Attention Getter
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, accounting for more than 70% of dementia cases in the country, and it currently affects about 500,000 people in the United Kingdom. Most people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease are above 65 years old, and around 6% of patients experienced the early onset of the disease between the age of 40-60 years (Cummings, Isaacson, Schmitt, & Velting, 2015).
Thesis Statement
Despite the fact that there is no effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, scientists discovered that dancing could help reduce the severity of the disorder as this activity involves simultaneous brain functioning, which helps to affect damaged nerve cells in the brain and predict the cognitive decline.
Introduction
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the dementia types that affect older people’s memory, thinking, communication, and behavior. Possible causes of this disorder are the death of brain cells. Symptoms progress slowly, they become chronic, and at the last stages, people’s cognitive function becomes greatly affected, preventing them from carrying out daily routines (Byrd, 2014). Although there is no complete cure for the disease, social dancing is viewed as a therapy for activating the cerebral cortex and hypothalamus, enabling their cells to regenerate.
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
- Alzheimer’s disease is a specific neurodegenerative disorder that is known for causing dementia, and it results in memory loss and problems in thinking, communication, and problem-solving (Wolfe, 2016).
- The disease specifically leads to the inadequacy of essential chemicals, which are responsible for transmitting signals in the brain, performing their functions, and connect nerve cells (Klimova & Kuca, 2015).
- Most people who have Alzheimer’s disease are over the age of 65, although younger people can also suffer from the disease (Cummings et al., 2015). This disorder is progressive, which means the failure of cognitive performance develops gradually, and more symptoms develop as the brain damage increases.
What is the Cause of Alzheimer’s Disease?
- Alzheimer’s disease results from the accumulation of proteins in the brain, forming some plaques that cause synaptic and neuronal impairments or the breakage of links between nerve cells (Klimova & Kuca, 2015).
- The actual cause of Alzheimer’s disorder is not found, but scientists agree that the disease affects brain performance and psycho-behavioral function.
- People with Alzheimer’s disease live about five years after diagnosing the disorder, but physical exercising and social dancing can contribute to improving the state (Wolfe, 2016).
Is Dancing a Cure?
- Currently, Alzheimer’s disease cannot be treated completely, but research projects to develop effective interventions are organized in different countries.
- Dancing is a physiotherapy treatment that facilitates the neuroplasticity of the brain. The reason is that dancing requires quick decision-making that leads to the development of new neural pathways (Klimova & Kuca, 2015).
- Similar to physical exercising, dancing trains the body and brain. However, what is more important is that dancing stimulates different brain functions, including thinking, kinesthetic function, social function, and emotions (Poirier & Gauthier, 2014).
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease usually affects people who are aged 40-60 years old. Memory loss, difficulties with thinking, decision making, and problem-solving are among its typical symptoms. The brain disorder starts slowly but progresses to cause cognitive decline. No effective cure exists for the disease, but dancing is viewed as a physical activity that can relieve its symptoms.
Memorable Statement
In spite of the fact that no treatments are discussed as effective enough to address Alzheimer’s disease, dancing is an easy way to slow down its progress, make patients happier, and contribute to their social interactions.
References
Byrd, L. (2014). Alzheimer’s disease: Prevention strategies and ways to slow progression. New York, NY: Pesi Incorporated
Cummings, J. L., Isaacson, R. S., Schmitt, F. A., & Velting, D. M. (2015). A practical algorithm for managing Alzheimer’s disease: What, when, and why? Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 2(3), 307-323.
Klimova, B., & Kuca, K. (2015). Alzheimer’s disease: Potential preventive, non-invasive, intervention strategies in lowering the risk of cognitive decline–A review study. Journal of Applied Biomedicine, 13(4), 257-261.
Poirier, J., & Gauthier, S. (2014). Alzheimer’s disease: The complete introduction. Toronto, Canada: Dundurn.
Wolfe, M. S. (Ed.). (2016). Developing therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease: Progress and challenges. New York, NY: Academic Press.