ALZHEIMER'S

DISEASE
AMORANTO | AZUGUE | BAMBA | CASER | NHIYAM | RAYMUNDO

DESCRIPTION
Alzheimers Disease

WHAT IS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?

-

A dementia involving a progressive atrophy of critical tissue

and marked by memory impartment, intellectual
deterioration, and in more extreme case, involuntary
movements of limbs, occasional convulsion, psychotic
behavior.
Plaques ( a small, round areas composed of remnants of
lost neurons and beta-amyloids, a waxy protein deposit:
present in the brains of patients with Alzheimers disease )
Neurofibrillary tangles ( abnormal protein filaments
present in the cell bodies of brain cell in patients with
Alzheimers )

THE 7 STAGE ALZHEIMER'S

Stage 1: No Impairment

During this stage, Alzheimers disease is not detectable and no

memory problems or other symptoms of dementia are evident.

Stage 2: Very Mild Decline

The senior may notice minor memory problems or lose things around
the house, although not to the point where the memory loss can easily
be distinguished from normal age related memory loss. The person will
still do well on memory tests and the disease is unlikely to be detected
by physicians or loved ones.

 Stage 3: Mild Decline

At this stage, the friends and family members of the senior
may begin to notice memory and cognitive problems.
Performance on memory and cognitive tests are affected and
physicians will be able to detect impaired cognitive function.
Patients in stage 3 will have difficulty in many areas
including:
Finding the right word during conversations
Remembering names of new acquaintances
Planning and organizing
People with stage three Alzheimers may also frequently lose
personal possessions, including valuables.

 Stage 4: Moderate Decline

In stage four of Alzheimers disease clear cut symptoms of
Alzheimers disease are apparent. Patients with stage four
Alzheimers disease:
Have difficulty with simple arithmetic
May forget details about their life histories
Have poor short term memory (may not recall what they
ate for breakfast, for example)
Inability to manage finance and pay bills

 Stage 5: Moderately Severe Decline

During the fifth stage of Alzheimers, patients begin to
need help with many day to day activities. People in stage
five of the disease may experience:
Significant confusion
Inability to recall simple details about themselves such
as their own phone number
Difficulty dressing appropriately
On the other hand, patients in stage five maintain a
modicum of functionality. They typically can still bathe and
toilet independently. They also usually still know their family
members and some detail about their personal histories,
especially their childhood and youth.

SYMPTOMS
Alzheimers Disease

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?
There are three main phases of Alzheimer's: mild, moderate, and
severe. Each stage has its own set of symptoms:
Mild Alzheimer's
The first stage usually lasts from 2 to 4 years. The symptoms include:
Having less energy and drive to do things
Less interest in work and social activities and spending more time
just sitting, watching TV, or sleeping
Loss of recent memories, like forgetting conversations and events
that just happened
Language problems, like trouble putting their thoughts into words
or understanding others

 Mild coordination problems, such as trouble writing or using

familiar objects.
A hard time with everyday tasks, such as following a recipe or
balancing a checkbook.
Mood swings that involve depression or a lack of interest.
Trouble with driving, like getting lost on familiar routes.
When a person has one or a few of these issues, it doesnt
necessarily mean he has Alzheimer's. There are other
medical conditions that can cause the same problems,
as:
such
Conditions
that affect metabolism, such as a thyroid

problem
Drug abuse
Taking medications that dont work well together
Parkinson's disease
A doctor can check on these symptoms and do tests to

Moderate Alzheimer's
This is when memory loss gets worse and starts to cause problems
in daily life. This stage can last from 2 to 10 years.

Rambling speech
Trouble coming up with the right words and using the
wrong ones
A hard time planning or solving problems
Confusion about time or place. He may get lost in places
hes been before. Once hes there, he may not know how or
why he got to that place.
Not dressing for the weather
Getting angry or upset easily, sometimes lashing out at
family or caregivers
Trouble sleeping
Wandering

Severe Alzheimer's
The third stage, also known as late Alzheimer's, is the most
severe. It typically lasts 1 to 3 years.

People in this phase might have some or all of these

symptoms:
Major confusion about whats in the past and whats
happening now
Cant express themselves, remember, or process
information
Problems with swallowing and control of their bladder
and bowels
Weight loss, seizures, skin infections, and other illnesses
Extreme mood swings
Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that arent really there,
called hallucinations

CAUSES
Alzheimers Disease

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S

DISEASE?
1. Neurofibrillary Tangles - Brain cells depend on an
internal support and transport system to carry nutrients
and other essential materials throughout their long
extensions. This system requires the normal structure and
functioning of a protein called tau. In Alzheimer's, threads
of tau protein twist into abnormal tangles inside brain
cells, leading to failure of the transport system. This
failure is also strongly implicated in the decline and death
of brain cells.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S

DISEASE?
2. Amyloid Plaques - These clumps of a protein called betaamyloid may damage and destroy brain cells in several ways,
including interfering with cell-to-cell communication. Although
the ultimate cause of brain-cell death in Alzheimer's isn't
known, the collection of beta-amyloid on the outside of brain
cells is a prime suspect.
Plaques are found between the dying cells in the brain - from
the build-up of a protein called beta-amyloid (you may hear
the term "amyloid plaques").

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S

DISEASE?
3. Neuron Loss or Brain Cell Death - It is a
neurodegenerative disease, which means there is progressive
brain cell death that happens over a course of time.
RISK FACTORS
4. Family History and Genetics Alzheimers disease has a
major genetic component. People with an Alzheimers victim in
their immediate family have a 50% chance of being stricken by
the disease if they survive into their 80s (Breitner,1990).

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S

DISEASE?
Your risk of developing Alzheimer's appears to be somewhat higher
if a first-degree relative your parent or sibling has the disease.
Scientists have identified rare changes (mutations) in three genes
that virtually guarantee a person who inherits them will develop
Alzheimer's. But these mutations account for less than 5 percent of
Alzheimer's disease. Most genetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's
among families remain largely unexplained. The strongest risk gene
researchers have found so far is apolipoprotein E4 (APoE4), though
not everyone with this gene goes on to develop Alzheimer's
disease. Other risk genes have been identified but not conclusively
confirmed.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S

DISEASE?
ApoE (Apolipoprotein E) is a protein in blood which the
body uses to move cholesterol in the blood. There are a
few types of ApoE that may be linked to a higher risk of
Alzheimer's. It could be that certain forms of it cause brain
damage. Some scientists think it plays a role in building
the plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimers.
Whether or not ApoE partly causes Alzheimer's, genes
almost certainly play a role in the disease. Someone with a
parent who had the disease is more likely to have it, too.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S

DISEASE?
5. Age - Increasing age is the greatest known risk factor for
Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is not a part of normal aging, but
your risk increases greatly after you reach age 65. The rate
of dementia doubles every decade after age 60. People with
rare genetic changes linked to early-onset Alzheimer's
begin experiencing symptoms as early as their 30s.
6. Sex - Women seem to be more likely than are men to
develop Alzheimer's disease, in part because they live
longer.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S

DISEASE?
7. Down Syndrome - Many people with Down syndrome
develop Alzheimer's disease. Signs and symptoms of
Alzheimer's tend to appear 10 to 20 years earlier in people
with Down syndrome than they do for the general
population. A gene contained in the extra chromosome that
causes Down syndrome significantly increases the risk of
Alzheimer's disease. This is because the genetic fault that
causes Down's syndrome can also cause amyloid plaques to
build up in the brain over time, which can lead to
Alzheimer's disease in some people.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S

DISEASE?
8. Past Head Trauma - People who've had a severe head
trauma seem to have a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease.
9. Lifelong Learning and Social Engagement - Studies
have found an association between lifelong involvement in
mentally and socially stimulating activities and a reduced
risk of Alzheimer's disease. Low education levels less
than a high school education appear to be a risk factor
for Alzheimer's disease.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER'S

DISEASE?
10. Lifestyle and Heart Health - There's no lifestyle
factor that's been definitively shown to reduce your risk of
Alzheimer's disease. However, some evidence suggests
that the same factors that put you at risk of heart disease
also may increase the chance that you'll develop
Alzheimer's. Examples include: lack of exercise, obesity,
smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, poorly controlled type 2
diabetes, a diet lacking in fruits and vegetables.

TREATMENT
Alzheimers Disease

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT(S) FOR

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?
Currently no cure
Can be spoken with a professional namely; a psychiatrist or
mental health nurse, a clinical psychologist, occupational
therapist or General Practitioner.

There are drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease that can

temporarily alleviate some symptoms or slow down their
progression in some people.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT(S) FOR

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?
Mild or Moderate stages - will often be prescribed a drug such as
donepezil (like Aricept), rivastigmine (like Exelon) or galantamine
(like Reminyl). These may help with memory problems, improve
concentration and motivation, and help with aspects of daily living.

Moderate or Severe stages - may be offered a different kind of

drug: memantine (like Ebixa). This may help with mental abilities
and daily living, and ease distressing or challenging behaviours
such as agitation and delusions

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT(S) FOR

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE?
If someone is depressed or anxious, talking therapies (such as
cognitive behavioural therapy) or drug treatments (such as
antidepressants) may also be tried. Counselling may help the
person adjust to the diagnosis.

It is beneficial for a person with Alzheimer's to keep up with

activities that they enjoy. Many people benefit from exercising
their mind with reading or puzzles. There is evidence that
attending sessions to keep mentally active helps.

TRIVIA
Alzheimers Disease

WAIT! THERES MORE!

35 million people worldwide have Alzheimers disease
Every 70 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimers disease
Alzheimers, now the fifth leading killer, rose 47% from 2000 to 2006
Alzheimers kills more than breast and prostate cancer combined
Early-onset Alzheimers can develop in people as young as age 30.
Some patients are unable to tell when they are full. They also have such
severe memory impairment that they do not recall if they have already eaten.

REFERENCES
Alzheimer's

disease
causes.
(2016).
Retrieved
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Alzheimers-disease/Pages/Causes.aspx

from:

Alzheimer's

disease
health
center.
(2015).
Retrieved
from:
http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/understanding-alzheimers-disease-basics

Alzheimer's disease. (2016). Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/dxc-20167103

MacGill, M. (2016). Alzheimer's disease: Causes, symptoms and treatments.

Retrieved
from:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159442.php#what_causes_alzheimers_
disease

Pinel, J.P.J. (2011). Biopsychology (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.