related to Alzheimer’s disease (Hooper 2000).

At the local levels, caregivers are usually involved (Hooper 2000). The government and state at this level plans to give support to the care givers through funding. The caregivers are also provided with professional guidance that will enable them manage and navigate well through the issues and challenges of taking care of the patients. There is caregiver assessment, consultation, care management, counseling, use of assistive technology, respite care and support groups that function to reinforce the caregiver’s role in looking after the patient.

In addition, caregivers such as friends and family members have been empowered to register and participate in the educational programs being offered by the state, (Hooper 2000) nonprofit firms and health care providers. In addition, businesses have been asked to provide necessary support to caregivers. These include counseling, referrals, flexible work hours and other initiatives that give support to these caregivers.

The implication to health education

Health education entails the process of professional addressing individuals about health. It covers such aspects as social, physical, emotional, environmental and spiritual health (Soukup 1996). This paper is concerned with physical health concerns of individuals citing the Alzheimer’s disease. It is important for health workers to study the disease as little is known about its cause; there is no vaccine or cure for the disease. The disease continues to be the most expensive disease in societies of developed nations (Soukup 1996). A study of the disease by health workers and practitioners may bring forth new findings of its cause, ways to prevent it and possible treatment of the disease. This will ensure that governments of these developed countries save significant amounts of cash that would have been used to cater for the sick suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

The disease comes with an intense social cost. An individual suffering from the disease requires special care by a care giver. This causes an extra burden to the caregivers. A study of the disease and its implication of the social life of individuals close to the patient will enable health care providers’ device equitable ways of handling a patient without having to suffer a lot in the process. Studying the disease in health looks not only at the biological and health implications of the disease to an individual but also assess the social implications of the diseases to the individual and those around him/her (Lu & Bludau 2011).

In health education, a study of Alzheimer’s disease will ensure that the health workers are able to cater for both the individual and community needs of those suffering from the diseases (Lu & Bludau 2011). This is because understandings of the disease from extensive studies in health education enables the professionals have a grasp of the disease in depths. These health practitioners will then apply this knowledge to individuals and communities affected with the disease to ensure that they have much better experiences since the disease cannot be cured.

Through study of the disease in health education, the professionals can develop strategies and intervention programs. Such include sensitizing the public on the disease and how best individuals can mitigate against it from the suspected causes of the ailment. The health practitioners then implement these strategies and intervention programs in the community (Lu & Bludau 2011). These strategies can be very helpful in solving the challenge that Alzheimer’s disease come with since it has no cure or prevention. As always, it is better prepared than ambushed. With community cohesion, the effects of the disease and its general impact can be reduced significantly.

Studying of the disease in health studies ensures that the students have enough education resources and material which aid in the overall understanding of the disease. In school, the students taking health studies receive administrative support and school resources. Such include data and findings on the diseases documented in libraries and even opportunities to interact freely with patients for academic purposes. This gives the students hands on experience of the disease.

Studying of the disease in school ensures that students can conduct an evaluation (Barrack 2012) on the diseases. The students develop a research design while in school, and carry out the research while testing the hypothesis they have formed about the probable cause of the disease or cure (Lu & Bludau 2011). This is a very important factor as major breakthroughs in history have originated from research. It is therefore important the health curriculum of health studies gives a provision for the study of Alzheimer’s disease as this may lead to breakthroughs.

Summary

Alzheimer’s disease is a major challenge to our society causing major financial implications to the government. Even though the cause of the disease is not yet known, the lifestyle of an individual contributes a lot to the contraction of the disease. This includes the cognitions, stress, emotions, physical exercise and even eating habits of the individual. The government has stepped in to address the issue through creation of measures that will curb the spread of the disease and maintain the existing cases of the diseases. Children are taught from a tender age on the effects of nagging and how to avoid related stresses as this may trigger Alzheimer’s disease. Nationwide and state campaigns are being carried out by the government and states to address the same. The study of the disease has been integrated in the health curriculum to ensure students are trained well from an early stage and grasp the whole concept of Alzheimer’s disease.

References

Ballenger, J. F. (2006). Self, senility, and Alzheimer's disease in modern America: A history. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press

Barrack, S. (2012). Advances in research and treatment for Alzheimer's disease. S.l.: InternetMedical Pub.

Brill, M. T. (2005). Alzheimer's disease. New York, NY: Benchmark Books.

Callone, P. R. (2010). Alzheimer's disease--the dignity within: A handbook for caregivers, family, and friends. Australia: ReadHowYouWant.

Hooper, N. M. (2000). Alzheimer's disease: Methods and protocols. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press.

Knowles, R. (2004). Alzheimer's disease. Upple Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Kuhn, D. (2003). Alzheimer's early stages: First steps for families, friends, and caregivers. Alameda, CA: Hunter House Publishers.

Lu, L. C., & Bludau, J. H. M. D. (2011). Alzheimer's Disease. Westport: ABC-CLIO.

Perry, G. (2006). Alzheimer's disease: A century of scientific and clinical research. Amsterdam: IOS Press.

Soukup, J. E. (1996). Alzheimer's disease: A guide to diagnosis, treatment, and management.Westport, Conn: Praeger.