Alzheimer

Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 5

Medical Terminology

Karrigan Sowash
November 23, 2015
Melinda Himelick
IVY Tech Community College

Alzheimers Disease

Medical Terminology
Karrigan Sowash
November 23, 2015
Melinda Himelick
IVY Tech Community College

Alzheimers disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. In 1906, Dr. Alzheimer noticed
changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. Her symptoms
included memory loss, language problems, and unpredictable behavior. After she died, he
examined her brain and found many abnormal clumps and tangled bundles of fibers. Alzheimers
disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive disease where dementia
symptoms worsen over a number of years. The disease starts with memory loss and progresses to
no longer being able to respond to the environment. It is a disease that attacks the brain. It is the
sixth leading cause of death in the United States (alz.org). 4.5 million Americans suffer from
Alzheimers disease (Mayo Clinic).
I chose Alzheimers disease because I worked as a Certified Nurses Assistant for two years.
Some of my residents had Alzheimers disease. Some would wonder the halls, some would show
aggression towards us, and some would even call us mom or sister. We as employees also had to
attend an Alzheimers/Dementia in-service every two months. We kept up to date on our
knowledge of the disease and how to care for people with the disease. I grew close to many
people with this disease and they changed my life. For some reason this sick disease was
interesting to me.
Before the disease sets in there are a few warning signs to keep look out for! Memory loss
that disrupts daily life is one warning sign. Other warning signs include challenges in planning or

Medical Terminology
Karrigan Sowash
November 23, 2015
Melinda Himelick
IVY Tech Community College
solving problems, difficult completing familiar tasks, confusion with time or place, and trouble
understanding visual images and special relationships. They develop new problems with words.
They start to misplace things and not be able to retrace their steps. Their mood and personality
changes and they withdraw from social activities. They begin to have poor judgement.
How quickly Alzheimers disease gets worse is different for each person. If Alzheimers
disease develops quickly, it is more likely to worsen quickly. People with this disease often die
earlier than normal, although a patient may live anywhere from three to twenty years after the
diagnosis.
There are different stages of Alzheimers. There is an early stage (mild). In this stage the
person forgets familiar words and forgets the location of everyday objects. There is a middle
stage (moderate). This stage could last several years. In this stage the person is starting to
confuse words. The person is acting in unexpected ways due to frustration. It is difficult for the
person to express his or her thoughts. There is a late stage (severe). At this point, the person has
lost the ability to respond to the environment and carry on conversations. Eventually, they will
lose the ability to control movement.
There is no single test to diagnose Alzheimers disease. A physical and neurological exam is
put in place. They also test your mental status. Blood tests and brain imaging are also done to
help diagnose Alzheimers disease.

Medical Terminology
Karrigan Sowash
November 23, 2015
Melinda Himelick
IVY Tech Community College
Currently, there is no cure. But, there are drug and non-drug treatments available. There are
two types of medicine used to treat Alzheimers. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA
receptor antagonists are the two types. Non-drug treatments include pet therapy, art therapy,
religious activities, aromatherapy, storytelling, and scrapbooking. Researchers are looking for
new treatment to alter the course of the disease and improve the quality of life.
Some ways to prevent getting Alzheimers disease are to read, play board games, play an
instrument, and dance. Also, to reduce the risk of Alzheimers disease, focus on healthy fats. Get
plenty of omega-3 fats. Better your brain. Eat berries! Take folic acid supplements. Drink a glass
of red wine with your evening meal. Control your blood pressure.

References
Diseases and Conditions - Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2015,
From http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia | Alzheimer's Association. (n.d.).

Medical Terminology
Karrigan Sowash
November 23, 2015
Melinda Himelick
IVY Tech Community College
Retrieved November 21, 2015, from http://www.alz.org/
Alzheimers Disease Education and Referral Center. Alzheimers disease Fact Sheet (n.d.).
Retrieved November 21, 2015,
From https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet

You might also like