Alzheimer+Disease+(AD)

=- Alzheimer's Disease (AD) -=

=
Alzheimer's Disease has many names. It is called by it's initial AD, Senility. Dementia, SDAT(Senile Dementia Alzheimer Type). Although Alzheimer shows similar early symptoms to aging such as failing to acquire new memory. However Dementia and aging are totally different. When people start to age they show some short term memory loss or lack of ability to gain new memories. This is caused by the infrequent use of the brain which disconnects the brain cells loosing memories. However dementia progresses into a much worse situation. It totally diminishes the elementary abilities to survive.======

Causes:
It is hypothesised that the main cause of Alzheimer's Disease is a protein called the APP(Amyloid Beta Precursor Protein). It is theorised that the protein enters the brain cells and cause disorders in the neurons and eventually destroying them. The exact cause of how the protein reaches the brain is unknown.

Pre - Dementia:
During this beginning stage of Alzheimer, it is often mistaken as aging, stress or just simple forgetfulness. It is very hard for a ordinary person to judge if one has Alzheimer or the other. Through Neuropsycological testing which can detect minor apprehension difficulties up to 8 years before the patient enters clinical diagnosis for AD.This is a transition stage between a normal person to a AD patient. The stage is termed "Mild Cognitive Impairment" which can be cured and re done through constant clinical aid. However most people don't know if they have dementia or not at this stage. The minor symptoms normally do not convince people into going to the hospital.

Early Stage:
This is when Alzheimer's Disease starts to take place showing much serious symptoms then Pre - Dementia stage. The patient exhibits lack of acquiring new knowledge at greater depth than before. Language problems acre depending where the APP is spread. However AD does not affect all memories equally.

Moderate Stage:
The patient starts to shows lack of self expression and standard functioning of the brain. They are slow at responding and lost all fluency of speech. The APP has spread a certain amount and has taken away 30% - 50% of the brain cells taking away long term memory. As the APP spreads to the frontal lobe which functions planning and organising, Executive decision making and other higher mental functioning the patient loses abilities to plan, orgnaise, make decision and distinguish between the right or wrong.

Advance Stage:
This is the final and terminal stage where the massacre of brain cells occur. The patients language abilities are reduced into simple phrases or singular words. The loss of language ability progresses and eventually they lose all ability to speech. Thy become absolutely reliant on others. They cannot perform the elementary tasks without aid and there muscle mass and mobility are reduced to the stage where they have to live on beds.