Medical Journeys

Posts Tagged ‘brain function’

This kid has been suffering from some disease since and his brain function has deteriorated. Symptoms of seizures, memory loss. Not epilepsy or cancer.
He’s a teenager

Alzheimer’s disease is a group disorders involving the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Alzheimer’s disease is becoming tragically common. It is estimated that there are currently 18 million people worldwide with Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is a disease of the nervous system characterized by loss of certain mental abilities. This loss is severe enough to interfere with normal activities and lasts at least six months. Dementia is the term for the deterioration of brain function that results in loss of memory, reduced language skills, impaired reasoning and behavioural and emotional problems. As the disease develops, a person loses the ability to carry out familiar tasks, to reason, and to exercise judgment. Moods, personality, and ability to communicate may also be affected. People with AD typically die within eight years of their diagnosis. Some individuals may die within a year of diagnosis, others may live as long as twenty years.

Alzheimer’s disease is progressive, which means that symptoms worsen over time. Language difficulties also are common in people with Alzheimer’s disease. People with Alzheimer’s can lose their sense of time and place – they may, for example, get dressed in the middle of the night or walk off and get lost. New surroundings and new people may be confusing. The disease typically progresses to the stage where it is difficult for the patient to be understood by others or to understand others, and in the final stages, the patient is bedridden. Free radicals are another factor in the formation of tangles and plaques. Free radicals are very active chemicals that form in the brain and damage brain cells. Chemicals known as antioxidants react with and destroy free radicals. Unfortunately there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. However, drugs can help to slow down the progression or relieve some symptoms and delay the need for residential care. Other therapies and support are available.

Causes of Alzheimers Disease

The exect causes of alzheimers disease are currently not known. Alzheimer’s is caused by a loss of brain cells, as well as changes in the cerebral cortex. Free radicals are another factor in the formation of tangles and plaques. Free radicals are very active chemicals that form in the brain and damage brain cells. Chemicals known as antioxidants react with and destroy free radicals. Another risk factor is heredity. People whose family members have had AD are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those whose families do not have this history. People who have hypothyroidism or have experienced head injuries are also at relatively high risk for AD. Environmental factors have sometimes been proposed as possible causes for Alzheimers disease.

Symptoms of Alzheimers Disease

The earliest symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss. Memory loss by itself is not an indication that a person has Alzheimer’s disease. Some memory loss is a natural part of growing old. People with Alzheimer’s can lose their sense of time and place – they may, for example, get dressed in the middle of the night or walk off and get lost. In early stages of the disease, family or friends may notice changes in behaviour. As the disease progresses, memory loss gets worse and some people have difficulty in learning new skills. Changes in behaviour may become more obvious, with people saying or doing things that are out of character. Some people become depressed because they realise what is happening to them. During the late stages of the disease, people with Alzheimer’s may become totally dependent on others for their care. Walking can become difficult and urinary incontinence may develop.

Treatment of Alzheimers Disease

There is currently no cure and virtually no medical treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. However, drugs can help to slow down the progression or relieve some symptoms and delay the need for residential care. A type of drug called cholinesterase inhibitors are used for people with moderate Alzheimer’s disease. They work by reducing the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, levels of which are low in Alzheimer’s. There are three such drugs available: donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine and galantamine. Another drug, memantine, was launched for people in the late stages of Alzheimer’s. Sometimes anti-depressant medicines are prescribed to help treat the depression that can be associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Some people may benefit from anti-psychotic medicines.

Author: Jane Campsie
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Make PCB Assembly

Alzheimer’s disease is a cruel disease that attacks individuals at a time
in their lives when life should be “good”. Alzheimer’s sinister advancement
in the human brain reduces a loving, caring grandma or grandpa into
a person who does not recognize the people they love the most.

The duration of Alzheimer’s disease may vary from as little as 3
years to 20 years. Memory and reasoning skills are usually the
first sign of the disease. But the disease will continue to
progress and other cells die in different regions of the brain.
The person who is in the latter stages of Alzheimers will need complete
care. The cruel results of this disease is that even though an
individual has no other serious illness, the loss of brain function
result in death.
Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal dementia differs from Alzheimer’s disease
in that the individuals retain their memory. The memory is
affected in these disorders but not to the level of those
patients who have Alzheimer’s disease. Patients who are diagnosed
with frontotemporal dementia retain their ability to carry out motor
performance activities.

For example: If a patient who has Frontotemporal dementia is a house painter
They may very well retain their ability to paint. The problem that is associated with
this dementia is primarily personality problems. However manual dexterity
remains in tact. The person with this disorder very seldom will get lost
or wander off as is the case with patients suffering from Alzheimers.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies is the most commonly diagnosed form of progressive dementia. As in Alzheimers, there is a progressive decline in brain functioning. There are however additional features that are observed:

• Changes in alertness and attention
• Lethargy, such as frequent drowsiness
• Parkinson’s motor skill

The build-up of Lewy bodies which are bits of alpha-synuclein protein is considered the
cause of this disease. The accumulation of alpha-synuclein accumulation is also linked to Parkinson’s disease. There is a similarity between the symptoms of DLB ,Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease. The similarities that exist between the different forms of dementia can make it difficult for a doctor to make a definitive diagnosis.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
This disease is a rare degenerative disease that is always fatal. This disease affects about one person in every one million people worldwide. Symptoms usually start around the age of 60. Ninety percent of people who have this disease die within 1 year of diagnosis. Memory loss, behavioral changes, coordination and visual problems are early symptoms.

Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson disease is the most common form of degenerative dementia disease after Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s is also a chronic, progressive disease that results when nerve cells in a part of the midbrain die or are impaired. These disturbances in the control centers of the brain cause the symptoms of PD.

Some of the same types of alpha-synuclein protein that is found in patients diagnosed with Lewy bodies are also found in the brains of people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimers diseases. These findings suggest to researchers and Doctors that either DLB is related to these other causes of dementia or that it is possible for an individual to have both diseases at the same time.

Author: Linda J Bruton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cool mobile gadgets

Alzheimer’s disease is a cruel disease that attacks individuals at a time
in their lives when life should be “good”. Alzheimer’s sinister advancement
in the human brain reduces a loving, caring grandma or grandpa into
a person who does not recognize the people they love the most.

The duration of Alzheimer’s disease may vary from as little as 3
years to 20 years. Memory and reasoning skills are usually the
first sign of the disease. But the disease will continue to
progress and other cells die in different regions of the brain.
The person who is in the latter stages of Alzheimers will need complete
care. The cruel results of this disease is that even though an
individual has no other serious illness, the loss of brain function
result in death.
Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal dementia differs from Alzheimer’s disease
in that the individuals retain their memory. The memory is
affected in these disorders but not to the level of those
patients who have Alzheimer’s disease. Patients who are diagnosed
with frontotemporal dementia retain their ability to carry out motor
performance activities.

For example: If a patient who has Frontotemporal dementia is a house painter
They may very well retain their ability to paint. The problem that is associated with
this dementia is primarily personality problems. However manual dexterity
remains in tact. The person with this disorder very seldom will get lost
or wander off as is the case with patients suffering from Alzheimers.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies is the most commonly diagnosed form of progressive dementia. As in Alzheimers, there is a progressive decline in brain functioning. There are however additional features that are observed:

• Changes in alertness and attention
• Lethargy, such as frequent drowsiness
• Parkinson’s motor skill

The build-up of Lewy bodies which are bits of alpha-synuclein protein is considered the
cause of this disease. The accumulation of alpha-synuclein accumulation is also linked to Parkinson’s disease. There is a similarity between the symptoms of DLB ,Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease. The similarities that exist between the different forms of dementia can make it difficult for a doctor to make a definitive diagnosis.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
This disease is a rare degenerative disease that is always fatal. This disease affects about one person in every one million people worldwide. Symptoms usually start around the age of 60. Ninety percent of people who have this disease die within 1 year of diagnosis. Memory loss, behavioral changes, coordination and visual problems are early symptoms.

Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson disease is the most common form of degenerative dementia disease after Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s is also a chronic, progressive disease that results when nerve cells in a part of the midbrain die or are impaired. These disturbances in the control centers of the brain cause the symptoms of PD.

Some of the same types of alpha-synuclein protein that is found in patients diagnosed with Lewy bodies are also found in the brains of people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimers diseases. These findings suggest to researchers and Doctors that either DLB is related to these other causes of dementia or that it is possible for an individual to have both diseases at the same time.

Author: Linda J Bruton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital TV, HDTV, Satellite TV

Alzheimer’s disease is a cruel disease that attacks individuals at a time
in their lives when life should be “good”. Alzheimer’s sinister advancement
in the human brain reduces a loving, caring grandma or grandpa into
a person who does not recognize the people they love the most.

The duration of Alzheimer’s disease may vary from as little as 3
years to 20 years. Memory and reasoning skills are usually the
first sign of the disease. But the disease will continue to
progress and other cells die in different regions of the brain.
The person who is in the latter stages of Alzheimers will need complete
care. The cruel results of this disease is that even though an
individual has no other serious illness, the loss of brain function
result in death.
Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal dementia differs from Alzheimer’s disease
in that the individuals retain their memory. The memory is
affected in these disorders but not to the level of those
patients who have Alzheimer’s disease. Patients who are diagnosed
with frontotemporal dementia retain their ability to carry out motor
performance activities.

For example: If a patient who has Frontotemporal dementia is a house painter
They may very well retain their ability to paint. The problem that is associated with
this dementia is primarily personality problems. However manual dexterity
remains in tact. The person with this disorder very seldom will get lost
or wander off as is the case with patients suffering from Alzheimers.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies is the most commonly diagnosed form of progressive dementia. As in Alzheimers, there is a progressive decline in brain functioning. There are however additional features that are observed:

• Changes in alertness and attention
• Lethargy, such as frequent drowsiness
• Parkinson’s motor skill

The build-up of Lewy bodies which are bits of alpha-synuclein protein is considered the
cause of this disease. The accumulation of alpha-synuclein accumulation is also linked to Parkinson’s disease. There is a similarity between the symptoms of DLB ,Parkinsons disease and Alzheimers disease. The similarities that exist between the different forms of dementia can make it difficult for a doctor to make a definitive diagnosis.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
This disease is a rare degenerative disease that is always fatal. This disease affects about one person in every one million people worldwide. Symptoms usually start around the age of 60. Ninety percent of people who have this disease die within 1 year of diagnosis. Memory loss, behavioral changes, coordination and visual problems are early symptoms.

Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson disease is the most common form of degenerative dementia disease after Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s is also a chronic, progressive disease that results when nerve cells in a part of the midbrain die or are impaired. These disturbances in the control centers of the brain cause the symptoms of PD.

Some of the same types of alpha-synuclein protein that is found in patients diagnosed with Lewy bodies are also found in the brains of people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimers diseases. These findings suggest to researchers and Doctors that either DLB is related to these other causes of dementia or that it is possible for an individual to have both diseases at the same time.

Author: Linda J Bruton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera Information