Alzheimer's disease
This is a primary degenerative brain disease of unknown actiology that is insidious in onset, followed by gradual deterioration and death in about 10 years. The onset can be in middle adult life or even earlier, but the incidence is higher in later life. Patients particularly at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease are those who have a family history, who have sustained head injury or have Down's syndrome.
The most significant early symptom is the loss of memory (amnesia), which usually manifests as minor forgetfulness that becomes steadily more pronounced with the progression of illness, with relative preservation of old memories. As the disorder progresses, intellectual impairment extends to the domains of language, recognition and other functions of the brain degenerate due to underlying pathological process.
Important features and possible treatment of the Alzheimer's disease are enumerated to follow our case studies.
Apart from the progressive senile dementia the following features are markedly visible -
a) Impaired ability to learn new information or to recall previously learned information. b) A decline in language functions and, in particular, increased difficulty with name and understanding what is being said. c) Impaired ability to carry out body movements d) Failure to recognize or identify objects despite intact sensory function.
Some common features are also noticed. Behavioral changes are common, including wandering, agitation and aggression. Symptoms may be subtle at first and can be confused with depression.
Recent research on the Alzheimer's disease indicates that building up of toxic protein in the brain develops symptoms, such as, memory problem and loss of ability to carry out everyday tasks, such as, washing and dressing. Scientists have also found that a reduced flow of oxygen to the brain can cause Alzheimer's disease, and that people who snore heavily are among those most at risk.
The onslaught of the Alzheimer's disease is becoming an increasing problem as the population ages are substantially increasing. It is observed that about 10% - 15% of the population over age 65 and about 50% of population of 85 years of age has some degree of dementia, a basic characteristic of the Alzheimer's disease. Apart from round the clock care to the patients, some other useful treatment approach on human being may be suggested.
Treatment
Studies have shown that certain drugs delay and sometimes reverse intellectual decline in those patients who can tolerate the side effects. Those who respond to the drugs usually improve to the level of function present 6 * 12 months previously. Sometimes memory tests are conducted for improving the memory of objects, number and words. Researchers believe that stimulating the brain with a magnetic coil can boost the growth of cells in one of the areas vulnerable to condition. It is observed that the technique does not require surgery but can connect and strengthen the cells. This experimental tool applied in the case of animal is still to be seen whether it is effective in the case of human body. “It may be a way of reinforcing connections that are becoming weaker”, observes Professor John Rothwell of the Institute of Neurology at University College , London .
Community services such as a visiting nurse, a home health aide to assist with personal hygiene, a homemaker to assist with household work, meal delivery, transportation services and pertaining care to erase the burden on family members are often suggested to give partial relief to the patient and family members. Professional institutions may also help them to anticipate the problems.
As the Alzheimer's disease is an incurable neuropsychiatric condition in which progressive impairment of cognitive function occurs, it places burden on families and on the health care system. Patients are treated for medical problem that arise and also provided with nutrition for arresting health decline.
So far we have analyzed the causes, features and some useful treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In the following we shall deal with the observed phenomena from our sample survey of three patients, who are all woman with age ranging from 70 to 83. The first two succumbed owing to their illness, the third is still surviving.
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