The Patients Suffering from Alzheimer Disease Sample for Students

Question: Write an Essay on your Chosen Health Condition. Answer: Alzheimer disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, which is characterized by loss of brain function and associated tissues. This disorder is incurable and chronic and often turns out to be fatal for the patient suffering from it. This disease can be defined as a disease of the central nervous system that includes the spinal cord and brain. Researchers working on the causative factors for these diseases have stated that amyloidal plaques are the main reason for the disorder (Jack et al. 2013). These plaques are formed of specific proteins along with pieces of dead cells of the brain. These accumulate in the brain tissue leading to the occurrence of the disorder. Such plaques are usually found between the dying cells in the region of the brain. Scientists say that this occurs due to the buildup of the protein called the beta amyloid, which is also referred by the term amyloid plaques. Researchers have stated that a brain protein called tau is also responsible for the disorder. Disinteg ration of protein called tau results in formation of tangles within the neurons of the brain (Morales et al. 2014). This protein accumulates abnormally and results in the malfunctioning of the brain cells. These ultimately lead to the death of the brain cells. This disorder affects the memory and the learning procedures of a particular individual. As the disease of the patient progresses, the personality, mood and intellectual function of the patient starts to get affected. In the late stages of the disorders, affected patients lose their sense of present circumstances. Their capability to identify their relatives and loved one is completely lost. Later stages of Alzheimers is also believed to affect the digestive system of the patients. They have difficulty in swallowing food, which often leads to choking while eating food. Due to these issues, food or liquid may enter into therespiratory tracts. These often lead to the occurrence of pneumonia. Patient has symptoms like impaired se nse of smell that associates with the sense of taste as well (Kumar and Singh 2015). Bowel control of the patient is also affected due to this disorder. In the advanced stage, fecal inconsistencies are also found to occur among patients. With the gradual advancement of age, their neuromuscular system also gets weakened as they lose the capability to sit on chairs. This is because they lose their ability in using their muscles in purposeful manners that in turn affects their walking as well. As a result, they get entirely dependent on others for leading lives and performing different activities. A number of potential factors can be noted that often results in the intensification of the disease. Increasing age possesses the greatest risk for a patients health who is suffering from Alzheimers. Researchers have suggested that occurrence of Alzheimers is not an important part of aging process, but the risk of Alzheimers increases when a particular individual reaches the age of 65 (Bloom 2014). Another important domain that possesses a risk is the patient having first-degree relatives with history of Alzheimers like parents of siblings. Researchers have found that strongest risk gene responsible for occurrence of the disorder is apolipoprotein e4 called the APoE4. However, not everyone with the gene is susceptible to Alzheimers also. Moreover, a person suffering from Down syndrome is also susceptible to develop Alzheimers diseases even ten to twenty years earlier than in other normal cases (Reitz and Mayeux 2014). It is said that there exists a particular gene in the extra chromo some of the person suffering from Down syndrome, which is believed to increase the risk of Alzheimers in the patients.Women are found to be effected in higher number than the males.. Researchers are also of the idea that people who have mild cognitive impairment are at a higher risk of dementia and Alzheimers. People who have faced severe head trauma remain at a higher risk of development of the disorder (Heppner et al. 2015). It is very interesting to see that researchers have also concluded that those factors, which often effect heart condition, also tend to result in Alzheimers as well. Often lifestyle factors though not directly found to be linked but provide evidences of occurrences of Alzheimers. This includes obesity as well as lack of exercises in daily lives. Often smoking or being exposed to second hand smoke is another triggering factor of Alzheimers. High blood pressure and high blood cholesterol also seem to be the contributing factors for the disorders. Poorly controll ed type 2 diabetes also act as triggers in the disorder (Castallenani and Perry 2014). Often there are many individuals who take a diet that lack fruits and vegetables. All of them are believed to be the factors that can trigger the health condition of the patient resulting in the advancing of the Alzheimers diseases. Low educational and occupational attainment result in the disorder. Besides, sleep disorders are also found to be the one of the many contributing factors for the disease, which may include breathing problem, sleep apnea and others. For a patient suffering with Alzheimers disease the role of a healthcare professional would be to undertake the proper management of the co morbid symptoms that often accompany the disorder. He should develop a follow up plan for the patient that would constitute the detection of the complications, which would be followed by prevention and treatment techniques. These complications may involve malnutritions, fall, BPSD and others. The detection, prevention and treatment of the complications in the first place will help him to reduce the effects that the disorder is having in the patients lives and family members. A follow up plan must be introduced in each case with the help of a specialist. He will have an evaluation of entire treatment plan on the patient at a frequency of one to three months depending on the stability of the symptoms. This evaluation will also portray the severity of the diseases and the co-morbidities that the patient is seen facing (Imtiaz et al. 2014). The healt hcare professional would also ensure that the entire diagnosis is disclosed to the patient and a proper education is provided to the patients and their family members. He can also monitor any changes in behavior, balance disorder, gait, efficacy of drugs and others. Within the follow up plan, the professional should also pay importance to any sort of crisis prevention. This could be achieved by admitting the patient to hospitals in emergencies and others. In such crisis, researchers have stated that there exist a three-sided relationship involving family caregiver, the patient and the professional. Certain medications are often prescribed which include Aricept, razadyne, Exelon and others, which works by reducing the breakdown of acetylcholine, which are important for memory, and learning. Memantine works by changing the brain chemical glutamate helping in memory and learning. Besides various medicines, different therapies like art and music therapies provide very good effects on th e patients by triggering memories and reconnecting with people and the world (McAiney et al., 2016). The various support services which can aid in the treatment of the patients may include 24/7 helpline numbers which contain trained staffs to provide knowledge and support to family members and can also refer to local community services, crisis assistance, emotional support and others. One can also go for support programs that provide advice and encourages people so that they feel socially connected. They also help in sharing experiences making them feel well and others (Alzheimers 2015). Educational programs can be attained to educate the family members and also the society about the various impacts that the disorder has on lives of people. They also give advices on how to keep situations in control and face different challenges that come in the way. Early stage engagement programs help people to develop a comfortable way to get connected with others in society and share experiences of similar others helping in gaining emotional strength. Online tools also help. 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