Exploring Aspects of the Alzheimer’s Disease Essay

Over four million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (1). One of those is my grandfather. He has suffered from Alzheimer’s for almost 8 years. I have watched my grandfather slowly decline and forget things such as where he lived, my name, and even how to talk. Many times I was upset and confused and often puzzled at the way he acted. I knew something was seriously wrong because he could never remember anything and often had tears in his eyes. I felt angry when he didn’t remember who I was. Eventually, he could no longer put together a sentence that made sense and he relied on others for total care. We have been forced to place him in a nursing home, and watch him†¦show more content†¦When he dissected her brain, he discovered coiled deposits around the nerve cells, called neuritic plaques. He also discovered twisted bands of fibers, or neurofibrillary tangles, inside the nerve cell in the brain. However, even after this disc overy, the disease still wasn’t recognized as a major disease until 1970, when neurological research began to expand. This degenerative brain disorder has since, been named after Dr. Alzheimer. Even today, doctors use the same technique that Dr. Alzheimer used to observe the plaques and tangles in the brain. (2) Studies show that the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease increases with age. Almost 20 percent of Americans between the years of 75 and 84, and almost half of those that are 85 years and older suffer from Alzheimer’s disease (3). One out of every 10 persons that are 65 years of age and older are said to be victims of Alzheimer’s disease, yet even some early-onset victims might be in their 40s and 50s (4). Many believe that if an individual develops Alzheimer’s at an early age, it is related to genetics. Yet, still others believe that Alzheimer’s that develops at a later age, is related to genetics as well. A mutation on chromosome 19 has been linked with a later onset of Alzheimer’s disease, but not everyone that has the mutation develops the disease (5). Therefore, the parallelShow MoreRelatedThe Human Of Human Genome Project995 Words   |  4 Pagesfor diseases. It guided the medical field to new direction but at the same time created new challenges and problems. The primary objective of the project isn’t wrong or questionable but some believe its implications are. Genes are made of a molecule called DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) which contains the instructions for making every protein in the body. By studying and understanding the genome system completely, we will be able to shed some light on how to diagnose and treat chronic diseases at anRead Mor e Anosmia Essay1649 Words   |  7 Pages(Toller, 1999). On the other hand, some people will constantly eat trying to satisfy their need for taste and put on an excess of unhealthy weight. 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