Tag Archives: Memory Loss
Short Details on Alzheimer Disease
Some of you maybe have heard about Alzheimer Disease before. There are many movies and dramas which show the nature of this disease. This disease is not contagious, but it is still dangerous and life threatening. It is also frequently referred as dementia. Alzheimer disease is basically a degenerate condition of human brain, especially the part of the brain which is responsible for storing memories. People who suffer this disease will start losing their memories.
Until today, the sum of people who suffers this disease is increasing. This disease used to strike older people, causing the condition which is popularly known as senile. In the beginning, they usually start forgetting small things, losing track of their activities, and gradually they will forget more important things, such as where they live, and who they are. There are some cases which show that Alzheimer can also occur on younger people. It is more dangerous and life threatening. It is proven that younger people who suffer Alzheimer Disease usually have shorter life span.
Can Alzheimer’s Be Prevented?
Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that affects up to 4.5 million Americans. While there is no known cure, studies have been conducted that indicate there may be ways to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
The disease is characterized by symptoms such as forgetfulness, memory loss, and reduced ability to concentrate and, in later stages the sufferer may display anxiety and delusions, loss of speech and the inability to sit or walk. It is a slow disease and manifests with symptoms of worsening during the period of many years.
The now famous, innovative “nun study” went a long way towards identifying features that indicate the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s later in life. 100 nuns have been studied for a period of fifteen years, starting in 1991. During those years, their genes have been tested and analyzed, physical balance and strength circuit, cognitive testing and enforcement to determine how many words the women could remember several minutes after reading them, how many animals are able to indicate in a minute, and if they could correctly count coins. Research shows that people who scored lower on tests of cognitive abilities when the young were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease in old age. Early cognitive ability was measured based on writings done by the nuns while in their early 20s. Those that have more “density of ideas” – the number of the ideas expressed in the fewest words – and better language skills and grammar had a much lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease later in life. Scientists are of the opinion that good cognitive skills early creates a sort of “neurocognitive reserve” which will be elaborated later, preventing Alzheimer’s. Exercising and improving cognitive skills through writing, reading and learning – anything that stimulates the brain – can go a long way toward active, lucid and graceful aging.