Concept and Etiology
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that destroys memory
by causing the brain to shrink and brain cells to perish. The medical
condition Alzheimer’s affect the endocrine and neural system that
work together to influence diverse human behavioural aspects such
as metabolism, growth and reproduction (Walinga & Stangor, 2014).
The change in the neuroendocrine mechanisms in the body is one of
the major indicators of the health problem. The normal day to day
functions that are performed by the endocrine and neural systems
get diminished due to the formation of plaques around the brain cells
that affect the communication between the systems (NHS, 2021).
Classification
The common yet complex multifactorial neurodegenerative disease is
a common kind of dementia that can be classified based on severity.
According to Gupta, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including its mild
cognitive impairment stage, might or might not progress into AD
(Gupta et al., 2019). It can be classified as early-onset or late-onset.
The signs and symptoms relating to early-onset appear when an
individual is between the age of thirties and mid-sixties, whereas the
signs and symptoms of late-onset arise during or after mix-sixties
(U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021).
Clinical Manifestations
The common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are the loss
of memory that can disrupt day to day life, complexities in solving
problems or planning things, difficulty in completing familiar
activities, and trouble comprehending spatial relationships and visual
images (10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer's
Disease and Dementia, 2021). When individuals are affected by the
mental health condition, they also find it difficult to take part in
conversations or follow conversations. Due to the diminished ability
of the brain to function, the affected individuals are unable to
actively participate in work or social lives. There are signs of mental
decline, difficulty in understanding and thinking, disorientation and
delusion and lack of ability to create memories.
Diagnostic Tests
Some of the diagnostic tests that can be done to illuminate the
diagnosis of the medical condition are evaluation of medical history,
physical and neurological examination, brain mapping. Similarly,
mental status tests can also be carried out to identify the
deterioration in the memory of individuals (Diagnosis. Alzheimer's
Disease and Dementia, 2021). According to Alzheimer’s Association,
there is no single test that can help to determine the
neurodegenerative disease. In addition to evaluating the medical
history, neurological examinations and mental cognitive status tests
can also help to evaluate the issues that an individual might be
experiencing in the brain (Diagnosis. Alzheimer's Disease and
Dementia, 2021). Several tests can be used for identifying the signs
and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
References
10 early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer's Disease and
Dementia. (2021). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs\.
Diagnosis. Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. (2021). Retrieved
November 16, 2021, from https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-
dementia/diagnosis.
Gupta, Y., Lama, R. K., Kwon, G. R., Weiner, M. W., Aisen, P., Weiner,
M., ... & Hardy, P. (2019). Prediction and classification of Alzheimer’s
disease based on combined features from apolipoprotein-E
genotype, cerebrospinal fluid, MR, and FDG-PET imaging
biomarkers. Frontiers in computational neuroscience, 13, 72.
NHS. (2021). Causes -Alzheimer's disease. NHS choices. Retrieved
November 16, 2021, from
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alzheimers-disease/causes/.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2021, April 7). Alzheimer disease:
Medlineplus genetics. MedlinePlus. Retrieved November 16, 2021,
from https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/alzheimer-
disease/.
Walinga, J., & Stangor, C. (2014, October 17). 4.4 putting it all
together: The nervous system and the endocrine system. Introduction to
Psychology 1st Canadian Edition. Retrieved November 16, 2021,
from https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/3-4-
putting-it-all-together-the-nervous-system-and-the-endocrine-
system/.
