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In stage five, the affected person will begin to experience "major gaps in memory and deficits in cognitive function" and may require some type of assistance with "day-to-day activities like preparing meals, taking a bath or putting on clothing. The affected person will also lack the ability to recall very simple, ordinary things like his/her address, telephone number or even the name of his/her spouse or close friend and will be unable to recall where they are in a physical setting, such as in a shopping mall or even their own home, and will not be able to recall what day of the week it is or the exact date (2009, "The Warning Signs of Alzheimer's," Internet).
In stage six, the affected person will experience severe cognitive decline in the form of a change in his/her personality and will not be able to "recollect their personal history, such as where they attended high school or college or perhaps in what state they live." Also during this stage, the affected person will begin to experience changes in sleeping patterns and will not be able to change their own clothes or use the bathroom without some type of assistance. They also tend to wander away from their homes and become lost in surroundings which they normally would instantly recognize. In addition, the affected person may not be able to recognize their own face in the mirror nor the faces of loved ones, friends and family members (2009, "The Warning Signs of Alzheimer's," Internet).
Finally, in stage seven, the affected person will become completely helpless and will "lose the ability to respond to...
The affected person will also be unable to eat properly and will have difficulty swallowing and even breathing. Obviously, at this stage in the progression of Alzheimer's, the affected person becomes much like a child and will not be able to speak properly as though he/she has completely forgotten their own language.
As pointed out by the Alzheimer's Association, there were a number of great advances, beginning in 2007, related to diagnosing and treating Alzheimer's disease. One very important area is related to determining the genetic risks of contracting the disease which has been shown through research to be a major cause of Alzheimer's. Unfortunately, for those persons affected by early onset Alzheimer's, current research has not determined why this occurs in certain persons. It should be remembered that early onset Alzheimer's is very rare and occurs in less than 2% of the population. Thus, the future of Alzheimer's research seems bright and full of promise, especially because of technological advances which someday may make this terrible and debilitating disease a thing of the past.
References
The Warning Signs of Alzheimer's." Alzheimer's Association. 2009. Internet. Retrieved January 23, 2009 at http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_symptoms_of_alzheimers.asp?gclid=CJfdgdv5o5gCFQrFGgodwnf7mQ.
In light of the knowledge provided by these case studies, it is important to note certain flaws in the methodology of each cases study. The study in the case of midlife neuroticism, the researchers do not take into account pre- existing conditions such the brain structure and function associated with greater neuroticism. Failure to proper diagnosis might lead to early presentation of Alzheimer's disease in response to pathology. As for
Early Onset Dementia: Caregivers and Stress While much research has been conducted on dementia, particularly the supreme focus upon dementia by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), there still is a marked dearth of information regarding early onset dementia (Jefferies & Agrawal, 2009). This is no surprise: dementia is generally viewed as a disease of old age. However, overlooking the significance and implications of Young Onset Dementia are
Disorders of the Brain Alzheimer disease This is a progressive disease that damages nerve cells (neurons ) in parts of the brain that are involved in learning, memory, reasoning and language.as the disease progresses, there is a communication breakdown among the neurons.in the early stages of the disorder short-term memory starts failing .with time functions like language, long-term memory and judgment gradually decline. This disorder is a very common cause of dementia
Some treatments may actually help with the disease. Diets and dietary supplements Eating vegetables like broccoli and spinach may help older women [and probably men] retain some memory abilities later on, while avoiding obesity in middle age lowers the risk of later Alzheimer's disease in both sexes, new studies suggest." The effect of the vegetables probably comes from the antioxidants and B. vitamins they contain (Ritter, 2004). Herbal remedies and other dietary
Scientists are racing to find a cure as millions of people reach the age when Alzheimer's is most commonly manifested (Plontz). Experts are still trying to fully understand the cause or causes of Alzheimer's disease. In the meantime, it's helpful to understand the hallmarks of Alzheimer's -- plaques and tangles -- and the risk factors that affect a person's likelihood of developing the disease (Hill). Alzheimer's disease is characterized by a
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