ALZHEIMER’S DISEASEBy Ana Yareli Mendoza

Introduction What is

Alzheimer’s? It’s a disease that

causes : Irreversible loss

in memory Language skills The ability to

care for oneself

Today early-onset occurs in young people

Symptoms Alzheimer’s

patients forget where they have left objects Keys Wallet and more

They may have difficulty remembering what day or month it is

They may become paranoid to engage in normal conversation

Also, they may live with other fatal diseases Pneumonia….

Brain Abnormalities

Proteins called tangles and plaques cause the brains of Alzheimer’s patients to shink and die. Tangles are long, slender tendrils

inside nerve cells, or neurons. Toxic plaques of fibers form outside

the neurons in the adjacent brain

Causes People who are more likely to

develop Alzheimer’s disease are: People with a family history of

Alzheimer’s and people with Down syndrome

People with chromosomes 1, 10, 14 and 19

Environmental causes include: High levels of aluminum in the brain Zinc exposure, food-borne poisons

Diagnosis

Tools to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease: Brain scans Neuropsychological examination Inquiry into the patient’s family

medical history

Treatment There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s

disease. Treatment with acetyllcholinesterase can However, benefit patients at all stage of

illness.

Caring for the Alzheimer’s Patient

The responsibility for caring for them falls on their spouses, children and caregivers.