Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment And Social / Economic...

A discussion of the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and social/economic importance of Alzheimer’s disease A disease is a medical condition that affects a living organism either physically, mentally or emotionally. It is basically a condition involving a pathological process along with a set of various symptoms; some easily noticeable whereas others quite difficult to detect, making their treatment process slower. (Healio.com, 2012) Nevertheless, the social and economic impacts followed by the diagnosis of the disease are generally quite drastic. Among the various types of diseases, certain diseases are named after a scientist or a doctor who has discovered it or rather a famous person who suffered from it . Alzheimer’s disease is one of†¦show more content†¦(Nihseniorhealth.gov, 2015) The exact cause of Alzheimer’s is yet unclear however; there are certain factors which increase the risk of developing the disease. It is most common in people over the age of 65 and statistically one in every six people over the age of 80 is affected with this disease. This is large ly because of the factors associated with ageing. For example; high blood pressure, changes to DNA and nerve cells, weak immune system and incidences of diseases like strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. (Alzheimers Society, 2015) Alzheimer’s disease affects women considerably more than men due to the lack of hormone oestrogen after a menopause. The lack in this hormone is correlated to an increased risk of the disease. The family history of the condition is also considered because; there are certain risk factor genes which can be passed on within generations e.g.: Apolipoprotein E gene. Other lifestyle factors such as inappropriate diet, smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and etc are also considered. (Alzheimers Society, 2015) The physical symptoms associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease are generally divided into three stages namely; early, middle-stage and later symptoms. During the early stage the individual suffers from memory lapses, increased anxiety,