Week 15 Post 1

In chapter 24 it mentions Alzheimer Disease, which is the most common cause of dementia, characterized by gradual deterioration of memory and personality and marked by the formation of plaques of beta-amyloid protein and tangles of tau in the brain. My grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease, and eventually passed away because of the disease. In the book it says the disease progresses quickly reaching the last phase within 3-5 years. After my grandpa was diagnosed with the disease he lived about 7 years, the last three years of his life the disease, it progressed quickly. The book talks about the three stages the disease goes through. Stage 1 people forget recent events, or new information. In stage 2 confusion develops with deficits in concentration and short term memory, speech comes aimless and repetitive, vocabulary is limited, and words get mixed up. In stage 3 memory loss becomes dangerous. Examples would be not dressing properly or forgetting to turn off the stove. In stage 4 full-time care is needed. People with the disease cannot dress themselves, or take care of daily needs for themselves. Finally in stage 5, people become unresponsive.