The phenomenon of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was first explored and defined a bit more than a century ago. It is considered to be the most prevalent basis for dementia with an assessed incidence of more than 25 million individuals on the international scale (Barnes, 2012). What is more interesting, this number is projected to increase fourfold in the next four decades. Medicinal research shows that there presently is no efficient care that postpones the inception or decelerates the development of AD. Nevertheless, there were significant methodical developments in the different areas of biology, genetics, chemistry, and other sciences through the course of the prior two decades that were capable of altering the way we reflect on AD (Barnes, 2012). The scientists all over the world discuss some of the complexities of rendering these elementary biological and genetical findings into the medical treatment. The existing data proposes that if the illness is distinguished before the commencement of evident warning signs, it is probable that the treatments founded on the facts of fundamental pathogenesis will be of assistance in battling the Alzheimer’s disease (Barnes, 2012).
In the rummage around for the new DNA segments that would provide evidence of the cure for Alzheimer’s disease, definitive relation-based and individual-gene-based connotation studies have been displaced (Bettens, Sleegers, & Van Broeckhoven, 2013). Instead, a number of innovational methods of sequencing were incorporated into practice (such as exome and genome-wide) for mendelian types of AD, and genome-wide connotation revisions for non-mendelian types of AD. The discovery of new vulnerability genetic factor has unlocked the new extents for investigation of the fundamental disease prognosticators (Bettens et al., 2013). On top of distinguishing innovative risk aspects in large models, the revised sequencing methods can bring fresh perceptions with even an insignificant number of individuals suffering from AD. The change in emphasis towards rendering research and categorizing of specific patients makes each patient’s genetic material the essential component of genetic research (Bettens et al., 2013). The theoretical swing required to turn the patient into the central figure of the genetic studies will necessitate robust teamwork and contribution from medical experts in neurology.
Preclinical AD is dominant in mentally ordinary aged people and is connected to the impending perceptive deterioration and impermanence. Consequently, preclinical instances of AD could be the central clinical aspect in which the medical workers should be involved (McKhann et al., 2011). Recently, a group of researchers was given the task of reviewing the previously set norms for defining AD and dementia. The team of scientists wanted to guarantee that the reviewed conditions would be sufficiently flexible to be implemented into practice by both all-purpose healthcare workers without admission to neuropsychological examination, extended testing, and other important measurement procedures, and dedicated professionals taking part in research or medical experimental studies who ought to have these utensils accessible (McKhann et al., 2011).
These researchers offered the norms for all-inclusive dementia and Alzheimer’s disease dementia. They have also incorporated the universal background of feasible AD dementia from the 1984 conditions in their study. Using the past three decades of experience, the researchers have performed some modifications in the medical principles for the diagnosis. The researchers as well took the notion of probable AD dementia and restated it in a way more attentive to detail than before (McKhann et al., 2011). Biological identification evidence was also involved in the analytic designs for feasible and probable AD dementia for exploitation in research situations. The essential scientific measure for Alzheimer’s disease dementia will still be the keystone of the verdict in medical practice, but biological identification evidence is projected to improve the theoretical precision of the diagnosis. There is still research to be done in the area of confirming the biological identification diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (McKhann et al., 2011).
Since the discovery of Alzheimer’s disease, numerous research projects were conducted so as to recap the evidence concerning the key hypothetically adjustable risk influencers for AD – midlife corpulence, smoldering, despair, mental idleness or insignificant educational realization, diabetes, and corporal inoperativeness (Selkoe, 2012). Moreover, these studies predicted the influence of risk factor decrease on Alzheimer’s disease occurrence by calculating the populace characteristic risks (the percent of cases characteristic to a certain aspect) and the number of Alzheimer’s disease incidents that might be disallowed by a significant (from 10% to 25%) decrease in the ratio of risk influencers both in the United States and worldwide (Selkoe, 2012). Together, up to nearly 50% of Alzheimer’s disease cases internationally (18 million) and solely in the US (3.5 million) are hypothetically dependent on these aspects. More than two millions of Alzheimer’s disease cases could be prevented if the risk factors were carefully assessed and promptly evaluated (Selkoe, 2012).
Regardless of the rigorous test center and medical research over the past 30 years, an effectual treatment to suspend the commencement and development of Alzheimer’s disease is still not on the way. Current medical trial fiascos advocate that we must cure the disease earlier than in its minor to sensible phases, and serious advancement in authorizing presymptomatic biological indicators now makes subordinate deterrence trials probable (Stern, 2012). Medical experts have to find out more about the past of the disease so as to give at least a couple of incomplete treatment answers based on the comprehensive evaluation of the modern trial outcomes. This method will possibly settle the grounds for accomplishments, but only with a much bigger venture in all of the characteristics of Alzheimer investigation and with a watchful design of the upcoming studies and experiments (Stern, 2012).
There is no proper cure for Alzheimer’s disease but exists medicine that can assist in relieving numerous AD symptoms and hold back the development of the disorder in some individuals. Many other kinds of assisting methods are as well offered to help persons with Alzheimer’s live as self-sufficiently as possible. These challenges may be mitigated through transforming the patient’s home setting, so it is more laid-back to stroll through the house and recall the day-to-day household tasks (Vos et al., 2013). Emotional treatments such as mental stimulus therapy may similarly be presented to help sustain the patient’s remembrance, issue resolving capability, and verbal skills. Normally, individuals with Alzheimer’s disease live peacefully for almost seven to ten years after the AD symptoms begin to progress. Nevertheless, this can contrast significantly from individual to individual. Some persons with the illness will live more than, for instance, ten years, but others will not (Vos et al., 2013). Alzheimer’s disease is a life-restraining disease, even though many persons that were found to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease will pass away from another reason.
As Alzheimer’s disease is a reformist illness for the neurologists, it can be the reason for difficulties with swallowing. This can be the cause of aspiration (nutrition being breathed in into the lungs) which can be the root for recurrent upper body contaminations. It is as well prevalent among the individuals with Alzheimer’s disease to ultimately have trouble consuming food and have a reduced need to eat (Vos et al., 2013). There is a growing consciousness that persons with Alzheimer’s disease require a comforting care. This comprises support for relatives, in addition to the person with AD. As the precise basis of Alzheimer’s disease is not evident, there is no identified way to avert the disorder. Nevertheless, there are things that the person can do that may decrease the hazard or suspend the beginning of dementia, such as discontinuing smoking and completely refusing the consumption of alcohol, maintaining a vigorous, well-adjusted diet and sustaining a healthy body mass, staying in a good physical shape, and being rationally full of life (Vos et al., 2013). These actions also have additional health profits, such as cutting down the patient’s risk to be affected by a cardiac illness and refining their general psychological health.
Alzheimer’s disease is a critical issue due to the fact that more and more persons are exposed to this disorder. This distresses the general public wellbeing and sets the ground for further research on this crucial topic. Medical workers from all over the world should carefully assess the risks of AD and continue studying the phenomenon of this illness. Using the evidence from prior research, the experts should render the most certain predictors of Alzheimer’s disease and put the effort in elaborating the strategy that would prevent the illness or successfully hold it back for a decent period of time.
References
Barnes, D. (2012). Risk Factor Reduction and Alzheimer’s Disease Prevalence: Projected Effect and Practical Implications. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 8(4), 819- 828. Web.
Bettens, K., Sleegers, K., & Van Broeckhoven, C. (2013). Genetic insights in Alzheimer’s Disease.The Lancet Neurology, 12(1), 92-104. Web.
McKhann, G., Knopman, D., Chertkow, H., Hyman, B., Jack, C., Kawas, C.,… Phelps, C. (2011). The Diagnosis of Dementia due to Alzheimer’s Disease: Recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer’s Association Workgroups on Diagnostic Guidelines for Alzheimer’s Disease.Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 7(3), 263-269. Web.
Selkoe, D. J. (2012). Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease.Science, 337(6101), 1488-1492. Web.
Stern, Y. (2012). Cognitive Reserve and Alzheimer Disease.The Lancet Neurology, 11(11), 1006-1012. Web.
Vos, S., Xiong, C., Visser, P., Jasielec, M., Hassenstab, J., Grant, E.,… Fagan, A. (2013). Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Outcome: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.The Lancet Neurology, 12(10), 957-965. Web.