Alzheimer’s Disease By Maddi Cubitt 9 Bronze

What is Alzheimer’s? Alzheimer’s disease is a disease of the nervous system that attacks the brain, causing memory loss, changes in behaviour and impaired thinking. Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that is incurable and worsens as time progresses. The first thing to be affected is the memory of recent events, but as the disease progresses, long term memory is also lost. It is usually only diagnosed in people under the age of 65, but can be visible in earlier years (quite rare).

Early Symptoms Forgetting names of family members and occasionally mixing up words in sentences. Getting lost in familiar places and being unable to find your way back. Having difficulty remembering recent events Mood changes frequently and social interaction lessens. Losing track of the date, day, time and season. Getting lost in familiar places and being unable to find your way back. Having difficulty completing familiar everyday tasks e.g. taking the rubbish out, checking the mailbox and even forgetting how to follow a recipe.

Effects of Alzheimer’s The effects of Alzheimer’s include: Difficulty doing familiar tasks: -Following a recipe, balancing a check book and driving are all everyday tasks that will become a struggle with Alzheimer’s. Disorientation: -They will become lost a lot more frequently, and the time, date and day will also be forgotten. Language problems: - Reading and writing skills will greatly decrease and even just keeping up with a conversation will be a struggle. Memory Loss: -This is the most common outcome of Alzheimer’s. Names, dates an important events all become forgotten. Personality & behavioural changes: - Depression, anxiety and feelings of confusion are all effects of Alzheimer’s. Social activity and involvement will also be decreased.

Treatment Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but therapy, rehabilitation and anti- depressants can all slow down the growth of the disease.

Prognosis Due to the fact that Alzheimer’s currently has no cure, people with the disease are only said to live for 8-10 years after they are first diagnosed with the disease. However, people have been known to live for up to 20 years after the first signs arise.

Effects on the nervous system

Biliography hFcAsw hFcAsw