Alzheimer's disease Investigation

The most prevalent form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. Since it affects areas of the brain that control emotions and language, the disorder is a chronic disease that begins with mild memory loss. According to CDC data from 2013, up to 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer's disease (CDC, 2014). By 2050, the population is expected to reach 14 million (CDC, 2014).
Alzheimer's disease causes
Scientists do not completely understand the origin of the disease, according to the CDC website. However, there are several factors that influence the progression of the disease in people. The most well-known cause of the disease is old age (CDC, 2014). The numbers are projected to increase to 14 million by 2050 (CDC, 2014).
Causes of Alzheimer’s disease
According to the CDC website, scientists do not understand the cause of the condition fully. However, there are several factors that affect the development of the illness among people. Age is the best-known cause of the disease (CDC, 2014). Another factor is family history as researchers assert that genetics play an important role in the occurrence of the illness (CDC, 2014). Also, change in brain structure has been cited an important causal element. CDC studies indicate that diet, education and environmental factors contribute to the development of the sickness. (CDC, 2014)
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
Usually, Alzheimer’s disease is not considered part of normal aging process, and memory problems are often the initial symptoms associated with the condition. At the same time, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease experiences one of the following signs: loss of memory followed by disruption of life, trouble handling bills and money, difficulty in completing familiar tasks, poor judgment, misplacement of things and inability to trace them and change of mood, behaviors and personality (CDC, 2014). Similarly, the patient can experience depression. However, the above signs are same as those for others diseases. As such, a person should consult a healthcare provider to affirm the cause of memory loss, behavior changes and occurrence of poor thinking skills (CDC, 2014).
Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Information given on the CDC website indicates that medical management of the cases can improve one’s quality of life. However, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease currently (CDC, 2014). The primary treatment approach entails helping people maintain their mental functions, managing their behavioral changes, and delaying or slowing the symptom of the condition. More importantly, family and friend systems are important for caring for the individuals suffering from the illness (CDC, 2014). The caregiver can provide positive aspects that can bring personal fulfillment to the patient. For example, the help received from a friend or family member leads to the development of new skills as well as improved relationships (CDC, 2014).
What Life is like for People Living with Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease results in considerable challenges related to the level of the person’s ability. Therefore, people living with the sickness are forced to depend on others to accomplish their tasks. As the illness worsens, such persons often need more intensive care from family members and friends (CDC, 2014). In particular, it becomes difficult for them to cope with daily activities with receiving aid from caregivers.
Preventing the Disease
Some of the ways of preventing Alzheimer’s disease include having regular exercises, social engagement and eating healthy diets. Other important factors considered include mental stimulation to continue learning new things and challenging the brains, having a quality sleep to prevent insomnia and management of stress (CDC, 2014). Chronic stress can affect the brain heavily resulting in shrinkage and of the important memory areas, hampering the growth of the nerve cells and increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (CDC, 2014).
Section II
Summary of Information under the ‘overview’ tab of the Health People 2020 Website
The website asserts that Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that leads to loss of cognitive function: remembering, thinking and reasoning to the extent that it disrupts the individual’s daily life (Healthy People 2020, 2014). As a form of dementia, the sickness presents a set of symptoms such as memory loss. Further, the site illustrates that it is imperative for the patient to have a diagnosis to allow effective treatment and care (Healthy People 2020, 2014). However, it is fundamental to distinguish dementia from other diseases that can cause loss of cognitive functions. Some of such circumstances include side effect from a medication, chronic alcoholism, tumor and infection in the brain, dehydration, delirium, depression, and deficiency of vitamin B12 (Healthy People 2020, 2014).
Alzheimer’s disease reduces the patient’s quality of life as it can diminish the ability to manage medications, making financial decisions, avoiding physical injuries, driving a car, maintaining a social relationship and carrying routine tasks such as dressing or bathing. Also, the information provided offer insight into the steps that can be taken to improve care and support for people with Alzheimer’s disease (Healthy People 2020, 2014). Some of the approaches encompass increasing the availability of tools for diagnosis, decreasing a number of undiagnosed cases, reducing the severity of behavioral and cognitive symptoms using medical management. Other ways include supporting caregivers with legal, behavioral, social resources and encouraging healthy changes to reduce the risk (Healthy People 2020, 2014).
The last section of the page gives details about the major risk factor that leads to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. These are related to age and family history. The condition affects adults aged 65 years and above (Healthy People 2020, 2014). Further, researchers have identified three genes associated with early onset of the illness. Recently, an international research team realized 19 new genes linked to the increased risk of late-onset of dementia.
Modifiable and Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
From what I learned from the disease, the modifiable factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease include health services. The prevalence of the diseases is because of the fact that primary care providers do not screen for the sickness routinely. Therefore, most people are undiagnosed, especially, in rural regions. Additionally, other modifiable factors include chronic medical conditions. Lack of diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease increases the risk of an individual’s access to health care, support, and needed management as well as coordination (Healthy People 2020, 2014). However, the age and family history are non-modifiable elements that result in the development of the sickness. Individuals above 65 years are significantly affected by the condition as compared to the younger generation. Further, it is evident that researchers have identified gene mutations that result in the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease (Healthy People 2020, 2014).
Interventions Recommended for the Diseases
The recommended interventions for Alzheimer’s disease are simulated present therapy, palliative care and cognitive impairment screening for older adults (Healthy People 2020, 2014). Simulated presence therapy is type of treatment that has been proven to work. The approach has been used in nursing homes and is achieved through playing audiotapes and personalized video recording of family members (Healthy People 2020, 2014). The efficacy of the approach has been determined through randomized and quasi-control trials.
Palliative Care intervention is a management method aimed at reducing pain as well as maintaining the best possible quality of life. The technique is used for people suffering from cancer and not individuals with dementia (Healthy People 2020, 2014). However, recently there has been ongoing research that aims at identifying use of palliative care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers have found that giving patients with the condition information that explains how to feed make their lives a little easier.
Cognitive impairment screening for older adults has been cited as another important management technique for Alzheimer’s disease. However, institutions such as the United States Preventive Service Task Force show that there is insufficient evidence that supports effectiveness of the method. The current data about its use is conflicting and of poor quality (Healthy People 2020, 2014).
Section III
The most interesting resources prepared by CDC for a health professional to use when working with patients, clients, and public to help individuals comprehend how to treat better, prevent and manage Alzheimer’s disease is a healthy aging program (CDC, 2014). The material of the approach is designed to health provider learn about how to engage with patients in different activities. The plan also allows them to access information regarding old adults (CDC, 2014). Another important resource is the National Institute on Aging (NIH) that provide details to healthcare professional related to basic of Alzheimer’s diseases and caregiving, offering physical activities and exercises, healthy eating and doctor-patient communication as well as the end of life care (CDC, 2014).
One of the fundamental materials found in the community health media center is the CDC healthy schools that offer ways o engaging with content from the organization including videos, podcast, and infographics (CDC, 2014). The resource allows people to share information to their social media to encourage the readers to adopt healthy behaviors for schools. The other resource is the healthy community design PowerPoint Presentation that teaches people how physician affect their physical and mental health (CDC, 2014).
The most valuable resources for Alzheimer’s diseases under the Resource, Publications and Press segment include Health Literacy Toots for Professional Working with Older Adults and Brain Health as you Age (CDC, 2014). Health Literacy Toots for Professional Working with Older Adults provides information required when communication with older adults which also applies to a patient with Alzheimer’s diseases. Brain Health as you Age gives details regarding the factors that should be taken into account to keep one’s brain healthy which prevent occurrence of dementia conditions (CDC, 2014).











References
CDC. (2014). Alzheimer’s disease. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. Retrieved 16th Nov. 2017 from https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm
CDC. (2014). Community Health Media center. Retrieved 16th Nov. 2017 from https://nccd.cdc.gov/chmc/Apps/searchresults.aspx?t=n
CDC. (2014). Resource, Publications, and Press. Retrieved 16th Nov. 2017 from https://www.cdc.gov/aging/publications/index.htm#
Healthy People 2020. (2014). Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Retrieved 16th Nov. 2017 from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/dementias-including-alzheimers-disease
Healthy People 2020. (2014). Find evidence-based information and recommendation related to dementia including Alzheimer’s disease. Retrieved 16th Nov. 2017 from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/dementias-including-alzheimers-disease/ebrs