The earliest and most common sign of Alzheimer’s is a decline in memory. This memory loss affects recent information more so than long-term memory. This would also lead to a short attention span and often losing interest in long conversations. Moreover, disorientation develops and those with Alzheimer’s may get lost in their own street.
Problems with language may also prevent coherent conversations. The affected person may not speak grammatically correct and talk in a child-like manner. They may substitute forgotten words for vague descriptions or make up new words.
The simple understanding and judgement of sufferers becomes impaired and they can make the wrong choices. For example, wearing warm clothes on a hot day, wearing Bermuda shorts on a winter’s day or waking up at awkward hours to do household tasks.
The mathematical knowledge the people with Alzheimer’s have deteriorates. They do not understand what the numbers are for and how to manipulate them. Tasks like managing finances become impossible.
Rapid and dramatic mood swings are also a common occurrence. A person may change from anger to tears to glee to disappointment in a short while. This seriously affects the person’s personality
Eventually the sufferer will become unaware of the outside world. They will not recognise faces and lose bladder control, needing constant care and then die. However, the rate at which the number of brain cells decreases at widely different rates. The illness can therefor vary between 3 and 20 years.
Nobody knows exactly what causes Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers believe that Amyloid plaques and Neurofibrillary tangles hold the key. Abnormal metabolism of APP has been linked to the formation of these tangles. These plaques and tangles form between and inside neurones and render those cells useless. Scientists have identified that there are risk factors. These include genetics, where the sufferers have inherited the disease (familial Alzheimer’s) and are more likely to get it early on in life. High cholesterol intake, family history and blood pressure are also risk factors but results of tests are inconclusive. Research is still continuing to find answers.
Bibliography:
A-level text book – Mammalian Physiology
