How Alzheimer’s disease was discovered. Alzheimer’s disease is named after Dr. Alois Alzheimer. Dr. Alzheimer noticed changes in the brain of a woman who had died of an unusual mental illness. Her symptoms included Memory loss Language problems Unpredictable behavior Dr. Alzheimer’s examined her brain and found many abnormal clumps, which are now called amyloid plaques and tangled bundles of fiber, now called neurofibrillary tangles. These plaques and tangles that Dr. Alzheimer had discovered are two of the main features of Alzheimer’s disease.

What Alzheimer’s disease is. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory thinking skills and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest task Senior citizens with Alzheimer’s disease experience a range of neurocognitive deficits including problems with their attention span, learning, and having trouble remembering. Neurocognitive is a term used to describe cognitive networks in the brain.

Effects of Alzheimer’s Disease

Language deficits A study called the FDG-PET study was performed to explore the link between language difficulties and regional brain functioning in Alzheimer’s disease. The naming part of the study was obtained by the Boston Naming Test. The patient’s was presented with line drawings of objects and was asked to name them. If the patient was not able to name a object a phonemic “cue” was provided. The “cue” is supposed to help retrieve the name. The “cue” makes the sound of the objects name for example. The “cue” for harmonica would be…. Har. The result was, the successful naming following the cuing can illustrate the extent to which naming impairments are due to poor retrieval.

Weight Loss A study called The Omega-3 Alzheimer’s disease study was performed to observe the effects of Omega-3 fatty acid on the weight loss and loss of appetite in patients with a mild to moderate form of Alzheimer’s disease. There were two group the Omega-3 group and the placebo group. The Omega-3 group received docosahexaenoic and the placebo group received the linoleic acid per day for six months. After the six months, all the patients received docosahexaenoic for another six months. In six to twelve months the weight had increased in the Omega-3 group. In the placebo group, weight was unchanged at six months, but had increased at twelve months after Omega-3 supplementation. The patients appetite improved in the Omega-3 group. A docosahexaenoic Omega-3 fatty acid supplement positively affected weight and appetite in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Not carrying docosahexaenoic was associated with weight gain.

The Notebook Two characters Allie and Noah have been together all their lives. The movie shows them at a older age when Allie now has Alzheimer's disease and can’t remember anything. Sometimes as Noah puts it “She comes back to him” Everyday Noah has to act like he doesn’t know her when he’s around her. He tells her he’s on the nursing staff. Reads to Allie every day the story of their lives together from the notebook. Hoping that Allie comes back to him.

What happens to the people that have to cope with this disease. What happens to the people that have to cope with a loved one who has this disease. Imagine you have been with the your soul mate all your life and one day he/she forgets everything about you. How would you deal with that?