Alzheimers Disease Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Alzheimers Disease - Research Paper Example He begins to forget the names of acquaintances, relatives or even members of the family. When the disease starts getting worse, the patient may even forget how to eat, drink or go to toilet. His behavior may become violent and intolerant. Such patients are in need of proper care despite the frustration arising among the members of his family. One is more at the risk of having this disease if he had a similar case in his family. Alzheimer’s disease has become the seventh major death cause in the United States and at present 5.3 million Americans are Alzheimer’s patients (Alzheimer’s Association, 2010). These are anomalous collections of a protein, known as beta-amyloid, inside the neurons, which may form due to abnormal processing of this protein. When an inflammation occurs in the region of these plaques, it causes the death of the neurons. Let’s discuss the symptoms with respect to stages. Stage 1, mild stage, may have symptoms like losing way, trouble in calculating bills, asking something repeatedly, taking longer to perform daily tasks, having trouble in decision-making and problem-solving, putting things in weird places, withdrawing from social life, and showing attitude problems. Stage 2, moderate stage, shows symptoms like requiring assistance in performing daily tasks, forgetting recent happenings and acquaintances, mixing up distant past with recent past, having language problems, wandering away, becoming depressed, facing insomnia and eating troubles. Stage 3, severe stage, has symptoms like being unable to feed oneself, control bowel and urinary movements, speak, read, write or recognize members of the family. Memory vanishes away totally (American Health Assistance Foundation, 2010). Alzheimer’s disease does not have a specific treatment; however, measures can be taken to help patients maintain their mental health and normal behavioral patterns to slow down the progress of the disease (National Institute on Aging, 2010). The