Prevent Alzheimer's Disease
Research has proved that there are various factors which may help in preventing the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia with gradual loss of normal mental functions and severe changes in the personality and emotions.
Scientists have found out that the protein in the brain, called as Prions, have an excellent effect on the brain and can prevent the formation or building up and accumulation of plaque which causes Alzheimer's disease. Professor Nigel Hooper of the Leeds University has come up with this claim after a lot of research and his studies were funded by the Medical Research Council Funds.
Beta Amyloid is a dangerous kind of protein which attaches to other proteins and causes formation of plaques. These plaques then start accumulating on the brain and finally lead to Alzheimer's disease.
Prions are the helpful and normal proteins found in the brain. These Prions get attached to the Beta Amyloid and thus prevent the formation of any dangerous plaque. This Prion-Beta amyloid combination is then excreted out of the body, without any further damage or loss to the body.
Another brain disorder called Creutzfeldt-Jacob variant disorder also causes corruption or pollution of the normal prions in the brain. These normal prions are called as PrionProtein or PrPc and when they get corrupted they lead to this vCJD, or Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. That proves that there is a definite link between the normal functioning of these prions or PrPc and normal brain health.
Also it has been found that when the PrPc levels are quite high, the Beta Amyloid protein is renderd useless and incompetent to produce Alzheimer's disease. The exact mechanism by which these PrPc protects the brain is by secreting a chemical which in turn acts on the enzyme beta-secretase found in the amyloid cells and inhibits the break down of the cells. This break down is necessary to be prevented as the tiny broken up pieces will later on accumulate to form the plaques and finalyy cause Alzheimer's disease.
Another point of verification of the protective role of the PrPc prions is proved by the fact that when these proteins are corrupted, or there is a mutant defect in them, they are rendered useless and is incapable of preventing Amyloid cell break down.
Further studies conducted on laboratory animals, like mice have proved that addition of the extract of the seeds of grape fruit can actually help in preventing Alzheimer's disease. This is due to the effect of certain chemicals found in the seed extract which prevents breakdown of the amyloid cells.
Showing posts with label alzheimers disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alzheimers disease. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
History Of Alzheimer's Disease
History Of Alzheimer's Disease
Every day, every minute, experts in the health care fraternity and scientists are learning something new about the Alzheimer's disease. The impetus of research is growing, fuelling excitement and moving scientists a step closer to clearly comprehending the causes of Alzheimer's. Majority, if not all, of today's clinical discoveries are the outcome of basic science that has been researched and funded for several decades by the Alzheimer's Association.
Progressive mental deterioration in old age has been described and recognized ever since time immemorial. This is because elderly people suffer from different forms of senility, but it wasn't until the year 1906 when the disease was formally identified as an independent entity with its own characteristic symptoms and pathology. In 1901, Auguste D, a 51-year old woman, was admitted to the state asylum in Frankfurt suffering from language and cognitive deficits, delusions, auditory hallucinations, aggressive behavior, and paranoia.
Alois Alzheimer, who was a doctor at that hospital at the time, tended to the patient and by the time of her death in 1906, he had already moved to Munich medical school in 1903 to partner with Emil Kraepelin - who was one of the leading German psychiatrists at the time. The hospital in Frankfurt sent Alois the brain of the woman for examination upon which he studied the brain cell abnormalities and a year later, published his talk after presenting the woman's case at a psychiatry meeting.
Alzheimer's disease was given the name by Kraepelin, who named it after Alois Alzheimer, a name still used to refer to this common cause of senile dementia today. When Alois presented his original case of Auguste's cognitive and non-cognitive deficits, he reported that when doing post-mortem, he discovered tangles, plagues and arteriosclerotic changes in the deceased.
Ever since its discovery over 100 years ago, there have been many breakthroughs in the research of AD. During the 60s, scientists discovered a connection between cognitive decline and the amount of tangles and plagues in the brain. During the 70s, scientists made notable strides in comprehending the human body, where AD emerged as a significant scope of study.
As time goes by, and as technology advances, research methods too have advance where specific genes related to the early and late onset types of Alzheimer's have been identified. Because the genetic risk factors cannot single-handedly explain the cause of AD, researchers are exploring also the lifestyle and environment of patients to learn the role they are likely to play in the development of AD.
Every day, every minute, experts in the health care fraternity and scientists are learning something new about the Alzheimer's disease. The impetus of research is growing, fuelling excitement and moving scientists a step closer to clearly comprehending the causes of Alzheimer's. Majority, if not all, of today's clinical discoveries are the outcome of basic science that has been researched and funded for several decades by the Alzheimer's Association.
Progressive mental deterioration in old age has been described and recognized ever since time immemorial. This is because elderly people suffer from different forms of senility, but it wasn't until the year 1906 when the disease was formally identified as an independent entity with its own characteristic symptoms and pathology. In 1901, Auguste D, a 51-year old woman, was admitted to the state asylum in Frankfurt suffering from language and cognitive deficits, delusions, auditory hallucinations, aggressive behavior, and paranoia.
Alois Alzheimer, who was a doctor at that hospital at the time, tended to the patient and by the time of her death in 1906, he had already moved to Munich medical school in 1903 to partner with Emil Kraepelin - who was one of the leading German psychiatrists at the time. The hospital in Frankfurt sent Alois the brain of the woman for examination upon which he studied the brain cell abnormalities and a year later, published his talk after presenting the woman's case at a psychiatry meeting.
Alzheimer's disease was given the name by Kraepelin, who named it after Alois Alzheimer, a name still used to refer to this common cause of senile dementia today. When Alois presented his original case of Auguste's cognitive and non-cognitive deficits, he reported that when doing post-mortem, he discovered tangles, plagues and arteriosclerotic changes in the deceased.
Ever since its discovery over 100 years ago, there have been many breakthroughs in the research of AD. During the 60s, scientists discovered a connection between cognitive decline and the amount of tangles and plagues in the brain. During the 70s, scientists made notable strides in comprehending the human body, where AD emerged as a significant scope of study.
As time goes by, and as technology advances, research methods too have advance where specific genes related to the early and late onset types of Alzheimer's have been identified. Because the genetic risk factors cannot single-handedly explain the cause of AD, researchers are exploring also the lifestyle and environment of patients to learn the role they are likely to play in the development of AD.
Monday, June 23, 2014
End Stage Alzheimer's Disease
End Stage Alzheimer's Disease
In the case that people living with end-stage dementia that is usually caused by Alzheimer's disease develop pneumonia or fracturing a hip, 50% will die within 6 months. Just like cancer, end stage Alzheimer's disease is a terminal illness and therefore usually palliative care and comfort to the patient is advocated in place of having the patient endure invasive treatments and testing in the case that they have received poor prognosis. In most cases, a patient that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's can live to almost 8-20 years before reaching the end stage Alzheimer's disease
Owing to the fact that a person with end stage Alzheimer's disease is mentally incapable of making any decisions, then treatment should ultimately be left to the caregiver or a loved person of the patient. End stage Alzheimer's disease is always characterized by the inability of the patient to recognize family members, perform daily tasks or lack of communication. Repeated infections and other complications are very common in people suffering from end stage Alzheimer's disease. Always, in its final phases, the patient will require a 24hrs a day and 7 days a week attention.
However, the illness usually varies from across individuals but the illness cause is definite and progresses mostly from the first stage to death for all patients of Alzheimer's. Despite the fact that there is no cure for the disease, there are treatments that can surely slow down the disease. The brain is totally destroyed in the final stages of the disease and therefore performing the normal functions becomes a dear problem. Usually, Alzheimer's disease will cause the death of the patient even if other diseases do not do so.
It is important to note that it is beyond the inability of most unprofessional caregivers to afford the needed care to a patient suffering from end stage Alzheimer's disease. Lack of communication on their needs and mostly failure to respond to questions or indicate their discomfort is the most critical stage in a person suffering from the end stage Alzheimer's disease and therefore this is always the main reason they need help with basic day- to-day living requirements.
It may be at the end stage Alzheimer's disease that outside help will be needed and this is where the patient can be placed in a facility specifically designed for the end-of-life-care. Usually, this is done for the benefit of the family members and the patient.
In the case that people living with end-stage dementia that is usually caused by Alzheimer's disease develop pneumonia or fracturing a hip, 50% will die within 6 months. Just like cancer, end stage Alzheimer's disease is a terminal illness and therefore usually palliative care and comfort to the patient is advocated in place of having the patient endure invasive treatments and testing in the case that they have received poor prognosis. In most cases, a patient that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's can live to almost 8-20 years before reaching the end stage Alzheimer's disease
Owing to the fact that a person with end stage Alzheimer's disease is mentally incapable of making any decisions, then treatment should ultimately be left to the caregiver or a loved person of the patient. End stage Alzheimer's disease is always characterized by the inability of the patient to recognize family members, perform daily tasks or lack of communication. Repeated infections and other complications are very common in people suffering from end stage Alzheimer's disease. Always, in its final phases, the patient will require a 24hrs a day and 7 days a week attention.
However, the illness usually varies from across individuals but the illness cause is definite and progresses mostly from the first stage to death for all patients of Alzheimer's. Despite the fact that there is no cure for the disease, there are treatments that can surely slow down the disease. The brain is totally destroyed in the final stages of the disease and therefore performing the normal functions becomes a dear problem. Usually, Alzheimer's disease will cause the death of the patient even if other diseases do not do so.
It is important to note that it is beyond the inability of most unprofessional caregivers to afford the needed care to a patient suffering from end stage Alzheimer's disease. Lack of communication on their needs and mostly failure to respond to questions or indicate their discomfort is the most critical stage in a person suffering from the end stage Alzheimer's disease and therefore this is always the main reason they need help with basic day- to-day living requirements.
It may be at the end stage Alzheimer's disease that outside help will be needed and this is where the patient can be placed in a facility specifically designed for the end-of-life-care. Usually, this is done for the benefit of the family members and the patient.
Early Alzheimer's Disease
Early Alzheimer's Disease
Early Alzheimer's disease is when a person is diagnosed or show symptoms before the age of 65, which is also known as early-onset Alzheimer's. Researchers are looking at developing tests that help with the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's. This facility is currently unavailable and is still being researched.
People diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease have to consider treatment as an immediate option as they are caregivers and the bread-winner of the family. Being diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease have a huge impact on family and loved ones, usually it comes as a shock to the family and the person diagnosed could also become depressed.
Some of the benefits of diagnosing early Alzheimer's are as follows,
Those who are diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, contribute towards finding effective medication
Existing medication can be used to see if it works on the patient who is diagnosed with early stage of Alzheimer's.
Individuals with early Alzheimer's disease will have the following symptoms, forgetfulness, confusion, unable to and difficulty to complete simple tasks, communication problems, moodiness and personality changes. Those who have more than one of these symptoms should see a doctor with out delay.
Some physicians will perform the following tests to make sure that the person suffering from early Alzheimer's and nothing else. These tests include, blood pressure, vision and hearing evaluations, probing in to the patient's medical history and that of the family, use of prescription and recreational drugs, lab tests and MRI or CT scans.
Once it is established that the patient is suffering from early Alzheimer's disease, physicians may prescribe treatment that will help the patient cope with the disease. Physicians prescribe medication that delays the symptoms. These various types of medication do have side effect including nausea, dizziness, vomiting and damage to the liver.
However, despite the medication, people with the disease must cope with life and learn to live life to the fullest. People diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease go on to live a productive life with the help of family. Families are the only entity in the patient's life that can make a difference. Families should act as a support network and give lots of attention and talk to the patient constantly, maintain a memory book or talk about some of the best and happy memories, if the person is still not retired make the changes to the work schedule with fewer work days and meet with a counsel and sort out the financial and legal implications of the person's property and liabilities.
Early Alzheimer's disease is when a person is diagnosed or show symptoms before the age of 65, which is also known as early-onset Alzheimer's. Researchers are looking at developing tests that help with the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's. This facility is currently unavailable and is still being researched.
People diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease have to consider treatment as an immediate option as they are caregivers and the bread-winner of the family. Being diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease have a huge impact on family and loved ones, usually it comes as a shock to the family and the person diagnosed could also become depressed.
Some of the benefits of diagnosing early Alzheimer's are as follows,
Those who are diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, contribute towards finding effective medication
Existing medication can be used to see if it works on the patient who is diagnosed with early stage of Alzheimer's.
Individuals with early Alzheimer's disease will have the following symptoms, forgetfulness, confusion, unable to and difficulty to complete simple tasks, communication problems, moodiness and personality changes. Those who have more than one of these symptoms should see a doctor with out delay.
Some physicians will perform the following tests to make sure that the person suffering from early Alzheimer's and nothing else. These tests include, blood pressure, vision and hearing evaluations, probing in to the patient's medical history and that of the family, use of prescription and recreational drugs, lab tests and MRI or CT scans.
Once it is established that the patient is suffering from early Alzheimer's disease, physicians may prescribe treatment that will help the patient cope with the disease. Physicians prescribe medication that delays the symptoms. These various types of medication do have side effect including nausea, dizziness, vomiting and damage to the liver.
However, despite the medication, people with the disease must cope with life and learn to live life to the fullest. People diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease go on to live a productive life with the help of family. Families are the only entity in the patient's life that can make a difference. Families should act as a support network and give lots of attention and talk to the patient constantly, maintain a memory book or talk about some of the best and happy memories, if the person is still not retired make the changes to the work schedule with fewer work days and meet with a counsel and sort out the financial and legal implications of the person's property and liabilities.
Alzheimer's Disease Treatment
Alzheimer's Disease Treatment
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and incurable illness which affects the human brain. It leads to irreversible loss of intellectual abilities such as thinking and memory skills. The name of the disease relates to the German physician Alois Alzheimer who first described it in 1906 after noticing some unusual changes in the brain of a deceased woman who died of a mental illness. The Alzheimer `s disease usually affects people over 60 years of age.
Alzheimer `s disease is also called Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type. It slowly progresses, causing the death of the brain cells. Among the first symptoms there are memory loss signs which determine difficulties in remembering simple daily tasks. As the disease progresses, patients become irritable and aggressive presenting confusion, alternative mood chances and long term memory loss, finally leading to death. Affected personas are likely to live seven years after the illness installs in the brain and only a small percentage of patients carry the disease up to fourteen years, being the maximum live expectancy.
Doctors classify the Alzheimer's disease into 7 stages. The first step is pre - dementia. At this time there are no signs of memory problems. The second is Mild Alzheimer's stage. Patients show slight difficulties of remembering usual things. Normal people can't identify any problems regarding memory troubles, as they seem normal. Alzheimer it's usually identifiable at stage three when the patient has difficulties in organizing and remembering certain facts, presenting anxiety or depression and having troubles with learning and retaining general information. The Moderate Cognitive Decline is the stage when the disease's diagnostic is confirmed. The person still recognizes close family members or friends but has fewer memories about personal life. He/she denies that there is a problem regarding his/hers mental health, becoming interiorized. Stage five comes with advanced cognitive deterioration. The patient can't manage on his own getting more and more confused. Stage six is called Severe Cognitive Decline as the memory continues to fall. The person gets aggressive, feels that he/she is lost, repeats words etc. In the final stage called Very Severe Cognitive Decline, the patient can't speak, can't move his/her life depending of the care he/she receives.
Scientists still haven't discovered yet a treatment for the Alzheimer, although there are ways of slowing it down, helping patients to keep control over the illness for a period of time. There are some medicines that doctors prescribe to extend the life of a patient. For instance cholinesterase inhibitors like Aricept, Razadyne, Exelon treat problems related to memory, language or judgement. Medication such as Axura, Akatinol or Namenda deal with improving memory, language or attention, although they have some side effects such as insomnia, headache and dizziness. For people with advanced forms of Alzheimer's disease specialists talk about treatments with stem cells which are believed to help very much due to tests made on mice that showed improvement of brain cells. Yet, this disease has no cure treatment for the moment and unfortunately it ends with death.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and incurable illness which affects the human brain. It leads to irreversible loss of intellectual abilities such as thinking and memory skills. The name of the disease relates to the German physician Alois Alzheimer who first described it in 1906 after noticing some unusual changes in the brain of a deceased woman who died of a mental illness. The Alzheimer `s disease usually affects people over 60 years of age.
Alzheimer `s disease is also called Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type. It slowly progresses, causing the death of the brain cells. Among the first symptoms there are memory loss signs which determine difficulties in remembering simple daily tasks. As the disease progresses, patients become irritable and aggressive presenting confusion, alternative mood chances and long term memory loss, finally leading to death. Affected personas are likely to live seven years after the illness installs in the brain and only a small percentage of patients carry the disease up to fourteen years, being the maximum live expectancy.
Doctors classify the Alzheimer's disease into 7 stages. The first step is pre - dementia. At this time there are no signs of memory problems. The second is Mild Alzheimer's stage. Patients show slight difficulties of remembering usual things. Normal people can't identify any problems regarding memory troubles, as they seem normal. Alzheimer it's usually identifiable at stage three when the patient has difficulties in organizing and remembering certain facts, presenting anxiety or depression and having troubles with learning and retaining general information. The Moderate Cognitive Decline is the stage when the disease's diagnostic is confirmed. The person still recognizes close family members or friends but has fewer memories about personal life. He/she denies that there is a problem regarding his/hers mental health, becoming interiorized. Stage five comes with advanced cognitive deterioration. The patient can't manage on his own getting more and more confused. Stage six is called Severe Cognitive Decline as the memory continues to fall. The person gets aggressive, feels that he/she is lost, repeats words etc. In the final stage called Very Severe Cognitive Decline, the patient can't speak, can't move his/her life depending of the care he/she receives.
Scientists still haven't discovered yet a treatment for the Alzheimer, although there are ways of slowing it down, helping patients to keep control over the illness for a period of time. There are some medicines that doctors prescribe to extend the life of a patient. For instance cholinesterase inhibitors like Aricept, Razadyne, Exelon treat problems related to memory, language or judgement. Medication such as Axura, Akatinol or Namenda deal with improving memory, language or attention, although they have some side effects such as insomnia, headache and dizziness. For people with advanced forms of Alzheimer's disease specialists talk about treatments with stem cells which are believed to help very much due to tests made on mice that showed improvement of brain cells. Yet, this disease has no cure treatment for the moment and unfortunately it ends with death.
Alzheimer's Disease Study
Alzheimer's Disease Study
The Alzheimer's disease as been studied by many scientists who are driven by the curiosity to know more about various risk factors that make this genetic condition seem like a mystery. The main question that researchers would want an Alzheimer's disease study to answer is "why are most cases reported at later stages in a person's life?"
It is not easy to conduct research on genetic diseases. The researcher has to collect genetic information from various families. In most cases, it is good to collect these samples from families where many members have suffered from the disease. Most researchers concentrate on late onset cases (between 60 and 70 years).
Before an Alzheimer's disease study is carried, the objective of the research should be clearly described. Typically, the first goal should be to identify the gene that is responsible for triggering production of a protein in the brain that triggers a process of degeneration of brain tissue cells.
The evaluation process should involve diagnosis and other factors which might have contributed to the worsening of the condition. In most cases, there is need to compare patients who are at the same stage of the disease. Various disease-related factors should be monitored and any similarities noted should be highlighted in readiness for an in-depth study.
In some cases, some family member might have died. The measures taken in case of this eventuality will depend on the nature of the study. Some researches require that autopsy samples be extracted and tested in order for cell lines to be established accurately. For genetic-analytical reasons, most researchers argue that in those families whereby two late onset patients are alive, three more family members should also become subjects of the research as well.
The duration of a study into the Alzheimer's disease can extend to three years or even more depending on the variables that have to be studied. Today, most researches on the disease are being conducted along ethnic and racial lines with subjects being categorized into African Americans, Hispanics, Japanese Americans, Asian Americans, the Amish and the Caucasian people.
Previous researches have shown that the Caucasian people rarely suffer from this disease. This finding continues to influence the course of future studies as far as demographic and ethnic factors are concerned. It is only qualified researchers who are authorized to carry out a research such as this one. Only they can access samples that have been extracted from subjects, accurately labeled and stored at well-equipped laboratories. One such repository in the US is National Cell Repository for Alzheimer's Disease (NCRAD).
The Alzheimer's disease as been studied by many scientists who are driven by the curiosity to know more about various risk factors that make this genetic condition seem like a mystery. The main question that researchers would want an Alzheimer's disease study to answer is "why are most cases reported at later stages in a person's life?"
It is not easy to conduct research on genetic diseases. The researcher has to collect genetic information from various families. In most cases, it is good to collect these samples from families where many members have suffered from the disease. Most researchers concentrate on late onset cases (between 60 and 70 years).
Before an Alzheimer's disease study is carried, the objective of the research should be clearly described. Typically, the first goal should be to identify the gene that is responsible for triggering production of a protein in the brain that triggers a process of degeneration of brain tissue cells.
The evaluation process should involve diagnosis and other factors which might have contributed to the worsening of the condition. In most cases, there is need to compare patients who are at the same stage of the disease. Various disease-related factors should be monitored and any similarities noted should be highlighted in readiness for an in-depth study.
In some cases, some family member might have died. The measures taken in case of this eventuality will depend on the nature of the study. Some researches require that autopsy samples be extracted and tested in order for cell lines to be established accurately. For genetic-analytical reasons, most researchers argue that in those families whereby two late onset patients are alive, three more family members should also become subjects of the research as well.
The duration of a study into the Alzheimer's disease can extend to three years or even more depending on the variables that have to be studied. Today, most researches on the disease are being conducted along ethnic and racial lines with subjects being categorized into African Americans, Hispanics, Japanese Americans, Asian Americans, the Amish and the Caucasian people.
Previous researches have shown that the Caucasian people rarely suffer from this disease. This finding continues to influence the course of future studies as far as demographic and ethnic factors are concerned. It is only qualified researchers who are authorized to carry out a research such as this one. Only they can access samples that have been extracted from subjects, accurately labeled and stored at well-equipped laboratories. One such repository in the US is National Cell Repository for Alzheimer's Disease (NCRAD).
Alzheimer's Disease Statistics
Alzheimer's Disease Statistics
As the baby boomers in North America approach their sixties, the disease that they fear most is Alzheimer's disease. The risk of getting it increases dramatically once people approach their 60th birthday.
The prevalence rate of this disease can best be understood through analyses of statistics that have been prepared and made available to the public by various North American health institutions.
In the year 1966, 21,166 deaths relating to Alzheimer's diseases were reported in USA according to US Government Statistics. According to the same statistics, this disease was ranked in the 14th position as a cause of deaths in the country. It is estimated that the annual cost of lost wages and health care for caregivers amounts to between $80 and $100 billion.
The 1994th edition of American Journal of Public Health reported that US businesses spend about $61 in an effort to deal with problems relating to the Alzheimer's disease. This shows that this disease should not be underrated and it is the high time more funds were directed into research institutions that specialize in this medical specialty.
According to Alzheimer's Association, 2004, the US government had set aside $640 million for research directly related to this disease. Previously, in 1998, the Canadian Medical Association had reported that the government had spent $9,451 for every individual who was diagnosed with a mild case of the Alzheimer's disease.
An in-depth analysis of these Alzheimer's disease statistics will reveal that the disease poses a real threat to the economic future of many nations. Figures provided by Hospital Episode Statistics in the English Department of Health shows that 78% of all the people seeking Alzheimer's consultation required to be hospitalized in England between 2002 and 2003. In the same year, 53% of all cases of this disease required emergency medical attention in England.
Statistics have it all; the problem of Alzheimer's disease is real and the earlier researchers came up with a new approach of treating it, the better. Patients with this disease tend to spend more time in hospital beds than in the case with many other diseases. Moreover, people with the Alzheimer's tend to suffer from other health problems mainly due to old age.
Many researches are being done with a view to determine the average hospital bed days for a whole year in different states. A comparison needs to be made between these figures and average number of annual hospital consultation episodes. The findings of such a research will be very helpful in coming up with management program for the disease.
As the baby boomers in North America approach their sixties, the disease that they fear most is Alzheimer's disease. The risk of getting it increases dramatically once people approach their 60th birthday.
The prevalence rate of this disease can best be understood through analyses of statistics that have been prepared and made available to the public by various North American health institutions.
In the year 1966, 21,166 deaths relating to Alzheimer's diseases were reported in USA according to US Government Statistics. According to the same statistics, this disease was ranked in the 14th position as a cause of deaths in the country. It is estimated that the annual cost of lost wages and health care for caregivers amounts to between $80 and $100 billion.
The 1994th edition of American Journal of Public Health reported that US businesses spend about $61 in an effort to deal with problems relating to the Alzheimer's disease. This shows that this disease should not be underrated and it is the high time more funds were directed into research institutions that specialize in this medical specialty.
According to Alzheimer's Association, 2004, the US government had set aside $640 million for research directly related to this disease. Previously, in 1998, the Canadian Medical Association had reported that the government had spent $9,451 for every individual who was diagnosed with a mild case of the Alzheimer's disease.
An in-depth analysis of these Alzheimer's disease statistics will reveal that the disease poses a real threat to the economic future of many nations. Figures provided by Hospital Episode Statistics in the English Department of Health shows that 78% of all the people seeking Alzheimer's consultation required to be hospitalized in England between 2002 and 2003. In the same year, 53% of all cases of this disease required emergency medical attention in England.
Statistics have it all; the problem of Alzheimer's disease is real and the earlier researchers came up with a new approach of treating it, the better. Patients with this disease tend to spend more time in hospital beds than in the case with many other diseases. Moreover, people with the Alzheimer's tend to suffer from other health problems mainly due to old age.
Many researches are being done with a view to determine the average hospital bed days for a whole year in different states. A comparison needs to be made between these figures and average number of annual hospital consultation episodes. The findings of such a research will be very helpful in coming up with management program for the disease.
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Alzheimer's disease is a condition that affects the nervous system of an individual, rendering the patient useless in terms of taking care of themselves or even remembering things. While the disease does not directly kill a person, it makes the patient susceptible to different ailments that may result in death. Alzheimer's disease starts with mild forgetfulness, which worsens till some mental faculties linked to intelligence and personality, are permanently destroyed.
While there are different treatments used to treat the Alzheimer's' disease, at the moment there is no permanent cure, but the Alzheimer's disease and research center is working closely with concerned authorities and experts in the health care field to ensure that a permanent cure is found. The treatment that is available at the moment is meant to delay the onset of the condition's symptoms, or help to counterbalance dementia and delusions that may occur in later stages of the disease.
Alzheimer's disease research center also propose that treatments for the disease are equally under study and investigation for possible efficacy. When the baby boomers get to the age at which they are susceptible to Alzheimer's, it becomes a very huge public concern; hence it is not something that the ADRC should wait to study. ADRC anticipates its occurrence and always endeavor to find ways of preventing it. If not, with the thousands and thousands of more people experiencing dementia and cognitive impairment, it can be quite a challenging and enormous health care concern. ADRC therefore studies the continuum of cognitive changes developing when people age, among other things.
Other functions of the Alzheimer's disease research center is to look for ways of predicting the occurrence of the disease, of course bettering the diagnostic techniques, pin-pointing high-risk individuals, and devising analytical tools that will aid in the pursuit for preventative treatments and the much awaited permanent cure. The US has over 30 Alzheimer's disease research centers, spread across the country and which are funded by the National Institute of Aging of the National Institutes of Health.
Note that the different research centers for AD have unique roles they play in fighting the disease, but they all work together when evaluating potential new medications and other treatments of the disease. The main goal of all ADRC's basic and clinical studies is to enhance patient care as well as function, and generally enhance the quality of life not only for the patient but also for the caregiver.
Alzheimer's disease is a condition that affects the nervous system of an individual, rendering the patient useless in terms of taking care of themselves or even remembering things. While the disease does not directly kill a person, it makes the patient susceptible to different ailments that may result in death. Alzheimer's disease starts with mild forgetfulness, which worsens till some mental faculties linked to intelligence and personality, are permanently destroyed.
While there are different treatments used to treat the Alzheimer's' disease, at the moment there is no permanent cure, but the Alzheimer's disease and research center is working closely with concerned authorities and experts in the health care field to ensure that a permanent cure is found. The treatment that is available at the moment is meant to delay the onset of the condition's symptoms, or help to counterbalance dementia and delusions that may occur in later stages of the disease.
Alzheimer's disease research center also propose that treatments for the disease are equally under study and investigation for possible efficacy. When the baby boomers get to the age at which they are susceptible to Alzheimer's, it becomes a very huge public concern; hence it is not something that the ADRC should wait to study. ADRC anticipates its occurrence and always endeavor to find ways of preventing it. If not, with the thousands and thousands of more people experiencing dementia and cognitive impairment, it can be quite a challenging and enormous health care concern. ADRC therefore studies the continuum of cognitive changes developing when people age, among other things.
Other functions of the Alzheimer's disease research center is to look for ways of predicting the occurrence of the disease, of course bettering the diagnostic techniques, pin-pointing high-risk individuals, and devising analytical tools that will aid in the pursuit for preventative treatments and the much awaited permanent cure. The US has over 30 Alzheimer's disease research centers, spread across the country and which are funded by the National Institute of Aging of the National Institutes of Health.
Note that the different research centers for AD have unique roles they play in fighting the disease, but they all work together when evaluating potential new medications and other treatments of the disease. The main goal of all ADRC's basic and clinical studies is to enhance patient care as well as function, and generally enhance the quality of life not only for the patient but also for the caregiver.
Alzheimer's Disease Research
Alzheimer's Disease Research
Alzheimer's disease is a fatal brain disorder named after the German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. Dr Alzheimer was presented with a patient who was suffering from memory loss and difficulty speaking; before any diagnosis was made she died. With the permission of the family Dr. Alzheimer performed an autopsy on her brain and found a dramatic shrinkage and widespread fatty deposits in small blood vessels, dead and dying brain cells as well. He then published his finding and the disease was named after him
Since then there are several efforts being made to research the cause and sure behind Alzheimer's disease. Research is the only way to find a cure for Alzheimer's and to helping the millions already affected by this devastating disease, and those who are being affected each year. The disease is known to double each year
There is several Alzheimer's research centers setup all over the world. These clinics and researchers in the Centers have made major contributions to gain knowledge about the basic biology and clinical presentation of Alzheimer's disease. The goal of such research centers are to accelerate the discovery of new treatment and to make the effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease a reality.
These centers do use individuals who suffer from Alzheimer's disease for evaluation purposes. These centers then research the behavior of normal individuals, individuals with slight memory problems and individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
The research centers not only use the patients as subjects but they offer a lot of valuable insight into Alzheimer's disease, educate family members of the disease and delay and treat mild cases of memory loss and dementia.
Alzheimer's disease research clinics are focused on establishing the following,
Conduct research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of Alzheimer's disease
Identify the risk factor
Identify the biological process associated with the disease
Identify and determine brain changes before the actual symptoms show
Develop new and effective treatment
Prevention of the disease
Act as a local and national resource by providing research subjects, data, and materials to researchers in Alzheimer's disease and other brain related disease and abnormalities
Provide the state of the art resources to qualified clinicians and researchers, to assist them with the research process
Inform and educate professionals and the community regarding Alzheimer's disease
Provide and encourage families to cope with their loved ones suffering from Alzheimer's disease
Therefore it is important to fund the research that is carried out today in the hope that future generations might be spared of Alzheimer's disease or better yet that the disease can be cured.
Alzheimer's disease is a fatal brain disorder named after the German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. Dr Alzheimer was presented with a patient who was suffering from memory loss and difficulty speaking; before any diagnosis was made she died. With the permission of the family Dr. Alzheimer performed an autopsy on her brain and found a dramatic shrinkage and widespread fatty deposits in small blood vessels, dead and dying brain cells as well. He then published his finding and the disease was named after him
Since then there are several efforts being made to research the cause and sure behind Alzheimer's disease. Research is the only way to find a cure for Alzheimer's and to helping the millions already affected by this devastating disease, and those who are being affected each year. The disease is known to double each year
There is several Alzheimer's research centers setup all over the world. These clinics and researchers in the Centers have made major contributions to gain knowledge about the basic biology and clinical presentation of Alzheimer's disease. The goal of such research centers are to accelerate the discovery of new treatment and to make the effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease a reality.
These centers do use individuals who suffer from Alzheimer's disease for evaluation purposes. These centers then research the behavior of normal individuals, individuals with slight memory problems and individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
The research centers not only use the patients as subjects but they offer a lot of valuable insight into Alzheimer's disease, educate family members of the disease and delay and treat mild cases of memory loss and dementia.
Alzheimer's disease research clinics are focused on establishing the following,
Conduct research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of Alzheimer's disease
Identify the risk factor
Identify the biological process associated with the disease
Identify and determine brain changes before the actual symptoms show
Develop new and effective treatment
Prevention of the disease
Act as a local and national resource by providing research subjects, data, and materials to researchers in Alzheimer's disease and other brain related disease and abnormalities
Provide the state of the art resources to qualified clinicians and researchers, to assist them with the research process
Inform and educate professionals and the community regarding Alzheimer's disease
Provide and encourage families to cope with their loved ones suffering from Alzheimer's disease
Therefore it is important to fund the research that is carried out today in the hope that future generations might be spared of Alzheimer's disease or better yet that the disease can be cured.
Alzheimer's Disease Patients
Alzheimer's Disease Patients
Alzheimer's disease, also referred to as AD, is a disease that affects the brain. The main effect of this disease is impairment of memory. It is also characterized by problems with reasoning, perception and language. According to many scientists, Alzheimer's disease is caused by increased production of beta-amyloid protein which results to deal of nerve cells in the brain.
At the age of 70, many people face a real risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. About 50 per cent of all people who are above the age of 85 suffer from this condition. This is why many people take this disease as a normal process of ageing. It is also surprising that some people are able to live past their 100th birthday without ever suffering from this debilitating disease.
As the population becomes older and older, cases of Alzheimer's disease are becoming more and more common. Ten per cent of all people who are above the age of 65 are suffering from the disease. All this data shows a rather clear correlation between increase in number of cases and age progression. This is why scientists expected that by the year 2050, 14 million Americans would be living with the disease.
Younger Alzheimer's disease patients get this condition because of mutant genes in their DNA. The gene mutation factor increases the risks of one getting the disease by more than 50 per cent. Late onset of Alzheimer's disease cases is also affected by the genetic risks among these patients. The chromosome 19 contains a gene whose structure greatly affects the amount of risks one is exposed to relating to occurrence of the Alzheimer's disease.
High blood pressure and diabetes are some other risk factors for this disease. Elevated blood cholesterol can increase likelihood of the Alzheimer's disease occurring. People who have completed less than eight years of education are also exposed to a higher risk of this disease.
Although these factors can greatly determine the possibility of the Alzheimer's disease occurring, this is not to say that there is any real danger of eventually getting the disease even in old age. Scientists who happen to be proponents of the amyloid hypothesis often reinforce this assertion.
Many patients go through a combative demeanor in the first six months of the disease. The patient can become psychotic and will talk and talk and scream and scream. Fear seems to conquer these patients; they always fear that someone is trying to kill them. Alzheimer's disease patients lose mental stability completely.
Alzheimer's disease, also referred to as AD, is a disease that affects the brain. The main effect of this disease is impairment of memory. It is also characterized by problems with reasoning, perception and language. According to many scientists, Alzheimer's disease is caused by increased production of beta-amyloid protein which results to deal of nerve cells in the brain.
At the age of 70, many people face a real risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. About 50 per cent of all people who are above the age of 85 suffer from this condition. This is why many people take this disease as a normal process of ageing. It is also surprising that some people are able to live past their 100th birthday without ever suffering from this debilitating disease.
As the population becomes older and older, cases of Alzheimer's disease are becoming more and more common. Ten per cent of all people who are above the age of 65 are suffering from the disease. All this data shows a rather clear correlation between increase in number of cases and age progression. This is why scientists expected that by the year 2050, 14 million Americans would be living with the disease.
Younger Alzheimer's disease patients get this condition because of mutant genes in their DNA. The gene mutation factor increases the risks of one getting the disease by more than 50 per cent. Late onset of Alzheimer's disease cases is also affected by the genetic risks among these patients. The chromosome 19 contains a gene whose structure greatly affects the amount of risks one is exposed to relating to occurrence of the Alzheimer's disease.
High blood pressure and diabetes are some other risk factors for this disease. Elevated blood cholesterol can increase likelihood of the Alzheimer's disease occurring. People who have completed less than eight years of education are also exposed to a higher risk of this disease.
Although these factors can greatly determine the possibility of the Alzheimer's disease occurring, this is not to say that there is any real danger of eventually getting the disease even in old age. Scientists who happen to be proponents of the amyloid hypothesis often reinforce this assertion.
Many patients go through a combative demeanor in the first six months of the disease. The patient can become psychotic and will talk and talk and scream and scream. Fear seems to conquer these patients; they always fear that someone is trying to kill them. Alzheimer's disease patients lose mental stability completely.
Alzheimer's Disease Management.
Alzheimer's Disease Management.
Research indicates that in Alzheimer's disease management, caregivers are often at increased risk of stress and depression, particularly if they do not have adequate support from family, friends and the society in general. It is important for these caregivers to allow themselves enough rest and relaxation.
Given the nature of the condition, Alzheimer's disease management can be no mean task. Many caregivers find it necessary to employ strategies that enable them to deal with patients' difficult behaviors and stressful situations they have to go through. Below are some suggestions on how to best cope with the management of the disease.
The individual with the disease should be kept out of reach of anything that could pose danger to him. Such things may include matches, knives and so on. The surrounding environment should be kept as safe as possible, especially for the patient. In Alzheimer's disease management, it is helpful to ensure that the patient is engaged. The patient can be engaged in simple and routine activities such as setting the table at meal times or cleaning chores.
Granted, communicating with an Alzheimer's disease patient can sometimes be quite a challenge. Understanding him may be difficult, and being understood can also be a challenge. It is therefore advisable to choose short sentences and simple words. At the same time, it is beneficial to use a calm, gentle tone when communicating to the patient. Alternatively, one can just avoid talking to the patient. Other strategies of communication in Alzheimer's disease management may include allowing the patient enough time for responding and giving feedback and not interrupting, calling the person by name to get his attention when talking to him, and minimizing interfering noise that can distract the conversation. If the person is struggling to find a word, effective Alzheimer's disease management would mean gently trying to provide the word.
The other strategy in Alzheimer's disease management is maintaining familiar mealtime routines, being patient at meal times and giving the patient choices of food. The choices should not be too many though. Also, meals should be served in small portions and several times throughout the day. The caregiver should however be careful to avoid overeating.
Similarly, in Alzheimer's disease management, it is important for the caregiver to find activities that the person can do and is interested in. If there is need, the caregiver should offer support to the person.
Research indicates that in Alzheimer's disease management, caregivers are often at increased risk of stress and depression, particularly if they do not have adequate support from family, friends and the society in general. It is important for these caregivers to allow themselves enough rest and relaxation.
Given the nature of the condition, Alzheimer's disease management can be no mean task. Many caregivers find it necessary to employ strategies that enable them to deal with patients' difficult behaviors and stressful situations they have to go through. Below are some suggestions on how to best cope with the management of the disease.
The individual with the disease should be kept out of reach of anything that could pose danger to him. Such things may include matches, knives and so on. The surrounding environment should be kept as safe as possible, especially for the patient. In Alzheimer's disease management, it is helpful to ensure that the patient is engaged. The patient can be engaged in simple and routine activities such as setting the table at meal times or cleaning chores.
Granted, communicating with an Alzheimer's disease patient can sometimes be quite a challenge. Understanding him may be difficult, and being understood can also be a challenge. It is therefore advisable to choose short sentences and simple words. At the same time, it is beneficial to use a calm, gentle tone when communicating to the patient. Alternatively, one can just avoid talking to the patient. Other strategies of communication in Alzheimer's disease management may include allowing the patient enough time for responding and giving feedback and not interrupting, calling the person by name to get his attention when talking to him, and minimizing interfering noise that can distract the conversation. If the person is struggling to find a word, effective Alzheimer's disease management would mean gently trying to provide the word.
The other strategy in Alzheimer's disease management is maintaining familiar mealtime routines, being patient at meal times and giving the patient choices of food. The choices should not be too many though. Also, meals should be served in small portions and several times throughout the day. The caregiver should however be careful to avoid overeating.
Similarly, in Alzheimer's disease management, it is important for the caregiver to find activities that the person can do and is interested in. If there is need, the caregiver should offer support to the person.
Alzheimer's Disease Facts
Alzheimer's Disease Facts
As you learn the Alzheimer's disease facts, you might want to know that it might affect a person closer to your own life. Historically, the condition was first discovered in German by a physician known as Alois Alzheimer, a person who was able to easily chronicle a typical strange condition that had some very terrible effects in a human brain back in 1906. What is important in the line of this condition is to understand it in its entirety, so that you can make the right decision towards changing all the things you might have never known you could, mostly when dealing with an individual having Alzheimer's.
The disease is a mental disorder commonly known as dementia. It is a brain condition that does hamper seriously your brain's ability towards processing a normal or rational thought that inhibits your daily activities as a result. With Alzheimer's therefore, you have the part of your brain that deals with language, memory or thoughts affected badly. It is one of the most leading death causes in all America. After you have the disease, you will have problems with your memory, learning inability, ability to function rather routinely as desired and difficult in making any rational decisions.
The disease does rob many people, mostly in their millions every year their personalities, memories as well as the ability to be able to complete a daily activity. For some time in the history of the disease, there was the belief there was nothing much that could be carried out towards preventing this condition, such that it was a diseases that many were awaiting after reaching golden years. Nonetheless, novel research has suggested that you can be able to prevent yourself from cases of Alzheimer's disease.
The distinct sign and hallmark of Alzheimer's is memory loss. It generally means that those individuals who are over 65 years starts being concerned with the disease after they have started to wield cases of forgetfulness. Forgetfulness might be a herald of Alzheimer's but there are other myriad causes. It is the reason you must learn all that you can about Alzheimer's through the clear signs it gives that you can use a basis of seeking Alzheimer therapy. Taking a test of Alzheimer's will be a distinct plus so that you can ensure you are not only going through a usual case of memory loss that is largely associated with aging individuals. The disease can even send a person into fits of screams and make them delirious.
As you learn the Alzheimer's disease facts, you might want to know that it might affect a person closer to your own life. Historically, the condition was first discovered in German by a physician known as Alois Alzheimer, a person who was able to easily chronicle a typical strange condition that had some very terrible effects in a human brain back in 1906. What is important in the line of this condition is to understand it in its entirety, so that you can make the right decision towards changing all the things you might have never known you could, mostly when dealing with an individual having Alzheimer's.
The disease is a mental disorder commonly known as dementia. It is a brain condition that does hamper seriously your brain's ability towards processing a normal or rational thought that inhibits your daily activities as a result. With Alzheimer's therefore, you have the part of your brain that deals with language, memory or thoughts affected badly. It is one of the most leading death causes in all America. After you have the disease, you will have problems with your memory, learning inability, ability to function rather routinely as desired and difficult in making any rational decisions.
The disease does rob many people, mostly in their millions every year their personalities, memories as well as the ability to be able to complete a daily activity. For some time in the history of the disease, there was the belief there was nothing much that could be carried out towards preventing this condition, such that it was a diseases that many were awaiting after reaching golden years. Nonetheless, novel research has suggested that you can be able to prevent yourself from cases of Alzheimer's disease.
The distinct sign and hallmark of Alzheimer's is memory loss. It generally means that those individuals who are over 65 years starts being concerned with the disease after they have started to wield cases of forgetfulness. Forgetfulness might be a herald of Alzheimer's but there are other myriad causes. It is the reason you must learn all that you can about Alzheimer's through the clear signs it gives that you can use a basis of seeking Alzheimer therapy. Taking a test of Alzheimer's will be a distinct plus so that you can ensure you are not only going through a usual case of memory loss that is largely associated with aging individuals. The disease can even send a person into fits of screams and make them delirious.
Alzheimer's Disease Effects
Alzheimer's Disease Effects
Alzheimer's disease effects definition might be seen in the fact that they might begin without any largely identifiable symptom while continuing to get worse steadily over a period of time. Alzheimer begins through affecting some cells of the brain. After the disease has taken hold, it then begins to gradually damage your brain cells up to the time they die eventually. The symptoms of the disease include memory deterioration, affected ability to reason as well as the ability to utter some fluent conversations.
Medical researchers and scientists have agreed that Alzheimer might start after the body has started to produce more than necessary a specific protein that is usually known as the beta-myloid type of protein. Once the body has started to produce excessively this type of protein, the result is an attack of the brain cells. The Alzheimer disease effects become very common among individuals after they have reached seventy years of age. In rare cases, it might affect the people who are within their fifties, although the odds are once a person is more than seventy, chances of contracting the Alzheimer disease are heavily increased.
The idea is that more than half of the individuals who are within their eighties do suffer a certain form of Alzheimer. One clear reason that Alzheimer is largely on the increase in western countries is as a result of people living longer, meaning that as the population gets older, the more the people will suffer from Alzheimer's. However, since you are getting older, it does not mean you will succumb to this disease. There are many individuals well beyond seventy years and are yet to be troubled by alzheimers. There is also a widespread thought that a huge effect of alzheimers is as a result of a particular type of genes being prone than others to the disease.
This means in case a person suffers from this disorder, the odds suggest a part of their offspring might develop the disease. Alzheimer's disease is also known as dementia and also a severe type of mental disorder. The condition does affect seriously the ability of the brain to normally process normal and rational thoughts. The disease could also end up inhibiting so many daily activities and routines of those suffering from it. The condition does affect largely that area of ones brain that is able to control ones process of thought, language and memory. Rational decision making is largely curtailed once you have Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's disease effects definition might be seen in the fact that they might begin without any largely identifiable symptom while continuing to get worse steadily over a period of time. Alzheimer begins through affecting some cells of the brain. After the disease has taken hold, it then begins to gradually damage your brain cells up to the time they die eventually. The symptoms of the disease include memory deterioration, affected ability to reason as well as the ability to utter some fluent conversations.
Medical researchers and scientists have agreed that Alzheimer might start after the body has started to produce more than necessary a specific protein that is usually known as the beta-myloid type of protein. Once the body has started to produce excessively this type of protein, the result is an attack of the brain cells. The Alzheimer disease effects become very common among individuals after they have reached seventy years of age. In rare cases, it might affect the people who are within their fifties, although the odds are once a person is more than seventy, chances of contracting the Alzheimer disease are heavily increased.
The idea is that more than half of the individuals who are within their eighties do suffer a certain form of Alzheimer. One clear reason that Alzheimer is largely on the increase in western countries is as a result of people living longer, meaning that as the population gets older, the more the people will suffer from Alzheimer's. However, since you are getting older, it does not mean you will succumb to this disease. There are many individuals well beyond seventy years and are yet to be troubled by alzheimers. There is also a widespread thought that a huge effect of alzheimers is as a result of a particular type of genes being prone than others to the disease.
This means in case a person suffers from this disorder, the odds suggest a part of their offspring might develop the disease. Alzheimer's disease is also known as dementia and also a severe type of mental disorder. The condition does affect seriously the ability of the brain to normally process normal and rational thoughts. The disease could also end up inhibiting so many daily activities and routines of those suffering from it. The condition does affect largely that area of ones brain that is able to control ones process of thought, language and memory. Rational decision making is largely curtailed once you have Alzheimer's.
Alzheimer's Disease Brain
Alzheimer's Disease Brain
People who suffer from the Alzheimer's disease experience acute damage on brain tissues. Images of the brains of people who suffer from this disease show clear shrinkage of the brain tissue. The furrows of patient's brain change very drastically. The outer layer changes completely as well.
The chambers in the brain, scientifically known as ventricles, become enlarged. These ventricles are the ones that contain cerebrospinal fluid. This is why the short-term memory of people with the Alzheimer's disease begins to fade during the early stages of it.
The cells that are in the limbic system begin to degenerate. The patient finds it difficult to perform routine tasks. With time, the disease finds its way into the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is outer part of the brain. Damage to this area is often followed by emotional outbursts and language impairment.
Continued damage to the nerve cells brings about Alzheimer's disease brain complications, which lead to continued change in the patient's behavior. A person might lose the ability to recognize even close family members. Communication becomes a problem and the patient finds it difficult to perform even the most basic of bodily functions. It can even become difficult for the patient to know when to chew and when to swallow food. If this happens, it is important for the patient to be given only soft foods that do not require a lot of chewing.
The disease typically lasts for a period of between 8 and 10 years. However, Alzheimer's disease patients can live for up to 20 years.
A good understanding of the functions of the normal brain as opposed to that of Alzheimer's disease patients can give caregivers a very clear insight into why the patient behaves in the way he does. This enables these people cope better with the circumstances that they go through.
Atrophy of the cerebral cortex best manifests itself through the dramatic way in which the brain shrinks. Since cerebral functioning is responsible for intellectual reasoning, any impairment in this area results in acute mental instability. The contents of gyri are drastically reduced at the hands of destructive proteins, which are the root causes of the Alzheimer's disease.
Neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques are a common feature of the human brain. However, for people who suffer from this disease, the high number of these elements is the most significant thing that one should be looking out for.
People who suffer from the Alzheimer's disease experience acute damage on brain tissues. Images of the brains of people who suffer from this disease show clear shrinkage of the brain tissue. The furrows of patient's brain change very drastically. The outer layer changes completely as well.
The chambers in the brain, scientifically known as ventricles, become enlarged. These ventricles are the ones that contain cerebrospinal fluid. This is why the short-term memory of people with the Alzheimer's disease begins to fade during the early stages of it.
The cells that are in the limbic system begin to degenerate. The patient finds it difficult to perform routine tasks. With time, the disease finds its way into the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is outer part of the brain. Damage to this area is often followed by emotional outbursts and language impairment.
Continued damage to the nerve cells brings about Alzheimer's disease brain complications, which lead to continued change in the patient's behavior. A person might lose the ability to recognize even close family members. Communication becomes a problem and the patient finds it difficult to perform even the most basic of bodily functions. It can even become difficult for the patient to know when to chew and when to swallow food. If this happens, it is important for the patient to be given only soft foods that do not require a lot of chewing.
The disease typically lasts for a period of between 8 and 10 years. However, Alzheimer's disease patients can live for up to 20 years.
A good understanding of the functions of the normal brain as opposed to that of Alzheimer's disease patients can give caregivers a very clear insight into why the patient behaves in the way he does. This enables these people cope better with the circumstances that they go through.
Atrophy of the cerebral cortex best manifests itself through the dramatic way in which the brain shrinks. Since cerebral functioning is responsible for intellectual reasoning, any impairment in this area results in acute mental instability. The contents of gyri are drastically reduced at the hands of destructive proteins, which are the root causes of the Alzheimer's disease.
Neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques are a common feature of the human brain. However, for people who suffer from this disease, the high number of these elements is the most significant thing that one should be looking out for.
Alzheimer's Disease Articles
Alzheimer's Disease Articles
If a loved one has ever fallen victim to Alzheimer's disease, then you might have read so many articles on Alzheimer's disease management already. Sometimes, reading too many authors and materials can end up being confusing rather that informative. This article will try to summarize the essential points of knowledge that the entire good articles on Alzheimer's disease management try to pass across.
Basically, Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder of the brain disorder. Once the disorder takes root, it relentlessly and progressively destroys the patient's ability to learn new things, to make judgments, to communicate and to remember. The ability to carry out the normal tasks diminishes with time until such times as the memory becomes extinct. Currently, there is no medical cure for Alzheimer's disease.
It is good if the Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed early rather that while in late stages of development. Some ten early symptoms of the disorder entirely which act as the basic warning signs include:
a) Memory loss
b) Misplacing items
c) Confusion, fear, suspicion
d) Language problems
e) Difficulty performing familiar tasks
f) Poor judgment
g) Mood or behavior changes
h) Loss of initiative
i) Becoming disoriented
j) Problems with complex mental tasks
An Alzheimer's patient feels like he or she is losing their mind, mostly as a result of the combination of these symptoms. The combination yields general communication problems, strenuous thinking ability, low reasoning, difficulty in comparing and difficulty in learning new skills or even re-learning the old skills. Alzheimer's disease should be differentiated from the memory loss most people experience with old age. For Alzheimer's the memory loss is significantly greater and frequent besides being accompanied by the other symptoms noted above.
The Alzheimer's disease is not contagious. With proper care, a patient's can have a quality life with those that he or she loves most. Even without cure, offering effective care and critical moral support helps prevent the depression, confusion and self-loath that pushes most patients to worse off mental afflictions.
Although it will seem the best thing to do, the relatives, friends and family of the patient should never isolation the Alzheimer's patient. It is necessary that all of you be available to the patient offering compassionate care, relevant attention and disease management treatment. Never let the patient feel cursed, silly, inept or bothersome. It is quality care, company and attention that makes a patient face the great burden of carrying the Alzheimer condition courageously.
If a loved one has ever fallen victim to Alzheimer's disease, then you might have read so many articles on Alzheimer's disease management already. Sometimes, reading too many authors and materials can end up being confusing rather that informative. This article will try to summarize the essential points of knowledge that the entire good articles on Alzheimer's disease management try to pass across.
Basically, Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder of the brain disorder. Once the disorder takes root, it relentlessly and progressively destroys the patient's ability to learn new things, to make judgments, to communicate and to remember. The ability to carry out the normal tasks diminishes with time until such times as the memory becomes extinct. Currently, there is no medical cure for Alzheimer's disease.
It is good if the Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed early rather that while in late stages of development. Some ten early symptoms of the disorder entirely which act as the basic warning signs include:
a) Memory loss
b) Misplacing items
c) Confusion, fear, suspicion
d) Language problems
e) Difficulty performing familiar tasks
f) Poor judgment
g) Mood or behavior changes
h) Loss of initiative
i) Becoming disoriented
j) Problems with complex mental tasks
An Alzheimer's patient feels like he or she is losing their mind, mostly as a result of the combination of these symptoms. The combination yields general communication problems, strenuous thinking ability, low reasoning, difficulty in comparing and difficulty in learning new skills or even re-learning the old skills. Alzheimer's disease should be differentiated from the memory loss most people experience with old age. For Alzheimer's the memory loss is significantly greater and frequent besides being accompanied by the other symptoms noted above.
The Alzheimer's disease is not contagious. With proper care, a patient's can have a quality life with those that he or she loves most. Even without cure, offering effective care and critical moral support helps prevent the depression, confusion and self-loath that pushes most patients to worse off mental afflictions.
Although it will seem the best thing to do, the relatives, friends and family of the patient should never isolation the Alzheimer's patient. It is necessary that all of you be available to the patient offering compassionate care, relevant attention and disease management treatment. Never let the patient feel cursed, silly, inept or bothersome. It is quality care, company and attention that makes a patient face the great burden of carrying the Alzheimer condition courageously.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder which gradually
destroys the ability to reason, remember, imagine, and learn. It's
different from the mild forgetfulness normally observed in older
people. Over the course of the disease, people with Alzheimer's no
longer recognize themselves or much about the world around them.
Depression, anxiety, and paranoia often accompany these symptoms.
Although there is no cure, new treatments help lessen Alzheimer's
symptoms and slow its progression.
Currently, doctors can't diagnose Alzheimer's disease with 100%
certainty until a brain autopsy after the person's death reveals the
disease's markers: abnormal clumps and irregular knots of brain cells.
So diagnosis of Alzheimer's rests largely on the judgment of physicians
experienced in dealing with dementing illnesses. But that judgment has
become quite sophisticated.
There are many diseases or other problems that can cause dementia -
Low levels of Vitamin E have been seen in neuromuscular diseases, and
dementias such as Alzheimer?s disease. Studies show that vitamin E or
another drug, selegiline, slowed the progression of Alzheimer's. Brain
tissue is highly susceptible to free radical damage because, unlike
many other tissues, it does not contain significant amounts of
protective antioxidant compounds. Certain nutrients, antioxidants, can
prevent the oxidative damage free radicals cause. Antioxidant nutrients
include:
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, selenium, the carotenoids, among
them beta-carotene. These have been used along with Lecithin or choline
supplements in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Aluminum is unusually abundant in the brain tissue of people with
Alzheimer's disease. Antacids, especially those containing aluminum,
are best avoided because of their interference with calcium absorption
and the possibility of aluminum toxicity, which has been implicated in
Alzheimer's disease and other types of senility.
Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder which gradually
destroys the ability to reason, remember, imagine, and learn. It's
different from the mild forgetfulness normally observed in older
people. Over the course of the disease, people with Alzheimer's no
longer recognize themselves or much about the world around them.
Depression, anxiety, and paranoia often accompany these symptoms.
Although there is no cure, new treatments help lessen Alzheimer's
symptoms and slow its progression.
Currently, doctors can't diagnose Alzheimer's disease with 100%
certainty until a brain autopsy after the person's death reveals the
disease's markers: abnormal clumps and irregular knots of brain cells.
So diagnosis of Alzheimer's rests largely on the judgment of physicians
experienced in dealing with dementing illnesses. But that judgment has
become quite sophisticated.
There are many diseases or other problems that can cause dementia -
Low levels of Vitamin E have been seen in neuromuscular diseases, and
dementias such as Alzheimer?s disease. Studies show that vitamin E or
another drug, selegiline, slowed the progression of Alzheimer's. Brain
tissue is highly susceptible to free radical damage because, unlike
many other tissues, it does not contain significant amounts of
protective antioxidant compounds. Certain nutrients, antioxidants, can
prevent the oxidative damage free radicals cause. Antioxidant nutrients
include:
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, selenium, the carotenoids, among
them beta-carotene. These have been used along with Lecithin or choline
supplements in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Aluminum is unusually abundant in the brain tissue of people with
Alzheimer's disease. Antacids, especially those containing aluminum,
are best avoided because of their interference with calcium absorption
and the possibility of aluminum toxicity, which has been implicated in
Alzheimer's disease and other types of senility.
Information On Aging
Information On Aging
Life expectancy at birth is now 75 years, compared with about
47 years at the beginning of the last century. Although it is not
inevitable, health and mobility often change and decline with advancing
age. The increasing life expectancy observed throughout this century
suggests that diet, exercise, and other personal and socioeconomic
factors can help prolong good health for most people.
Nevertheless, the chances are great that an individual in the eighth
or ninth decade of life will be limited in activity and require health
and social services. Many older people (the general term older will
refer to people over age 65) suffer from arthritis, heart disease,
hypertension, hearing loss, diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal
conditions, liver disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Heart
disease, cancer, and stroke account for over three-quarters of the
deaths among older persons and 50 percent of all days of bed
confinement. Such chronic conditions as well as dementia prevent
functional independence and increase the need for dietary and other
long-term care services.
Until the early 1970's, nutrition services for the older population,
with the exception of food stamps, were based almost exclusively in
hospitals and long-term care facilities. In 1973, in response to the
growing population of older people, to rising health care costs, and to
greater interest in preventive health care, the Nutrition Program for
the Elderly was established under the Administration on Aging to expand
food and nutrition services from the hospital to include communities
and homes.
Aging is accompanied by a variety of physiologic, psychologic,
economic, and social changes that may compromise nutritional status.
Older persons have a prevalence of chronic disease, use medications
heavily, and are relatively sedentary.
Many physiologic functions, including the senses of smell and
possibly taste, decrease with age. These changes may result in
decreased appetite as well as impaired utilization of nutrients and
limitations of function.
Dental problems, common in old age,
decrease the ability to chew certain foods. Physical disabilities such
as diminution of vision may make eating less pleasant. The decreases in
basal metabolic rate and physical activity noted with increasing age
reduce nutrient needs, however, the intake of calories and essential
nutrients may be even lower than these needs. Decreased physical
activity also may predispose individuals to the development of
osteoporosis.
Changes such as osteoarthritis can
affect mobility and decrease an older person's ability to purchase and
prepare food. Another possible hinderance to adequate nutrition in the
aged is malabsorption, which can be caused by decrease or absence of
gastric acid secretion and by interaction with medications commonly
prescribed for older persons.
The most common psychologic factor affecting nutrition is depression.
Of all psychiatric diagnoses, depression is most strongly correlated
with increased mortality, regardless of the age of the subjects, and is
most often related to chronic disease and to poverty, which are common
among older persons. Neither institutionalization nor solitary living
necessarily induces depression, but such life changes may be associated
with poor self-esteem, which in turn, can lead to significant changes
in eating patterns.
Older people as a group have a lower economic status than other
adults. Although the percentage of older individuals living below the
poverty level has decreased substantially over the past two decades and
is now less than the percentage of those under 65 living in poverty,
poverty continues to be too high. The decline in income most often
results from retirement from the workforce, the effects of inflation on
fixed incomes, death of wage-earning spouse, or failing health. Income
and health status have been found to be important determinants of life
satisfaction in the older population. Low income is also a major risk
factor for inadequate nutrition in older individuals.
Most older people do not live in institutions, although
institutional food is likely to meet minimal standards for nutrient
content, factors such as lack of choice or limited day-to-day variety
may increase the risk of inadequate consumption. Many residents of
nursing homes consume a therapeutic diet that may further discourage
adequate intake. An important issue for demented institutionalized
individuals is that they may not consume the food, not that the menu is
inadequate.
Clinical and dietary standards for younger adults may not be
appropriate for older persons, yet few data are available on
nutritional requirements or recommended intakes of older adults. The RDA's
for example, were developed from research on the nutrient needs of
younger healthy people. The present standards for adults over the age
50 are, for the most part, identical to those for people aged 23 to 50.
Because these standards fail to consider the great heterogeneity of
adults whose ages may differ by as much as 50 years and because they
were often not developed from actual measurements on older populations,
their appropriateness for older persons is not known.
The national dietary and food consumption surveys conducted during
the 1970's reported lower energy intakes among older persons than among
younger adults. A study of male executives in the Baltimore
Longitudinal Study of Aging found a steady decline in average energy
expenditure from 2700 kcal per day at age 30 to 2100 kcal per day at 80
years of age. The decline in energy expenditure was attributed to
reduced physical activity and to a decline in basal energy metabolism
as a result of a reduction in lean body mass with age.
Although it is difficult to interpret dietary intake studies of
older persons because of methodological problems, existingstudies
almost always reveal decreases in energy intake with age that may also
be influenced by income, race, food preference, and drug use. A
low-calorie diet may not impair health as long as the nutrient density
of the diet is high and can provide adequate amounts of essential
nutrients. However, this issue has not been examined in great detail
because nutrient requirements in older people remain largely unknown.
Consequently, the increasing level of obesity
among older persons, as indicated by higher weight-for-height with age,
requires explanation. Whether the inconsistency between reported low
energy intake and increasing body weight is due to measurement errors,
inappropriate standards, loss of height with age, or lack of physical
activity has not been established.
A 30-day continuous metabolic balance study of seven men and eight
women, over 70 years of age, who consumed the RDA levels of protein and
energy found that about half were unable to maintain nitrogen balance
on this level of protein (0.8 g of protein per kg per day). The results
suggested that higher intakes were required to meet protein
requirements. Because the RDA for protein includes a substantial safety
margin and because clinical measurements have rarely found signs of
protein deficiency among healthy older persons, it is not possible to
conclude from these data that persons with intake below the RDA are
protein deficient or that they would benefit from additional protein
intake.
Older people, especially Caucasian women, lose bone mineral and have
a higher incidence of fractures than younger persons. Metabolic and
absorptive factors as well as low intake may contribute to chronic
negative calcium balance. Reduced efficiency of calcium absorption may
be due to inadequate dietary intake, age related changes in gastric
acidity, and/or interactions of intestinal constituents such as fibre,
bacteria, and other nutrients. Perhaps in some individuals a negative
effect on calcium nutriture may be caused by age-related changes in
hormonal control, abberations in vitamin D metabolism, and imbalances
of protein, phosphorus, alcohol, and electrolytes with calcium.
The RDA for calcium of 800 mg per day may not be sufficient to
maintain calcium balance in populations consuming Western diets.
Calcium intake by older people is often marginal, for example, 43
percent of women in nursing homes failed to get two-thirds of their
calcium requirement. Women living at home consumed even less calcium
than those in nursing homes. Older people may have reduced calcium
intake because they avoid dairy products containing lactose, to which
they are intolerant.
As with people of all ages, the frequency with which anaemia occurs
in the older population and determination of its etiology depend on the
criteria used for diagnosis.
Because iron reserves increase with age, studies that examine only
dietary intake of iron in older people need to be interpreted
cautiously. Low dietary iron intake at one point intime does not
necessarily increase the risk for anaemia because iron may still be
available from body stores and because iron absorption increases when
intake and stores are low. In addition, the type of iron and other
components of a meal such as ascorbic acid also influence the amount
absorbed. Comparison of older subjects who took iron supplements with
those who did not showed no clinically significant differences in the
biochemical measures of iron status.
Vitamin deficiency may be a result of decreased dietary intake,
absorption defects, decreased hepatic avidity for folate in Laennec's
cirrhosis, decreased storage and conversion to active metabolic forms,
or excessive utilization, destruction, or excretion.
No comprehensive study of all vitamins and their related enzyme
systems has been conducted. Most studies have only examined the status
of one or two vitamins. A number of studies have indicated a great risk
for vitamin deficiencies in older persons on the basis of low dietary
intakes, but such deficiencies are not always confirmed by biochemical
or clinical results. In addition, interpretation of biochemical
parameters is hampered by lack of data on normal standards for the
older population. For example, a New Mexico study revealed that more
than one-fourth of the older population consumed less than 75 percent
of the RDA's for folate and vitamins B6 and B12
from diet alone. However, biochemical studies failed to confirm that
these individuals were at risk for developing clinical symptoms
associated with low intakes of these vitamins. Intake of vitamin
supplements may explain part of this apparent discrepancy, although
analysis showed little statistical difference in mean dietary intake
for those individuals taking a specific supplement compared with those
who did not take the supplement.
The body pool of ascorbic acid reaches a maximum of approximately 20
milligrams per kilogram. Women require an intake of 75 mg per day and
men require an intake of 150 mg per day to achieve this ascorbic acid
level in plasma. This finding was supported by a clinical trial that
showed that a daily intake of 60 mg was insufficient to maintain this
plasma concentration.
Vitamin A deficiency does not seem to be a particular problem in
older persons, Although NHANES I and NHANES II (the National Health and
Nutrition Examination Surveys) reported that half the study population
over age 65 had vitamin A intakes at or less than two-thirds of the
RDA, only 0.3 percent of the NHANES older population had low vitamin A
blood levels. Whether vitamin A supplement use can account for the
observed discrepancy is unknown, but similar data suggest that older
individuals can maintain normal vitamin blood levels even with
reportedly low dietary intakes.
Previous studies have revealed a generally lowered vitamin D status
in older people, chronically ill individuals, and those living in
institutions with little or no exposure to sunlight. Because the
vitamin D endocrine system is the major regulator of intestinal calcium
absorption, a reduced vitamin D status might promote a negative calcium
balance in older people.
Two studies in the United States have found dietary intake of
vitamin D to be approximately 50 percent of the RDA for older subjects.
However, ultraviolet light induced endogenous production of vitamin D
is the main external factor in maintaining adequate vitamin D status.
Because sunlight exposure activates vitamin D precursors in the skin,
it has been recommended that older people obtain at least minimal
sunlight exposure (10 to 15 minutes) two or three times a week.
Increased sun exposure may help compensate for aging skin's decreased
capacity to produce these precursors. Supplements may be necessary to
compensate for inadequate sunlight exposure due to seasonal variation
in northern latitudes. Moderation of sun exposure should be recommended
because overexposure to the sun is a strong risk factor for skin cancer.
There is no evidence that older individuals are deficient either in
dietary intake or tissue levels of vitamin E. Despite statements that
megadose vitamin E supplements retard the aging process and prevent
atherosclerosis and cancer, its use to treat or prevent other
conditions has not been established.
It has been estimated that 37 percent of American adults consume a
daily multivitamin preparation, fuelling a $2 billion per year
industry. NHANES II indicated that the persons most likely to take
supplemental nutrients are less likely to need them, and those most in
need of them are least likely to take them. In older persons, vitamin
use has increased dramatically in the past decade. Whether such
supplements improve the health of these people cannot be determined
from existing data, but it is clear that excessive supplementation may
be harmful. High doses of the fat-soluble vitamins A and D are toxic.
Although older Americans constitute about 12 percent of the
population, they use about 25 percent of all prescription drugs. This
is not surprising because many chronic diseases associated with aging
are managed with prescription drugs. Over half of the older people take
at least one medication daily and many take six or more a day for
multiple diseases. Cardiovascular drugs (eg. diuretics) are most widely
used by the aging population, followed by drugs to treat arthritis,
neurologic disorders, and respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions.
Many unwanted drug-nutrient interactions in older persons have been
documented. This population requires special consideration because
aging per se changes the absorption, disposition, and
elimination of drugs. The older person with multiple diseases is at
risk for additional drug-nutrient interactions linked to separate drug
therapies for primary and secondary health problems. Even
over-the-counter antacids, laxatives, analgesics,and vitamin and
mineral supplements may result in unwanted drug-nutrient side effects
in the older person.
Severe malnutrition - protein, calorie, vitamin, or mineral - is
associated with increased mortality, and the relationship of
malnutrition to mortality in older persons is of current interest.
Among severely ill or injured hospital patients of any age,
protein-energy malnutrition greatly increases the risk for
postoperative complications and overall mortality. This association
between nutritional status and survival does not prove a casual
relationship because poor nutritional status may be the result of the
illness or the injury and not its cause.
Several researchers have tried to correlate blood levels of vitamin
C and mortality in an aging population. Among patients admitted to an
acute care geriatric unit, those with low ascorbate levels had a
significantly higher mortality.
Considerable evidence documents an age-related decline in immune
competence. Certain of these changes resemble those induced by
malnutrition. Thus, malnutrition is clearly related to impaired immune
function in older people, and improved dietary intake can at least
partially correct these impairments.
If nutritional deficiencies are related to impaired immune function
in older people, correcting the deficiencies should improve this
function. Among hospitalized patients, intensive nutritional support
does increase immunocompetence. Among older people, dietary supplements
have been associated with improved antibody responses to viral
vaccines, and several studies have reported improved immune function as
a result of zinc supplementation. The possible role of zinc deficiency
in loss of immune function in older people has received considerable
attention.
Whether mental functions necessarily decline with age is
questionable, and whether dietary factors can influence mental status
in older people is also uncertain. Although large population studies
have reported gradual decreases in many mental functions with age,
healthy, active older subjects do not display significant decrements.
This discrepancy suggests that the reported decrements in mental
function are not inevitable age-associated events, rather, such changes
are secondary to the various diseases and physical conditions that
frequently accompany aging.
The prevalence of this disease increases with age, while only 5 to 8
percent of people age 65 and over are affected, 35 percent of those
over age 85 are affected. The cost of institutional care alone for
Alzheimer's disease patients is estimated to exceed $40 billion per
year in direct costs and up to $80 billion per year if indirect cost
are considered.
The causes of Alzheimer's disease have not been established, but
potential risk factors include age, family history of Alzheimer's
disease, and head injuries. Whether nutritional factors can alter the
risk for this condition is not known. High concentrations of aluminum
have been found in the neurofibrilla-containing neurons of deceased
patients, suggesting a relationship between aluminum and Alzheimer's
disease.
Because Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative syndrome
involving cell loss and dysfunction, and because there is evidence that
nutrient variables can affect brain metabolism, it might be speculated
that neuro-toxins acquired through the food chain may be involved in
brain cell death.
Aging is accompanied by a variety of physiologic, psychologic,
economic, and social changes that may compromise nutritional status.
However, ways in which the aging process affects energy balance,
specific nutrient requirements, and nutrient status remain to be fully
elucidated. Older adults may not necessarily have the same nutritional
requirements as younger adults, yet current estimates of the nutrient
requirements of older persons are based almost entirely on values
extrapolated from data from studies of younger adults. The ways in
which nutritional status might influence changes in tissue and organ
function change with age and may influence the relationships between
dietary components and the occurrence of chronic diseases in old age.
Until more appropriate age-specific RDA's are established, the current RDA's should continue to be used as standards for nutrient intake of healthy older people.
Older people should consume sufficient nutrients and energy and
maintain levels of physical activity that maintain desirable body
weight and may prevent or delay the onset of chronic disease. Because
it is often difficult to maintain adequate nutrient intake on
low-calorie diets, older people should be advised to maintain at least
moderate levels of physical activity so as to increase caloric needs.
Because many chronic diseases common to older people may originate
earlier in life, dietary guidance to prevent them should be provided
throughout life.
Older people who do not or cannot consume adequate levels of
nutrients from food sources and those with dietary, biochemical, or
clinical evidence of inadequate intake should receive advice on the
proper type and dosage of nutrient supplements. Such supplements may be
appropriate for some older persons, but self prescribed
supplementation, especially in large doses, may be harmful and should
be discouraged. Older people who suffer from diet-related chronic
diseases should receive dietary counselling from credentialed health
professionals, and those who take medications should be given
professional advice on diets that minimize food-drug interactions.
Food Labels:Evidence related to the role of diet in the
aged currently holds no special implications for change in policy
related to food labeling, although the size of the type on the label is
a factor for most older consumers. Information provided on the food
labels should be scientifically sound, understandable, and
nonmisleading.
Food Services:Food services, especially those receiving
Government funds, should be required to pay attention to meeting the
caloric and nutrient needs of older clients. Nutritional assessment and
guidance should be done at hospital admission or enrolment in or
discharge from institutional or community-based services for older
adults.
Food Products:Evidence suggests that older people would
benefit from food products that provide a high proportion of available
nutrients to calories, that have taste appeal, and that are easy to
prepare.
Life expectancy at birth is now 75 years, compared with about
47 years at the beginning of the last century. Although it is not
inevitable, health and mobility often change and decline with advancing
age. The increasing life expectancy observed throughout this century
suggests that diet, exercise, and other personal and socioeconomic
factors can help prolong good health for most people.
Nevertheless, the chances are great that an individual in the eighth
or ninth decade of life will be limited in activity and require health
and social services. Many older people (the general term older will
refer to people over age 65) suffer from arthritis, heart disease,
hypertension, hearing loss, diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal
conditions, liver disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Heart
disease, cancer, and stroke account for over three-quarters of the
deaths among older persons and 50 percent of all days of bed
confinement. Such chronic conditions as well as dementia prevent
functional independence and increase the need for dietary and other
long-term care services.
Until the early 1970's, nutrition services for the older population,
with the exception of food stamps, were based almost exclusively in
hospitals and long-term care facilities. In 1973, in response to the
growing population of older people, to rising health care costs, and to
greater interest in preventive health care, the Nutrition Program for
the Elderly was established under the Administration on Aging to expand
food and nutrition services from the hospital to include communities
and homes.
Aging is accompanied by a variety of physiologic, psychologic,
economic, and social changes that may compromise nutritional status.
Older persons have a prevalence of chronic disease, use medications
heavily, and are relatively sedentary.
Many physiologic functions, including the senses of smell and
possibly taste, decrease with age. These changes may result in
decreased appetite as well as impaired utilization of nutrients and
limitations of function.
Dental problems, common in old age,
decrease the ability to chew certain foods. Physical disabilities such
as diminution of vision may make eating less pleasant. The decreases in
basal metabolic rate and physical activity noted with increasing age
reduce nutrient needs, however, the intake of calories and essential
nutrients may be even lower than these needs. Decreased physical
activity also may predispose individuals to the development of
osteoporosis.
Changes such as osteoarthritis can
affect mobility and decrease an older person's ability to purchase and
prepare food. Another possible hinderance to adequate nutrition in the
aged is malabsorption, which can be caused by decrease or absence of
gastric acid secretion and by interaction with medications commonly
prescribed for older persons.
The most common psychologic factor affecting nutrition is depression.
Of all psychiatric diagnoses, depression is most strongly correlated
with increased mortality, regardless of the age of the subjects, and is
most often related to chronic disease and to poverty, which are common
among older persons. Neither institutionalization nor solitary living
necessarily induces depression, but such life changes may be associated
with poor self-esteem, which in turn, can lead to significant changes
in eating patterns.
Older people as a group have a lower economic status than other
adults. Although the percentage of older individuals living below the
poverty level has decreased substantially over the past two decades and
is now less than the percentage of those under 65 living in poverty,
poverty continues to be too high. The decline in income most often
results from retirement from the workforce, the effects of inflation on
fixed incomes, death of wage-earning spouse, or failing health. Income
and health status have been found to be important determinants of life
satisfaction in the older population. Low income is also a major risk
factor for inadequate nutrition in older individuals.
Most older people do not live in institutions, although
institutional food is likely to meet minimal standards for nutrient
content, factors such as lack of choice or limited day-to-day variety
may increase the risk of inadequate consumption. Many residents of
nursing homes consume a therapeutic diet that may further discourage
adequate intake. An important issue for demented institutionalized
individuals is that they may not consume the food, not that the menu is
inadequate.
Clinical and dietary standards for younger adults may not be
appropriate for older persons, yet few data are available on
nutritional requirements or recommended intakes of older adults. The RDA's
for example, were developed from research on the nutrient needs of
younger healthy people. The present standards for adults over the age
50 are, for the most part, identical to those for people aged 23 to 50.
Because these standards fail to consider the great heterogeneity of
adults whose ages may differ by as much as 50 years and because they
were often not developed from actual measurements on older populations,
their appropriateness for older persons is not known.
Energy and Nutrient Status of the Older Population
The national dietary and food consumption surveys conducted during
the 1970's reported lower energy intakes among older persons than among
younger adults. A study of male executives in the Baltimore
Longitudinal Study of Aging found a steady decline in average energy
expenditure from 2700 kcal per day at age 30 to 2100 kcal per day at 80
years of age. The decline in energy expenditure was attributed to
reduced physical activity and to a decline in basal energy metabolism
as a result of a reduction in lean body mass with age.
Although it is difficult to interpret dietary intake studies of
older persons because of methodological problems, existingstudies
almost always reveal decreases in energy intake with age that may also
be influenced by income, race, food preference, and drug use. A
low-calorie diet may not impair health as long as the nutrient density
of the diet is high and can provide adequate amounts of essential
nutrients. However, this issue has not been examined in great detail
because nutrient requirements in older people remain largely unknown.
Consequently, the increasing level of obesity
among older persons, as indicated by higher weight-for-height with age,
requires explanation. Whether the inconsistency between reported low
energy intake and increasing body weight is due to measurement errors,
inappropriate standards, loss of height with age, or lack of physical
activity has not been established.
A 30-day continuous metabolic balance study of seven men and eight
women, over 70 years of age, who consumed the RDA levels of protein and
energy found that about half were unable to maintain nitrogen balance
on this level of protein (0.8 g of protein per kg per day). The results
suggested that higher intakes were required to meet protein
requirements. Because the RDA for protein includes a substantial safety
margin and because clinical measurements have rarely found signs of
protein deficiency among healthy older persons, it is not possible to
conclude from these data that persons with intake below the RDA are
protein deficient or that they would benefit from additional protein
intake.
Older people, especially Caucasian women, lose bone mineral and have
a higher incidence of fractures than younger persons. Metabolic and
absorptive factors as well as low intake may contribute to chronic
negative calcium balance. Reduced efficiency of calcium absorption may
be due to inadequate dietary intake, age related changes in gastric
acidity, and/or interactions of intestinal constituents such as fibre,
bacteria, and other nutrients. Perhaps in some individuals a negative
effect on calcium nutriture may be caused by age-related changes in
hormonal control, abberations in vitamin D metabolism, and imbalances
of protein, phosphorus, alcohol, and electrolytes with calcium.
The RDA for calcium of 800 mg per day may not be sufficient to
maintain calcium balance in populations consuming Western diets.
Calcium intake by older people is often marginal, for example, 43
percent of women in nursing homes failed to get two-thirds of their
calcium requirement. Women living at home consumed even less calcium
than those in nursing homes. Older people may have reduced calcium
intake because they avoid dairy products containing lactose, to which
they are intolerant.
As with people of all ages, the frequency with which anaemia occurs
in the older population and determination of its etiology depend on the
criteria used for diagnosis.
Because iron reserves increase with age, studies that examine only
dietary intake of iron in older people need to be interpreted
cautiously. Low dietary iron intake at one point intime does not
necessarily increase the risk for anaemia because iron may still be
available from body stores and because iron absorption increases when
intake and stores are low. In addition, the type of iron and other
components of a meal such as ascorbic acid also influence the amount
absorbed. Comparison of older subjects who took iron supplements with
those who did not showed no clinically significant differences in the
biochemical measures of iron status.
Vitamin deficiency may be a result of decreased dietary intake,
absorption defects, decreased hepatic avidity for folate in Laennec's
cirrhosis, decreased storage and conversion to active metabolic forms,
or excessive utilization, destruction, or excretion.
No comprehensive study of all vitamins and their related enzyme
systems has been conducted. Most studies have only examined the status
of one or two vitamins. A number of studies have indicated a great risk
for vitamin deficiencies in older persons on the basis of low dietary
intakes, but such deficiencies are not always confirmed by biochemical
or clinical results. In addition, interpretation of biochemical
parameters is hampered by lack of data on normal standards for the
older population. For example, a New Mexico study revealed that more
than one-fourth of the older population consumed less than 75 percent
of the RDA's for folate and vitamins B6 and B12
from diet alone. However, biochemical studies failed to confirm that
these individuals were at risk for developing clinical symptoms
associated with low intakes of these vitamins. Intake of vitamin
supplements may explain part of this apparent discrepancy, although
analysis showed little statistical difference in mean dietary intake
for those individuals taking a specific supplement compared with those
who did not take the supplement.
The body pool of ascorbic acid reaches a maximum of approximately 20
milligrams per kilogram. Women require an intake of 75 mg per day and
men require an intake of 150 mg per day to achieve this ascorbic acid
level in plasma. This finding was supported by a clinical trial that
showed that a daily intake of 60 mg was insufficient to maintain this
plasma concentration.
Vitamin A deficiency does not seem to be a particular problem in
older persons, Although NHANES I and NHANES II (the National Health and
Nutrition Examination Surveys) reported that half the study population
over age 65 had vitamin A intakes at or less than two-thirds of the
RDA, only 0.3 percent of the NHANES older population had low vitamin A
blood levels. Whether vitamin A supplement use can account for the
observed discrepancy is unknown, but similar data suggest that older
individuals can maintain normal vitamin blood levels even with
reportedly low dietary intakes.
Previous studies have revealed a generally lowered vitamin D status
in older people, chronically ill individuals, and those living in
institutions with little or no exposure to sunlight. Because the
vitamin D endocrine system is the major regulator of intestinal calcium
absorption, a reduced vitamin D status might promote a negative calcium
balance in older people.
Two studies in the United States have found dietary intake of
vitamin D to be approximately 50 percent of the RDA for older subjects.
However, ultraviolet light induced endogenous production of vitamin D
is the main external factor in maintaining adequate vitamin D status.
Because sunlight exposure activates vitamin D precursors in the skin,
it has been recommended that older people obtain at least minimal
sunlight exposure (10 to 15 minutes) two or three times a week.
Increased sun exposure may help compensate for aging skin's decreased
capacity to produce these precursors. Supplements may be necessary to
compensate for inadequate sunlight exposure due to seasonal variation
in northern latitudes. Moderation of sun exposure should be recommended
because overexposure to the sun is a strong risk factor for skin cancer.
There is no evidence that older individuals are deficient either in
dietary intake or tissue levels of vitamin E. Despite statements that
megadose vitamin E supplements retard the aging process and prevent
atherosclerosis and cancer, its use to treat or prevent other
conditions has not been established.
Nutritional Supplements
It has been estimated that 37 percent of American adults consume a
daily multivitamin preparation, fuelling a $2 billion per year
industry. NHANES II indicated that the persons most likely to take
supplemental nutrients are less likely to need them, and those most in
need of them are least likely to take them. In older persons, vitamin
use has increased dramatically in the past decade. Whether such
supplements improve the health of these people cannot be determined
from existing data, but it is clear that excessive supplementation may
be harmful. High doses of the fat-soluble vitamins A and D are toxic.
Drug-Nutrient Interactions
Although older Americans constitute about 12 percent of the
population, they use about 25 percent of all prescription drugs. This
is not surprising because many chronic diseases associated with aging
are managed with prescription drugs. Over half of the older people take
at least one medication daily and many take six or more a day for
multiple diseases. Cardiovascular drugs (eg. diuretics) are most widely
used by the aging population, followed by drugs to treat arthritis,
neurologic disorders, and respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions.
Many unwanted drug-nutrient interactions in older persons have been
documented. This population requires special consideration because
aging per se changes the absorption, disposition, and
elimination of drugs. The older person with multiple diseases is at
risk for additional drug-nutrient interactions linked to separate drug
therapies for primary and secondary health problems. Even
over-the-counter antacids, laxatives, analgesics,and vitamin and
mineral supplements may result in unwanted drug-nutrient side effects
in the older person.
Effects of Nutritional Deficiencies on the Older Population
Severe malnutrition - protein, calorie, vitamin, or mineral - is
associated with increased mortality, and the relationship of
malnutrition to mortality in older persons is of current interest.
Among severely ill or injured hospital patients of any age,
protein-energy malnutrition greatly increases the risk for
postoperative complications and overall mortality. This association
between nutritional status and survival does not prove a casual
relationship because poor nutritional status may be the result of the
illness or the injury and not its cause.
Several researchers have tried to correlate blood levels of vitamin
C and mortality in an aging population. Among patients admitted to an
acute care geriatric unit, those with low ascorbate levels had a
significantly higher mortality.
Considerable evidence documents an age-related decline in immune
competence. Certain of these changes resemble those induced by
malnutrition. Thus, malnutrition is clearly related to impaired immune
function in older people, and improved dietary intake can at least
partially correct these impairments.
If nutritional deficiencies are related to impaired immune function
in older people, correcting the deficiencies should improve this
function. Among hospitalized patients, intensive nutritional support
does increase immunocompetence. Among older people, dietary supplements
have been associated with improved antibody responses to viral
vaccines, and several studies have reported improved immune function as
a result of zinc supplementation. The possible role of zinc deficiency
in loss of immune function in older people has received considerable
attention.
Whether mental functions necessarily decline with age is
questionable, and whether dietary factors can influence mental status
in older people is also uncertain. Although large population studies
have reported gradual decreases in many mental functions with age,
healthy, active older subjects do not display significant decrements.
This discrepancy suggests that the reported decrements in mental
function are not inevitable age-associated events, rather, such changes
are secondary to the various diseases and physical conditions that
frequently accompany aging.
Alzheimer's Disease
The prevalence of this disease increases with age, while only 5 to 8
percent of people age 65 and over are affected, 35 percent of those
over age 85 are affected. The cost of institutional care alone for
Alzheimer's disease patients is estimated to exceed $40 billion per
year in direct costs and up to $80 billion per year if indirect cost
are considered.
The causes of Alzheimer's disease have not been established, but
potential risk factors include age, family history of Alzheimer's
disease, and head injuries. Whether nutritional factors can alter the
risk for this condition is not known. High concentrations of aluminum
have been found in the neurofibrilla-containing neurons of deceased
patients, suggesting a relationship between aluminum and Alzheimer's
disease.
Because Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative syndrome
involving cell loss and dysfunction, and because there is evidence that
nutrient variables can affect brain metabolism, it might be speculated
that neuro-toxins acquired through the food chain may be involved in
brain cell death.
Implications for Public Health Policy
Aging is accompanied by a variety of physiologic, psychologic,
economic, and social changes that may compromise nutritional status.
However, ways in which the aging process affects energy balance,
specific nutrient requirements, and nutrient status remain to be fully
elucidated. Older adults may not necessarily have the same nutritional
requirements as younger adults, yet current estimates of the nutrient
requirements of older persons are based almost entirely on values
extrapolated from data from studies of younger adults. The ways in
which nutritional status might influence changes in tissue and organ
function change with age and may influence the relationships between
dietary components and the occurrence of chronic diseases in old age.
Until more appropriate age-specific RDA's are established, the current RDA's should continue to be used as standards for nutrient intake of healthy older people.
Older people should consume sufficient nutrients and energy and
maintain levels of physical activity that maintain desirable body
weight and may prevent or delay the onset of chronic disease. Because
it is often difficult to maintain adequate nutrient intake on
low-calorie diets, older people should be advised to maintain at least
moderate levels of physical activity so as to increase caloric needs.
Because many chronic diseases common to older people may originate
earlier in life, dietary guidance to prevent them should be provided
throughout life.
Older people who do not or cannot consume adequate levels of
nutrients from food sources and those with dietary, biochemical, or
clinical evidence of inadequate intake should receive advice on the
proper type and dosage of nutrient supplements. Such supplements may be
appropriate for some older persons, but self prescribed
supplementation, especially in large doses, may be harmful and should
be discouraged. Older people who suffer from diet-related chronic
diseases should receive dietary counselling from credentialed health
professionals, and those who take medications should be given
professional advice on diets that minimize food-drug interactions.
Nutrition Programs and Services
Food Labels:Evidence related to the role of diet in the
aged currently holds no special implications for change in policy
related to food labeling, although the size of the type on the label is
a factor for most older consumers. Information provided on the food
labels should be scientifically sound, understandable, and
nonmisleading.
Food Services:Food services, especially those receiving
Government funds, should be required to pay attention to meeting the
caloric and nutrient needs of older clients. Nutritional assessment and
guidance should be done at hospital admission or enrolment in or
discharge from institutional or community-based services for older
adults.
Food Products:Evidence suggests that older people would
benefit from food products that provide a high proportion of available
nutrients to calories, that have taste appeal, and that are easy to
prepare.
- The Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition & Health, 1988
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