HASSAN AOUN
PSY 131
APRIL, 25 2014
Alzheimer’s disease and Psychological Effects
Alzheimer’s progressive mental deterioration that can occur in middle or old age, due to generalized degeneration of the brain. It is the most common cause of premature senility. More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association. This disease have big impact on our daily basis, it’s a condition that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Moreover, patents faces difficulties, such as cognitive, biological disorder, and many other things. Alzheimer's ultimately affects a person's ability to work, engage in normal everyday activities, and maintain relationships. Some one that I know was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and he is married. Struggling with Alzheimer’s disease and the emotional toll it causes when the wife, played by person, gives her affection to another man whom she meets in a nursing home.
This heart-wrenching and emotional dramatization of Alzheimer's brings home the difficulties families face when a person's ability to recognize and maintain relationships gradually declines especially when the relationship is between a husband and wife. This scenario becomes even more complicated when a person with Alzheimer's is placed in a nursing home, and amidst the confusion and loss of memory, finds new companionship with someone other than his her or spouse. One of the challenges of Alzheimer's is that it will cause a person to lose the ability to recognize their loved ones, including their spouse. Once that recognition is gone, it can be very difficult for both the patient and the family.
However, Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed with the following, MRI, CT, EEG, PET, and SPECT. Serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters involved in the modulation of behaviors and emotions. Genetic variations affecting synthesis and signaling of these transmitters have been associated with behavioral and psychological problems common in adult psychiatry. For example, genetic variations in the gene encoding for tryptophan hydroxylase, an enzyme involved in the synthesis of serotonin and which is in fact the rate limiting step of the process, has been linked to the prevalence of aggression and anger in non-demented individuals. Therefore, as psychological symptoms in Alzheimer's disease bear striking similarities to psychological symptoms in non-demented individuals -such as those exhibited by schizophrenic patients, for example - it is reasonable to think that both symptoms have a common neurobiological origin. The possibility thus exits that genetic variations in this enzyme could be responsible for the prevalence of aggressive behavior in people with Alzheimer's disease. There are several things we can see in order to diagnose this disease such as Significant cognitive and memory loss are not symptoms of normal aging. However, these symptoms do not always indicate Alzheimer’s disease. Other conditions can also cause mental decline. Symptoms that mimic early Alzheimer’s disease may result from:
Central nervous system and other degenerative disorders, including head injuries, brain tumors, stroke, epilepsy, Pick’s Disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease.
Metabolic ailments, such as hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, dehydration, kidney or liver failure.
Substance-induced conditions, such as drug interactions, medication side-effects, alcohol and drug abuse.
Psychological factors, such as dementia syndrome, depression, emotional trauma, chronic stress,
