The physical and mental effects of Alzheimers disease Research Paper

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The Physical and Mental Effects of Alzheimer’s Disease
An estimated 5.5 million Americans are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. It is predicted to reach approximately 14 million by the year 2050 and is currently in the sixth rank of the leading cause of death in the US. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease increases as a person reaches 65 years old. However, the likelihood will reach a steady-state upon reaching the age of 80 (nia.nih.gov). The diagnosis of this disease has a terrible impact both on the patient and the family of the patient. This disease is known to greatly affect the memories of an individual. This paper aims to further expand on this disease with the following research questions. What is Alzheimer’s disease? What are its signs and symptoms? What are the physical and mental effects of this disease? How to cope up with this disease?
Alzheimer’s disease falls under the category of dementia. It is a progressive disorder which involves the degeneration of brain cells. These brain cells would die later on causing the continuous decline of the individual’s thinking, behavioral, and social skills (mayoclinic.org). This is an irreversible disease that gradually impairs memory and thinking skills that would eventually lead to the inability of carrying out simple tasks (). The earliest signs of the disease are manifested as being forgetful of recent events or conversation. Severe memory impairment will develop as the disease will worsen ().
Initially, the person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease might be aware of his/her difficulty in remembering and organizing things. As the symptoms worsen, people around that individual will likely notice these changes, too. Alzheimer’s disease is associated with several brain impairments. These changes in brain functions include memory, thinking and reasoning, making judgments and decisions, planning and performing familiar tasks, and changes in personality and behavior. As the disease worsens, there are still important skills that are preserved. This includes reading books or listening to it, singing, dancing, telling stories, doing crafts, or drawing (pathwayshealth.org).
Alzheimer’s disease doesn't only affect the normal function of the brain, but it also affects one's physical body. As amyloid rampantly grows abnormally inside the body and eventually gets entangled with each other, physical movements will be affected (Wenk). The patient usually suffers from a lot of things since it also kills the healthy cells of the body. Normal routines become hard to do and this is the main reason why we have to take care of patients who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (Heneka, et al).
Loss of balance and coordination is one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Changes in walking are considered as one of the earliest indicators of the disease. The part of the brain that sends signals to the muscles is damaged, thus, affecting the control of movement. If the patient will not get the utmost assistance during these times, he might get into accidents such as tripping or falling. Difficulty in walking can be manifested a...