Case Study Alzheimer’S Disease. Mary Wipf. Phgy 220- Gerald

Case Study: Alzheimer’s Disease Mary Wipf PHGY 220- Gerald McGraw April 2, 2017 In the world, there are new cases of dementia for somewhere between 10 and 15 people per 1000. Five to eight per 1000 are cases of Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a term that simply defines a mentally deteriorated condition. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease and is the most common cause of dementia in older people. Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain and it has little impact on the body beyond what happens as an indirect result of behavior associated with the disease. Because it is often secondary results of Alzheimer’s Disease that cause death, such as pneumonia and†¦show more content†¦Genetics are believed to play a part in being susceptible to getting Alzheimer’s disease. As Elaine Marieb and Katja Hoehn write, â€Å"One form of Alzheimer’s disease is caused by an inherited mutation in the gene for APP, which suggests that too much beta-amyloid may be tox ic† (416). Other factors believed to be contributing to getting Alzheimer’s disease are high blood pressure, head injuries, and depression. Alzheimer’s disease is not contagious and therefore is not communicable disease. Initial signs and symptoms are rather mild during the early stages. It might not be noticeable at first. They are not exactly the same for everyone, but most people have difficulty learning new things and recalling pieces of new information. As it progresses, victims of the disease forget more and more information. They struggle to communicate and travel as they’re increasingly unable to remember important information needed for these functions. In the latest stages, Alzheimer’s patients lose even more of their memory, which makes it hard for them to perform even the most basic functions, such as walking and eating. They have difficulty sleeping, they get agitated, they hallucinate, and they have to be helped in almost any and all endeavors, even to the most basic of functions. (this paragraph all from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/info/20007/types_of_dementia/2/alzheimers_disease/2) Currently, treatment of the disease consists of maintaining mental functions and managing behavioral