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Last posts on private forums:  sare  2008-06-16 09:56:33 matthew 2008-04-12 21:25:59 pieniadz 2008-04-12 20:52:26
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Last posts on private blogs: matthew 2008-04-12 21:25:17 mary 2008-04-12 19:27:47 |
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Lastly added medical terms:
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You are in: Main Page / List of diseases / Litera A
/ Alzheimer's Disease
 Description of disease:
Alzheimer's disease is brain disorder which leads to the impairment of short-term memory and thinking processes, as a result, to dementia. The exact cause of the disease is still unknown. Brain tests conducted after the patients death reveal that plaques and tangles contain substance called amyloid, which is evoked by infections or congenital factors.
Before diagnosis doctors should exclude other diseases, carry out very detailed medical history of a patient and ask family or friends about patient's past diseases, injuries, treatments, eating habits, alcohol and other substance abuse. The characteristic for Alzheimer's disease brain scan is possible to be achieved only after patient's death.
The treatment includes psychological tests, blood or urine tests, tests of the respiratory system, circulatory system, x-ray examination of the skull, computed tomography of the brain, magnetic resonance and electroencephalograph.
The signs of Alzheimer disease can be treated with immediate medication e.g. tranquilizers given to patients with sleeping disorders. The drug which would recede or stop the development of the disease is yet to be discovered. The treatment concentrates on improving the quality of patient's life and it may involve hydrotherapy (warm baths which need to be done under the supervision of someone else), music therapy (patients react very well to the sounds of gentle music) and diet therapy. It is said that large doses of antioxidants in vitamins A, C, E and selenium limit the development of the disease. Patients with Alzheimer disease are advised to spend a lot of time with animals which have beneficial influence on relationships.
People affected by Alzheimer's disease are not adjusted to the changes of their routine, habits, surrounding or change of lifestyle. Therefore, family and close friends should implement changes to patient's life slowly, they should be determined to keep them at home as long as possible.
Symptoms:
forgetting easily
orientation in space disorders
problems with concentration and remembering
problems with counting
problems with thinking and reasoning
sleeping problems
Speaking disorders
Research:
Blood cell count
Computed tomography
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Magnetic resonance
Urine analysis
Doctors :
Geriatrician
Added by:
mary
not connected with health care system
Added on:
2008-04-28 15:08:25 ,
Updated:
2008-04-28 15:23:46
Bibliography:
Visalli, G. Guide to Medical Cures and Treatments, 1996
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