Two
common forms of neurodegeneration are Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s
disease. Over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and about 50,000
new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed each year.
Alzheimer’s
disease is the most common form of dementia, leading to a loss of memory and
mental function, worsening over time. It is currently hypothesized that the root
of this disease is due to a buildup beta-amyloid plaques. The plaques clump
outside neurons, which then alter tau protein folding, which disrupts normal
neuron function. The symptoms generally appear after the patient is over the
age of 60. Onset of the symptoms is slow, starting first with getting lost and
taking longer to complete normal everyday chores, then slowly lacking the
ability to recognize friends and family. More severe symptoms include
hallucinations, paranoia, weight loss, and seizures. While there is no cure,
there are many medications available to slow the progression of symptoms. The
most common treatment is a cholinesterase inhibitor, which boosts cell
communication. Experimental treatment being developed focuses on inhibiting
beta-amyloid buildup.
Parkinson’s
disease is the result of loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain.
Dopamine influences movement and initiation. When the cells stop producing this
neurotransmitter, it results in very apparent symptoms associated with Parkinson’s
disease, including tremor, muscle stiffness, bradykinesia (slow movement),
dyskinesia (jerking of the muscles), and impaired balance and coordination. Other
symptoms include difficulty swallowing, chewing and speaking, as well as
emotional changes. The onset of symptoms is again progressive and associated
with age, with most patients being senior citizens. The loss of the brain cells
is still idiopathic, but it is associated with Lewy bodies, clumps of protein
alpha-synuclein. Parkinson’s is diagnosed with a MRI, CT, or PET scan when the
Lewy bodies are seen in the midbrain or brain stem. There is no cure for
Parkinson’s disease, but several treatments to alleviate symptoms. The most
common is levodopa, a drug which helps nerve cells make dopamine. Unfortunately
its effectiveness is reduced as a result of overuse. Generally after 3 years,
patients have to switch medications.
Most
patients of both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s need caregivers. Caregivers are a
necessity to patients who begin to lack the ability to perform daily tasks on
their own. For Alzheimer’s patients, having a constant figure in their life is
great when they can no longer adapt to change. Caregivers also help regulate
their schedules, keeping patients eating, taking their medication, and going to
the bathroom regularly. For Parkinson’s patients, caregivers are not there to
keep their minds in check, just to help them perform tasks for them such as
feeding them or escorting them when they walk.
Although
both of these diseases are common in elderly citizens, it is not a natural
process of aging. Both represent irreversible degenerative clinical processes.
“About
Alzheimer’s Disease: Symptoms” Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral
Center. National Institute on Aging: National Institutes of Health, April 2011.
http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/topics/symptoms
“Alzheimer’s
Disease.” Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 October 2011 http://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm
“Alzheimer’s
Disease.” Mayo Clinic: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 18
January 2011. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alzheimers-disease/DS00161
“NINDS
Parkinson’s Disease Information Page.” National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke, 14 November 2012. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/parkinsons_disease.htm
“Parkinson’s
disease – Causes.” National Health Service, 5 October 2012. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Parkinsons-disease/Pages/Causes.aspx
“Parkinson’s
Disease Overview” National Parkinson Foundation, 2012. http://www.parkinson.org/parkinson-s-disease.aspx
“What
is Alzheimer’s disease?” Alzheimer’s Society: National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence, 2012. http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=100
In regards to Alzheimer’s disease, having spent nearly half of my childhood living in an environment where my mother facilitated her own at-home care home for elderly people, I have been exposed to the mentioned consistent difficulties associated with Alzheimer's Disease on a daily basis. Caring for people with Alzheimer's is a strenuous 24/7 job where watch is always needed, although every person suffers from AD at a different severity. My mother had duties of showering patients to ensure they wouldn’t fall, administering shots and medications, providing every meal, aiding them when using the bathroom, changing colostomy bags or Depends diapers on some, and just being a comforting presence to provide interaction with. I think the most painful thing to see is when sufferers become frustrated because they don’t understand why they have to be told what to do or why they’re incapable of taking care of themselves to be placed into a care home. It is understandable why AD is the 6th leading cause of death because AD suffers cannot take care of themselves. All in all, AD affects the everyday life of elderly sufferers and much patience and understanding is needed to care for them, which is why family members chose to place an AD family member into a care home where they can receive the 24/7 care they wouldn't have been able to provide themselves.
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