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Getting older, many people face problems associated with memory and concentration. Such changes are often considered normal and are discussed in the framework of aging when they do not affect the level of function adversely. Nevertheless, many representatives of the elderly deal with memory loss that prevents them from living independently and happily. In the majority of cases, Alzheimer’s disease turns out to be the cause of this problem. It is a slowly progressive illness that affects human brain and leads to dementia. In this way, issues with memory are eventually accompanied by language and perception problems. Even though Alzheimer can be associated with genetic risks, it is mainly connected to aging. That is why increased age is a reason to start utilizing preventive measures. The symptoms of this disease can be of different severity while its causes remain unknown, which proves that additional attention should be paid to it.
Vulnerable Population and Causes
Alzheimer’s disease can be caused by different risk factors, but in the majority of cases, it is associated with aging. One in five people who are older than 65 years old suffers from this health issue while about 30% of people who are over 85 years old are affected by it (Galimberti & Scarpini, 2013). In order to protect these individuals from the possibility of facing negative consequences of Alzheimer’s disease, professionals developed various treatments. However, they do not seem to be rather effective because the number of affected older adults fails to minimalize.
Even though Alzheimer’s usually affects people over 70 years of age, it can also be found in those who are about 40-50 years old. In these cases, inherited gene mutations are considered (Farinde, 2012). Professionals usually pay attention to apolipoprotein E when they consider that a patient is likely to belong to this population. According to other studies, the levels of estrogen may affect the risk of having Alzheimer’s (Chhibber & Zhao, 2014). In this way, elderly women are considered to be at a higher risk of developing this disease. However, professionals still reveal their doubts considering the last two causes of Alzheimer’s, which means that aging is the only risk factor that can be definitely discussed.
Symptoms and Consequences
Alzheimer’s disease develops slowly, so those older adults who experience some of its symptoms have an opportunity to contact a healthcare professional in order to obtain required assistance. In particular, attention should be paid to the ability to perceive and memorize information (Boyle et al., 2012). If associated problems are observed, an older person can ask repetitive questions or start one and the same conversations several times. He/she can put things in different places and forget their location. In this way, one can not only miss some appointments but also get lost being next to his/her home. Reasoning and judgment can also be affected because of Alzheimer’s disease (Boyle et al., 2012). In this way, an older adult can hardly understand safety risks or make well-developed decisions. He/she cannot cope with multiple activities and manage personal finances. Visuospatial abilities can also be affected (Quental, Brucki, & Bueno, 2013). The elderly may not recognize familiar faces and items or use ordinary tools, such as clothes. Personality and behavior can also alter, which leads to mood changes and unacceptable actions.
An acute form of Alzheimer can be indicated if a person’s condition worsens daily, but generally, its progression is divided into several stages (Delrieu, Piau, Caillaud, Voisin, & Vellas, 2011). The first one occurs before any symptoms can be perceived. The second one starts with the mild impairment. The third one presupposes the beginning of dementia. Unfortunately, this disease is not usually diagnosed before the mild decline is observed because of the absence of a single test. As physicians need to focus on signs and symptoms to develop this diagnosis, they fail to find Alzheimer’s at the first stage. Nevertheless, the focus on medical history, neurological function, blood and urine tests, cognitive and memory tests, as well as MRI, make it easier to reveal if an aged person has Alzheimer’s (Delrieu et al., 2011).
Coping
The death of brain cells causes all those symptoms that are observed in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this process, but several therapeutic interventions can make the life of the elderly who are affected by this disease easier. For instance, drug therapy can be rather advantageous for the reduction of Alzheimer’s symptoms (Delrieu et al., 2013). Cholinesterase inhibitors can be used to increase the amount of chemical neurotransmitter that reduces because of this illness. Cognitive rehabilitation may be advantageous, but its effects are rather limited because the brain is affected anyway. Increased social interaction and engagement in enjoyable activities can enhance the quality of life. Psychiatric symptoms may be treated with standard medication. Nevertheless, the prognosis for the elderly with this healthcare issue is not positive because it cannot be cured.
Gaps in Literature
Unfortunately, information about Alzheimer’s that is currently available has numerous gaps because of the lack of research. It would be advantageous if the causes of this illness were revealed in detail, describing why some older adults start suffering from this disease while others manage to live normal lives. More information about prevention and the possibility of early diagnosis would be helpful, as it can reduce the number of affected older adults. Finally, the ways to minimalize adverse effects of Alzheimer’s and additional possibilities to enhance the quality of life should be discussed.
References
Boyle, P., Yu, L., Wilson, R., Gamble, K., Buchman, A., & Bennett, D. (2012). Poor decision making is a consequence of cognitive decline among older persons without Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment. PLoS One, 7(8), e43647.
Chhibber, A., & Zhao, L. (2017). ERBeta and ApoE isoforms interact to regulate BDNF-5-HT2A signaling and synaptic function in the female brain. Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, 9, 2-10.
Delrieu, J., Piau, A., Caillaud, C., Voisin, T., & Vellas, B. (2011). Managing cognitive dysfunction through the continuum of Alzheimer’s disease: Role of pharmacotherapy. CNS Drugs, 25(3), 213-226.
Farinde, A. (2012). Exploring Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer’s type dementia). The Pharma Innovation, 1(10), 33-46.
Galimberti, D., & Scarpini, E. (2013). Progress in Alzheimer’s disease research in the last year. Journal of Neurology, 260(7), 1936-1941.
Quental, N., Brucki, S., & Bueno, O. (2013). Visuospatial function in early Alzheimer’s disease—the use of the visual object and space perception (VOSP) battery. PLoS One, 8(7), e68398.
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