Running Head: NEUROPATHOLOGICAL DISORDERS
Neuropathological Disorders
Introduction
Alzheimer’s disease is most known cause of intellectual drop related to aging. The disorder is composed of decline of mental functions due to changes in the brain tissue. This disorder is known to be characterized by a continued loss of memory among other mental affiliations. A person may find it had to remember appointments, words or even people’s names. There is an elevated form of confusion and a high form of difficulty in performing tasks (Carlson, 2011). The loss of memory is most severe on recent happenings the disorder results to degeneration of the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, neocortex, raphe nuclei and locus coeruleus.
The present process for noting the coming into being of Alzheimer disease starts with the in depth assessment of the person and his family’s past medical records. This clearly shows that the disease is genetic. The physical assessment and laboratory checks are done from time to time for months at times years. According to research, it has been revealed that some element of the disease is found in the family and it is hence hereditary. The cause of the disease is family related considering that when one grows him or she acquires the risk of acquiring Alzheimer disease. Other risks may involve a lengthy blood pressure, past medical record of head trauma.
According to some studies, there is an ability of detecting the advancement of Alzheimer by the application of olfactory test. This is through the consideration that such patients have been noticed to show some aspects of olfactory deficits (Kurtev, Volume 6, 2002). The relation that exists between being unaware of the olfactory issues and the advancement of the disease is necessary as it helps to notice the definite of brain focus that may result to a cure. Skin is another area for possible cure. The availability of cell problems in the skin brings to light the idea that Alzheimer is due to physiological transformations in the body. A person with dementia is the first noticeable effect of the cells in the brain.
Treatment
There is no cure for the disease, though the efforts are to reduce the progress of the disease, control behavioral issues, confusion, and sleep matters and agitation. The family support and care from fellow friends would similarly do much to help. In terms of the usage of drugs, the ones used are meant to reduce the rate of the symptoms severances (BELLUCK, March 19, 2012). The advantage is however quite limited and at times may not even be noticeable. Two types of medicine that may be put to use are Donepezil that impacts on the level of chemical of the brain. The other one is Memantine which is accepted for treatment. Other forms of medicines may be used though in limited amounts. Medicines that may result into worsening of the condition should be terminated; this may include pain killers, and sleeping pills among others.
Prevention
There is actually no known way to avoid getting this disease, there some practices that one may find suiting to involve in one’s daily routine, more so if one is in a family that has a history of family dementia. Prevention may involve; the consumption of small amounts of fat, eating cold-water fish, and limited intake of linoleic acid as found in the margarine and dairy products, maintaining a normal blood pressure and being mentally and socially active in one’s whole life.
Conclusion
It is hoped that the health practitioners be eventually be in a position to correctly and simply notice whether an individual is at the risk of acquiring the disease and more advanced studies would show the cause of the disorder. A timely diagnosis of the disease would help save millions and result into better decision making by the family on the course of the treatment.
Bibliography
BELLUCK, P. (March 19, 2012). Alzheimer’s Disease. Health Guide.
Carlson, N. (2011). Foundations of behavioral neuroscience (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Kurtev, M. (Volume 6, 2002). Physiological Markers for Alzheimer’s disease. MIT’s Undergraduate Research Journal.
