Running Head: ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN AMERICAS ELDERS 1

Alzheimers Disease in Americas Elders

A review of the literature

Joe Rendleman

Edina High School

Author Note:

This paper was prepared for Pre-AP English 10 taught by Mrs. Taylor,

Hour 4
Running Head: ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN AMERICAS ELDERS 2

Alzheimers Disease in Americas Elders

A Review of the Literature

Introduction

According to the Center for Disease Control, 50.4% of nursing home

residents were diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease in 2014 (Alzheimers

Disease, 2016, para. 1). It caused 93,541 deaths in 2014 and was ranked as

the number 6 cause of death in the United States (para. 2), yet we have not

yet made much progress towards its cure. Alzheimers disease and its hold

on the elder generations of our country is a prominent issue today due to its

effect on the human brain; therefore, it is vital that society spurs the search

for a cure and helps struggling patients by supporting and funding those

researching for the defeat of Alzheimers and taking part in the care of

patients in need.

Background of Alzheimers

Basic Background Information

In order to help destroy Alzheimers Disease, society must first

understand what it is. Alzheimers Disease, also known as AD, is a type of

Dementia which consists of brain disorders that cause cognitive and

behavioral problems (Alzheimers Disease information page, 2016, para. 1).

Specifically, Alzheimers is a non-reversible brain disorder that develops with

age (para. 1). It effects the brain in ways such that it blocks routes of
Running Head: ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN AMERICAS ELDERS 3

communication and decays the brain, section by section. The destruction of

this vital organ appears in many symptoms that are visible in everyday life.

Firstly, the patient begins to lose the ability to put together sentences and

remember words when they are needed. Next, the patient begins to lose the

ability to speak entirely. Then the patient begins to lose the ability to perform

everyday actions and eventually stops being able to take care of themselves.

There are currently no medicines that can slow the effects of AD but there

are FDA approved meds for its symptoms. These meds can help AD patients

go through everyday life and can temporarily improve memory and

communication but only work for a few months (para. 3). This lack of

medications is disturbing considering we have known about this disease

since the early 1900s. Though not many medications are available,

scientists have developed a prognosis for AD and its multiple variants. This

prognosis states that when patients get AD in there 30's, 40's, and 50's it is

considered "early onset". A mutation in the patients genes is what usually

causes this, allowing the effects of the disease to start earlier. Approximately

90% of patients get the disease in their mid to late 60's, this is called "late

onset". The causes of late onset have yet to be determined but some likely

ones are genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors (para. 3-4). This

information has allowed for researchers to alter their focus towards these

potential factors and guide their development of medications closer to the

cure. However, the National Institute on Aging (n.d.) gave a more detailed

report on the causes of Alzheimers Disease. They also found that AD seems
Running Head: ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN AMERICAS ELDERS 4

to be caused by aging. Things such as atrophy (shrinking) of certain parts of

the brain, inflammation, the production of unstable molecules called free

radicals and the breakdown of cells in the brain seem to be potential causes.

Also, it could be genetic because some common genes appear in late onset

patients (para. 2-5). These discoveries show progress but are still uncertain,

proving that we still have a long way to go before we understand all the

causes of Alzheimers Disease and can finally cure it.

Case Studies: Clinical Vignettes

Studies are being conducted concerning Alzheimers Disease and its

effect on peoples lives. The University of Waterloo in Ontario Canada

conducted a series of clinical vignettes to help describe the health states of

Alzheimers Disease. According to Alexander and Becker (as cited in Oremus,

Xie, & Gaebel, 2013), a clinical vignette is defined as short descriptions of a

person or a social situation which contain precise references to what are

thought to be the most important factors in the decision-making or

judgment-making process of respondents, (p. 2). In this vignette, the

researchers created seven focus groups that included patients of AD and

their relatives, caregivers, and experts on the disease. These people were

brought together to analyze a set of clinical vignettes from other sources and

give their commentary and expertise on the subject. They then essentially

created their own vignettes which are detailed in the journal (Oremus, Xie, &

Gaebel, 2016, p. 1). Examining the results of these vignettes gives evidence

that AD has sizeable effects on the people that surround the patient daily as
Running Head: ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN AMERICAS ELDERS 5

well as the patient himself. The people in the focus groups commented on

things such as, Loss of enjoyment of their social activities and what they do.

I mean often you hear we took dad out to dinner and after being there for 10

minutes you just want to go home, (p. 7). Though few people besides

elderly get AD it effects so many more people than that. Their friends, loved

ones, caregivers, and all others in their life are changed by the disease which

shows just how much we need to be focusing on helping these people.

Current Action and Potential Solutions

What is Already Being Done?

Since Alzheimers Disease is such a large problem it is vital that society

pushes for research and development in its prevention and, eventually, cure.

Though much more action needs to be taken some is already in motion. This

action consists of research and development of medications for the

symptoms of Alzheimers and different therapeutic methods to help the

patients everyday performance. The Mayo Clinic (2016) posted an article on

the current medications in production that may combat AD at the source.

Some of these include targeting plaques in the brain using monoclonal

antibodies, preventing destruction with a beta-amyloid which targets fyn (a

destructive protein), and giving hormones to patients to help protect thinking

and memory (para. 7-16, 25). These medications are not quite ready for

public use but are very close to being so. In the meantime, though, there are

other things that can be used to help with the symptoms of Alzheimers such
Running Head: ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN AMERICAS ELDERS 6

as therapy. There are many different therapeutic techniques being used to

help AD patients but a prominent one is music therapy. There are truly

amazing effects music can have on Alzheimers patients in both late and

early stages. In early stages, music can help them remember some small

things and give them joy. In late stages, music could also make a patient who

has seemingly lost most of their movement dance a little (Alzheimers

Disease and Music Therapy, 2016, para. 2). These amazing effects occur

because of the muscle memory that was created in patients early years.

These movements require little to no mental processing because they are

triggered by the motor center of the brain that responds to the rhythmic

ques in the music directly (para. 3). Music can also trigger emotions. This is

because of a persons tendency to associate music with certain important

events and can therefore be a very useful tool for caregivers lasso unstable

emotions in and keep patients under control (para. 4-6). Because of these

incredible effects, music is becoming increasingly common in Alzheimers

care facilities. There was recently a video that went viral of a man that, at

the beginning of the video, seemed inches from death, he was sad, quiet,

and limp. His caregiver then slipped headphones on him playing his favorite

song, and he was rejuvenated. His face light up, he opened his eyes, looked

around, a smile spread across his face and he began to dance and sing

along. Even after they stopped the music he was still able to communicate

and answer questions from the interviewers. Its things like the reactions
Running Head: ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN AMERICAS ELDERS 7

shown in this video that give researchers and doctors hope to cure

Alzheimers Disease and forces them to continue pushing for progress.

What More Needs to be Done?

Though great progress is being made on resolving the issue of

Alzheimers disease there is still so much to be done. Though research is

happening, there still is plenty of it to do which means that research facilities

need the peoples support through funds. Also, things such as music therapy

need to be implemented into more care facilities and hospitals with

Alzheimers patients. First comes the research. Unfinished research projects

dont help the people who need the results. The Mayo Clinics article

mentioned earlier also detailed research that is being done on medications to

keep tau from tangling, which causes a vital brain transport system to

collapse, how to keep down cell inflammation in the brain, the possible

positive effects of insulin on AD patients and the effects of heart problems on

the usefulness of the brain (Alzheimers Treatments: Whats on the Horizon,

2016, para. 15-24). These are some great ideas but they still need a lot of

work to do anything useful. In order to get this work done, scientists need

funding. Some of this comes from the government or private organizations

but some also comes from non-profits like the Alzheimers Association. This

nonprofit works to help push research forward and help current patients of

AD. This work is made possible because people donate and volunteer their

time. The Alzheimers Association provides things like a 24/7 helpline and

care for patients (About Us, 2016, para. 1-17). Organizations like this provide
Running Head: ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN AMERICAS ELDERS 8

a lot of the support for current Alzheimers patients and research, they also

have programs for things like music therapy. Because of the amazing effects

of music therapy on patients there is extensive research being done to help

extend its use and effectivity. Many caregiving facilities across the country

are beginning to use personalized playlists of music in their everyday

routines. In Minneapolis, there was a choir formed of AD patients and their

caregivers. There are organizations arising such as Music and Memory, which

was created by New York social worker Dan Cohen and uses online webinars

to teach caregivers how to set up a personalized playlist for their patients

(Geist, 2015, para. 16-23). All these things are making wonderful progress

but can only be maintained if society chooses to support them. The American

people need to collectively pitch in to these efforts and give all the support

they can muster, and then a cure will be found and many peoples lives will

brighten.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the devastating form of Dementia, Alzheimers Disease,

is a substantial problem amongst the elders of our country and of the earth

and can only be destroyed if society steps in to support the people who are

researching for its cure and the people who are being affected by its

presence. By doing this, many peoples future will improve dramatically and

it will create a future for some who would have perished from the disease.

This action will create a ripple effect and change the lives of many more
Running Head: ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN AMERICAS ELDERS 9

besides just the patients. It is our duty to better the lives of those around us

and destroying Alzheimers Disease will create a better world.

References

About alzheimer's disease: Causes. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2016, from

https://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/topics/causes

About us. (2016, November 10). Retrieved November 10, 2016, from

http://www.alz.org/about_us_about_us_.asp

Alzheimer's disease. (2016, October 6). Retrieved November 9, 2016, from

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alzheimers.htm

Alzheimer's disease and music therapy. (2016, January 28). Retrieved

November 13, 2016, from

http://alzfdn.org/EducationandCare/musictherapy.html

Alzheimer's treatments: What's on the horizon? (2016, February 26).

Retrieved November 10, 2016, from

Running Head: ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN AMERICAS ELDERS 10

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-

depth/alzheimers-treatments/ART-20047780

Geist, M. E. (2015, July 31). The healing power of music. Retrieved November

13, 2016, from http://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-

2015/music-therapy-for-alzheimers.html

NINDS alzheimer's disease information page. (2016, February 2). Retrieved

November 8, 2016, from

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/alzheimersdisease/alzheimersdisea

se.htm

Oremus, M., Xie, F., & Gaebel, K. (2016). Development of Clinical Vignettes to

Describe Alzheimer's Disease Health States: A Qualitative Study. Plos

ONE, 11(9), 1-15. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0162422