Alzheimers disease

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Alzheimer 's disease

I . Introduction

A . Alzheimer disease

Alzheimer 's disease is a progressive , irreversible , degenerative neurologic disease that begins insidiously and is characterized by gradual losses of cognitive function and disturbances in behavior and affect . Alzheimer 's disease is not found exclusively in the elderly in 1 to 10 of cases , its onset occurs in middle age . A family history of Alzheimer 's disease and the presence of Down syndrome are two established risk factors for Alzheimer 's disease

. Of family members have at least one other relative with Alzheimer 's disease , then a familial component , which non- specifically includes both environmental triggers and genetic determinants , is said to exist . Genetic studies show that autosomal- dominant forms of Alzheimer 's disease are associated with early onset and early death

In 1987 , chromosome 21 was first implicated in early-onset familial Alzheimer 's disease . Soon after , the gene coding fro amyloid precursor protein or APP was also found to be on chromosome 21 . Not until 1991 was an actual mutation in association with familial Alzheimer 's disease found in the APP gene of chromosome 21 . For those with this gene , onset of Alzheimer 's disease began in their 50 's . Only a few of the cases of familial Alzheimer 's disease have been found to involve this genetic mutation . In 1992 , chromosome 14 was found to contain an unidentified mutation also linked to familial Alzheimer 's disease . Since 1995 molecular biologists have been discovering even more- specific genetic information about the various forms of Alzheimer 's disease , including genetic differences between early- and late- onset Alzheimer 's disease These genetic differences are helping to pinpoint risk factors associated with the disease , although the genetic indicators are not specific enough to be used as reliable diagnostic markets

A . Causes / Risk Factors

Symptoms of AD are usually subtle in onset and often progress slowly until they are obvious and devastating . The changes characteristic of AD into three general categories : cognitive , functional , and behavioral Reversible causes of AD include alcohol abuse , medication use psychiatric diss , and normal- pressure hydrocephalus . Increasing age is the leading risk factor of people getting Alzheimer 's disease

II . Symptoms , Changes by Psychological and Behavioral

A . Dementia

Symptoms are usually subtle in onset and often progress slowly until they are obvious and devastating . The changes characteristics of dementia fall into three general categories cognitive , functional and behavioral . In the early stages of Alzheimer 's disease , forgetfulness and subtle memory loss occur . The patient may experience small difficulties in work or social activities but has adequate cognitive function to hide the loss and can function independently . Depression may occur at this time . With further progression of the disease , the deficits can no longer be concealed Forgetfulness is manifested in many daily actions . These patients may lose their ability to recognize familiar faces , places , and objects and may get lost in a familiar environment . They may repeat the same stories because they forget that they...