Alzheimer’s disease is a severe degenerative disorder that substantially affects one’s cognitive abilities. Since the moment of its discovery, the disease was poorly understood. It was believed to be normal aging and not a disease that needed a cure. This essay will examine and discuss Samuel Cohen’s TED talk entitled Alzheimer’s is not normal aging — and we can cure it. It will also consider the facts provided by the speaker about history, epidemiology, the mechanism of the disease, and a potential cure.
Alzheimer’s disease has a relatively short history as it was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century. Specifically, in 1901, physician Alois Alzheimer observed a patient committed to an asylum in Frankfurt (Cohen, 2015). The patient named Auguste Deter showed signs of short- and long-term memory loss, being unable to recall details about her own life, and was described as delusional (Cohen, 2015). Upon her passing in 1906, Alzheimer performed an autopsy and discovered plaques and tangles one her brain (Cohen, 2015). The condition was eventually named after Alois Alzheimer due to his involvement in the treatment of Deter and the detection of abnormal brain tissue formations.
Since 1901 Alzheimer’s disease has become one of the most prevalent conditions affecting older adults. According to Cohen (2015), 40 million people worldwide suffer from the disease, and the number is estimated to rise to 150 million by 2050. Furthermore, the speaker notes that people aged 85 and older have a 50% chance of developing Alzheimer’s (Cohen, 2015). The disease is exceptionally costly and substantially burdens the health care systems in different countries. For example, in the United States, approximately a fifth of all Medicare funds are spent on persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, with costs projected to increase due to the expected rise in cases (Cohen, 2015). Overall, Alzheimer’s disease impacts a significant proportion of the population of many countries and is a significant financial burden.
The contemporary understanding of the causes of the disease has not evolved considerably since 1901. Cohen (2015) points out that despite being among the ten causes of death, Alzheimer’s is poorly studied compared to other conditions. The lack of interest in the illness and awareness about it is attributed to a widespread belief that memory loss and loss of some cognitive functions is a normal part of gaining. Nevertheless, Cohen and his team spent over ten years investigating Alzheimer’s and the nature of the abnormal plaques and tangles forming in the brains of the sufferers. Cohen (2015) states that they are protein molecules that stick together, growing larger over time and impacting one’s cognitive abilities. Thus, these growths disrupt normal brain functioning and lead to the development of the disease.
A cure developed by Cohen and his team can potentially prevent Alzheimer’s as it targets the irregular protein accumulation in the brain. Cohen (2015) notes that if given at an early stage, the medication can prevent further growth of the protein formations. Therefore, the development of the disease can be interrupted with minimal symptoms experienced by the affected persons. According to Cohen (2015), initial trials on worms show promising results as worms with abnormal protein plaques and tangles could resume normal functioning after the medication was administered. Thus, there is a hope that Alzheimer’s disease can be successfully treated and cured in humans. However, there is a need for more awareness about Alzheimer’s disease being raised.
In summary, Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Although it was discovered in 1901, the mechanisms of the disease are still poorly understood, with the cognitive decline in older adults often being ascribed to normal aging processes. Nevertheless, researchers state that the development of Alzheimer’s is impacted by the formation of protein plaques and tangles in the brain. Cohen’s team of researchers is targeting these structures in hopes of combating the disease. More research is needed despite the initial successes, and awareness should be raised about stark cognitive decline in older adults being abnormal.
Reference
Cohen, S. (2015). Alzheimer’s is not normal aging — and we can cure it [Video]. TED: Ideas worth spreading. Web.