Jen Spanedda - Alzheimers Disease

Jen Spanedda - Period 8 Biology - Mr. DeJulio
Alzheimer's disease (AD), also known simply as Alzheimer's, is a neurodegenerative disease distinguished by progressive cognitive decay together with declining activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. It is the most common type of dementia, often occurring in the elderly over age 60.

The most recognizable early symptom is loss of memory (amnesia), which usually becomes visible as minor forgetfulness that becomes more pronounced with illness progression. There is a relative possession of older memories. As the disorder progresses, intellectual mutilation extends to the domains of language, fine motor skills, recognition of family, friends, or acquaintances, and those functions like decision-making and worsen as the disease progresses. This pathological process consists predominantly of neuronal loss or atrophy, principally in the temporoparietal cortex, but also in the frontal cortex, together with an inflammatory response to the deposition of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.

The cause of the disease is unknown. Genetic factors are known to be important, and dominant mutations in three different genes have been identified that account for a much smaller number of cases of Alzheimer’s. There are no ways to cure Alzheimer’s, although there are several treatments that can help delay the symptoms.

Alzheimer’s disease can be very stressful on families. How would you like it if your family member, or friend, could not recognize you? What if they woke up every morning and did not know where they were, or who they were? About 4 million older Americans have Alzheimer's. This number is expected to triple by the year 2050 as the population ages. You can go here: http://www.alzfdn.org/ to learn more about Alzheimer’s and how to help fund research for cures and treatments.


Resources:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alzheimersdisease.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimers">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimers