Free Essay: Understanding Alzheimer

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honored to stand before all of you today. I will discuss a topic that I believe most if not all of us have encountered, Alzheimer's disease. The National Institute of Aging defines Alzheimer's disease as an irreversible and progressive brain disorder that leads to memory impairment. It is estimated that approximately 50 million people have Alzheimer's disease globally. With such a vast number of infected people, it is essential to gain more insight about the disease by discussing its symptoms, causes, medication and prevention.

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Symptoms

Usually, the early symptom of Alzheimer's disease is memory loss. However, there are several and severe symptoms that develop as the disease progresses that I would like us to discuss. The first one is memory impairment. I am sure all of us here are victims of some memory loss once in a while. However, what differentiates this kind of forgetfulness from the memory loss that is caused by Alzheimer's disease is its severity. Memory impairment as a result of Alzheimer's disease usually persists and worsens as the disease progresses. You will find a person getting lost in familiar places, forgetting names of loved ones and repeating statements over and over during conversations. Second, the thinking and reasoning capacity of a person is impaired such that multitasking and concentrating for a long period becomes difficult. Third, an individual suffering from Alzheimer's disease is unable to perform familiar tasks. For most of us, tasks such as cooking and taking a shower are typical. However, have you ever thought that you could lose the ability to conduct these activities? What would life be like? Well, this is the predicament of individuals who have Alzheimer's disease. They lose the ability to perform routine activities. Fourth, Alzheimer's disease is accompanied by changes in personality behavior such as depression, mood swings and irritability, among others (Mayo Clinic, n.d).

Causes

So far, the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is not known. However, studies show that two brain proteins, plaques and tangles, are responsible for Alzheimer. These two proteins fail to function normally and produce several toxic events that impair the brain. Other researchers point out that a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors affect the brain in the cause of one's lifetime leading to Alzheimer. There are also risk factors that make an individual prone to the disease. These include age, family history and genetics, Down syndrome, Sex, past head trauma and poor sleeping patterns (Mayo Clinic, n.d).

Medication

Suppose you have a loved one who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. What can you do to help them? Well, there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease at the moment. However, some medications are provided to manage the condition by slowing down memory decline. Taking such a measure is essential to maintain the independence of the affected person (Mayo Clinic, n.d).

Prevention

Unfortunately, Alzheimer's disease is not a condition that we can prevent. However, adopting a healthy lifestyle that targets to reduce its risk factors usually lowers the probability of contracting Alzheimer. It is, therefore, recommendable to exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet that consists of foods low in saturated fat, healthy oils and fresh produce, avoid smoking and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases (Mayo Clinic, n.d).

Ladies and gentlemen, information is power. We may not have the ability to eradicate Alzheimer's disease. However, having insight into the disease can help us protect ourselves and assist those of us who are affected. Thank you for your time."

References

Mayo clinic. (n.d). Alzheimer's Disease. Retrieved April 18, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447

National Institute on Aging. (n.d). Alzheimer's disease fact sheet. Retrieved April 18, 2020, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet