Tellekamp 1

Madison Tellekamp
Mrs. DeBock
15 September 2016
English 4
Essential Question: How does Alzheimers disease and the seven stages affect the brain.
Working Thesis: Alzheimers disease and the seven stages of the process affects the brain.
Refined Thesis: Through early diagnosis of Alzheimers disease families can better cope through
the seven stages.
Annotated Bibliography
Gale. Alzheimers Disease Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: 2015
In this article the author discusses how the brain changes over time as, the symptoms that
come along with the disease continue the brain gets worse. As time goes on the brain starts to
deteriorate, the nerve endings break off from each other causing people to have memory loss.
Even though people with this disease lose their short term memory, their long term still stays
intact. Plaque in the brain builds up on the nerve endings causing them to clump together and
form fatty nerve cells around them. This article is relevant to my research on Alzheimers
because it talks about what exactly happens when someone is diagnosed with Alzheimers.
Gwyther, Lisa P. "Stages Of Alzheimer's Disease." Aging 363/364 (1992): 16. MAS Ultra School
Edition. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.
In my second article the author talks about the different stages of Alzheimers disease.
Stage one is typically two to four years long, recent memory loss starts to kick in during these
first couple of years. People begin to forget simple things like how to do their job, where their
shoes are, or certain deadlines they need to meet. Personalities begins to change, people become

more irrational and bitter, anxious about things that are not something to get worked up on, and
avoiding contact with people. The second stage last two to ten years. This is the longest stage.
Problems remembering close friends or family members becomes more frequent, Repeating
oneself multiple times and forgetting certain words to form a sentence. The last stage is the
terminal stage, typically last one to three years. This is when one can not even recognize himself
in the mirror. Weight loss starts to be a factor even if the right nutrients are being given. People
also lose their ability to control when they go to the bathroom. This article is relevant to my
research on Alzheimers because it allows me to be informed on the stages of this disease.
Frey, Rebecca J. "Dementia." The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders. Ed. Brigham
Narins. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2005. 335-341. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 21
Sept. 2016.
My last article talks about a branch of Alzheimers called Dementia. Dementia is
typically the beginning of Alzheimers. Its associated with memory loss and intellectual
functions being abused. This form of Alzheimers can happen with lack of oxygen or an injury,
although it is most commonly heard of in aging. Dementia can be caused by forty different
diseases and conditions ranging in dietary disorders, to head injuries and inherited diseases.
Drinking alcohol can also increase your chance in getting Dementia. It is also related to
infectious diseases such as: HIV, viral encephalitis, lyme disease and syphilis. Even the littlest
tumor can increase the risk of this disease. This article is relevant to my research on Alzheimers
because it branches out and talks about how there are more paths to Alzheimers.