Alzheimer's: the long goodbye
Sept 21, 2019 23:20:24 GMT -5
Post by Radrook Admin on Sept 21, 2019 23:20:24 GMT -5
One disease that I would really like to see a cure for is Alzheimer's. If there is a malady that is devilishly cruel-this is it. Gradually the person loses his personality until he or she doesn't know the where, the when, or the how of the immediate surroundings. People that were once very close become strangers and conversation becomes impossible as the brain undergoes drastic pathological changes. The silence in places where such patients are all sitting is very profound. Things that happened moments before are forgotten almost immediately and the person repeats questions over and over.
I was forced to watch my mother, who had been a dynamic, outgoing, successful social worker, undergo that gradual death for four long agonizing years before she expired. They refer to it as the long goodbye. Sorry, but the quick goodbye is far less cruel to both the patient and to those who are the relatives.
I was forced to watch my mother, who had been a dynamic, outgoing, successful social worker, undergo that gradual death for four long agonizing years before she expired. They refer to it as the long goodbye. Sorry, but the quick goodbye is far less cruel to both the patient and to those who are the relatives.
Here is a more detailed description:
Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease (AD), also referred to simply as Alzheimer's, is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and gradually worsens over time. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems with language, disorientation (including easily getting lost), mood swings, loss of motivation, not managing self-care, and behavioral issues. As a person's condition declines, they often withdraw from family and society. Gradually, bodily functions are lost, ultimately leading to death. Although the speed of progression can vary, the typical life expectancy following diagnosis is three to nine years.
The cause of Alzheimer's disease is poorly understood. About 70% of the risk is believed to be inherited from a person's parents with many genes usually involved. Other risk factors include a history of head injuries, depression, and hypertension. The disease process is associated with plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. A probable diagnosis is based on the history of the illness and cognitive testing with medical imaging and blood tests to rule out other possible causes. Initial symptoms are often mistaken for normal ageing. Examination of brain tissue is needed for a definite diagnosis. Mental and physical exercise, and avoiding obesity may decrease the risk of AD; however, evidence to support these recommendations is weak. There are no medications or supplements that have been shown to decrease risk.
No treatments stop or reverse its progression, though some may temporarily improve symptoms. Affected people increasingly rely on others for assistance, often placing a burden on the caregiver. The pressures can include social, psychological, physical, and economic elements. Exercise programs may be beneficial with respect to activities of daily living and can potentially improve outcomes. Behavioral problems or psychosis due to dementia are often treated with antipsychotics, but this is not usually recommended, as there is little benefit with an increased risk of early death.
In 2015, there were approximately 29.8 million people worldwide with AD. It most often begins in people over 65 years of age, although 4–5% of cases are early-onset Alzheimer's. It affects about 6% of people 65 years and older. In 2015, dementia resulted in about 1.9 million deaths It was first described by, and later named after, German psychiatrist and pathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906. In developed countries, AD is one of the most financially costly diseases.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease