Alzheimer’s brain disease is a state in which brain cells that are wearing off, cause a destructive mental relapse for a period of time. This disease gradually wrecks havoc on the brain of its victims and causes a distortion in their thoughts and memory. This disease was named after the man who was the first to describe the disease in the year 1906. His name was Alois Alzheimer, a German.
Causes of Alzheimer’s Brain Disease
There is no yet identifiable cause of Alzheimer’s disease. However, some risk factors associated with this brain disease include aging factor, trauma caused by head injury and also gene mutations. If a number of the family members experience the disorder, it is termed Familial Alzheimer’s disease; this is perceived to be an altered gene issue.
Also, metal aluminum is being explored by scientists, as a likely toxic agent that takes part in Alzheimer’s disease development. The role of neurotransmitter acetylcholine is also being studied; since its declining levels causes more severe symptoms.
Preventive Measures
It has been discovered that those that are involved in active intellectual and mental activities are at less risk of experiencing decline in memory function and also developing Alzheimer’s disease in comparison with mentally inactive people. Such mental activities can take different forms such as reading, puzzles, reading and writing, woodworking, knitting, printing and playing board games. Also, another study shows that those who are engaged in mentally demanding jobs are less likely to experience a decline in memory as they grow older.
The Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Brain Disease
Early Symptoms: Alzheimer brain disease shows forth with the initial symptoms of gradual loss of memory, lack of attention to personal hygiene, poor memory, loss of concentration and distorted perception and judgment.
Later Symptoms: confused state, restiveness, irritability and confusion. These stated conditions continue to deteriorate until patients are not able to perform normal activities and functions such as speaking, reading and writing. And the worst situation sets in when patients are not able to recognize people they know any longer and can barely take care of themselves.
Survival of Alzheimer’s brain victims after the initial and later symptoms is more often than not, 5 to 10 years; though the period could extend to 20 years at some instances. Alzheimer patients are susceptible to infections which is normally the major reason for their death. Such infection that easily ravages the Alzheimer patients is pneumonia.
Tests and Examination for Alzheimer Brain Disease
The simple test procedure such as blood test that is obtainable with most ailments is not applicable in the case of Alzheimer’s brain disease test and diagnosis. A definite diagnosis done as autopsy is rather carried out on the brain tissues. Any diagnosis carried out on living patients is usually based on physical examination, medical history and laboratory tests; this is to cancel out other likely causes of the symptoms. Also neurological exams are carried out to test mental performance.
Treatment for Alzheimer Brain Disease
There is no effective treatment or cure yet for this disease, however, medications can work in the early stages to reduce the symptoms. However, there is hope for effective treatment of this ailment as scientific researches are bringing us closer to cure for this ailment each day; there has been excellent progress in the research to unravel the mystery behind this ailment including its causes and possible treatments. There is much to learn about this ailment and its development.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Barack Obama Awards First 16 Medals of Freedom.
In his few short months in office Barack Obama has played host to all kinds of different people at the White House. But the group assembled in the East Room on Wednesday was possibly the most diverse.
The group was a representation of the first sixteen people to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom during Obama's term as President. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civil award that can be attained in the US.
Among the sixteen were a British scientist, the last living High Plains Indian Chief and one of the best known clergyman in the world.
The British scientist was Stephen Hawking, about whom Obama joked was "a brilliant man but a mediocre student. Obama went on to praise the author of the ground breaking " A Brief History of Time saying he was a man who "from his wheelchair has led us on a journey to the farthest and strangest reaches of to the furthest corners of the cosmos. In so doing, he has stirred our imagination and shown us the power of the human spirit here on earth." He then bent to affix the white and blue ribbon around Hawking's neck.
Also amongst the honorees was Bishop Desmond Tutu, the South African clergyman who has devoted his life to a fight against apartheid and racism in his country. Other recipients included the former Irish Premier Mary Robinson who was honored for her many contributions to women's rights, Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female Supreme Court Judge, Billie Jean King, tennis champion and advocate of gay rights and the Reverend Joseph Lowery, who led the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
The most striking figure present was the ninety something Joseph Medicine Crow. Medicine Crow is a noted historian and champion of the American Indian culture, whose grandfather was a scout for General Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
From the entertainment world actor and director Sidney Poiter and Chita Rivera, famous for his performance in West Side story were honored. Also on the list was breast cancer advocate Nancy Goodman Brinker and a Florida doctor, Pedro Jose Greer who helped provide health care for the poor in Florida. Also on hand to receive their awards were oncologist Janet Davison Rowley and Muhammad Yunus, who helps alleviate poverty by extending credit to the most needy.
Not all of the sixteen honorees were present however. The award to Harvey Milk is posthumous, the gay rights advocate was shot to death in 1978. His award was accepted by his nephew Stuart. Another posthumous award was presented to the family of Jack Kemp, former Republican congressman and football player.
Senator Ted Kennedy was also a recipient, but is still to ill to make the trip to Washington. Kennedy has spent much of his political career fighting for health care reform, a subject of course very much on the President's mind at the moment. His daughter Kara accepted his award in his absence.
The group was a representation of the first sixteen people to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom during Obama's term as President. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civil award that can be attained in the US.
Among the sixteen were a British scientist, the last living High Plains Indian Chief and one of the best known clergyman in the world.
The British scientist was Stephen Hawking, about whom Obama joked was "a brilliant man but a mediocre student. Obama went on to praise the author of the ground breaking " A Brief History of Time saying he was a man who "from his wheelchair has led us on a journey to the farthest and strangest reaches of to the furthest corners of the cosmos. In so doing, he has stirred our imagination and shown us the power of the human spirit here on earth." He then bent to affix the white and blue ribbon around Hawking's neck.
Also amongst the honorees was Bishop Desmond Tutu, the South African clergyman who has devoted his life to a fight against apartheid and racism in his country. Other recipients included the former Irish Premier Mary Robinson who was honored for her many contributions to women's rights, Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female Supreme Court Judge, Billie Jean King, tennis champion and advocate of gay rights and the Reverend Joseph Lowery, who led the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
The most striking figure present was the ninety something Joseph Medicine Crow. Medicine Crow is a noted historian and champion of the American Indian culture, whose grandfather was a scout for General Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
From the entertainment world actor and director Sidney Poiter and Chita Rivera, famous for his performance in West Side story were honored. Also on the list was breast cancer advocate Nancy Goodman Brinker and a Florida doctor, Pedro Jose Greer who helped provide health care for the poor in Florida. Also on hand to receive their awards were oncologist Janet Davison Rowley and Muhammad Yunus, who helps alleviate poverty by extending credit to the most needy.
Not all of the sixteen honorees were present however. The award to Harvey Milk is posthumous, the gay rights advocate was shot to death in 1978. His award was accepted by his nephew Stuart. Another posthumous award was presented to the family of Jack Kemp, former Republican congressman and football player.
Senator Ted Kennedy was also a recipient, but is still to ill to make the trip to Washington. Kennedy has spent much of his political career fighting for health care reform, a subject of course very much on the President's mind at the moment. His daughter Kara accepted his award in his absence.
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