12. NEUROLOGICS DISEASES

Dementia is defined as an acquired syndrome of impaired intellectual, emotional, volitional and persistent behavior that compromises the function of multiple spheres of mental activity such as memory, language, visuo spatial skills, warmth, personality or cognition. It implies a decline over the patient's premorbid functional level. It leads to a progressive global deterioration, personal and social_1.

As the doctor Castro, Alberdi, and Marey, Dementia Alzheimer's type (DAT) is the most common type of dementia (70% of dementias) and has a prevalence of approximately 6% in people over 70 years in our country (GPC Dementia NHS, 2010). In Spain there should be about half a million people who suffer from this process₁.

I would like talk about Alzheimer, because is the most common type of dementia.

Alzheimer's is a form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time and affects memory, thinking and behavior₂.

I enclose a link to a video about Alzheimer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7On9Dja5HfM

Alzheimer is one disease asociated to process of aging, affects people younger than age 65₃. I found on another page of evidence that Alzheimer's cases having less than 60 years. These are linked to alterations in the genes APP, PS1 and PS2_1.

Nearly 4 percent of the more than 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s have younger-onset₃. 

By contrast, according to data CEAFA, the Spanish Confederation of Alzheimer, in Spain 60% of people with Alzheimer's are still undiagnosed, often due to lack of information from families who think memory leaks are a normal part of aging.

In my opinion, Alzheimer' disease isn’t only a medical problem, also is a familiar and social problem. Because disease affects to patient, but your family also is affected.

The nurses have that explain the symptoms to the family, so that if they detect the symptoms, come to the doctor, and may have an early diagnosis.

I would also like to say that among the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, apathy is the most prevalent according to study Alzheimer Foundation TRACA Spain (FAE), realiced in 1200 caregivers, which showed that apathy affects 99 percent of patiens.

I think it's because as patients do not remember things, they don`t know what they like, sometimes people do not know their environment, then they feel sad and apathetic. This situation produced them frustration and they are lost.

Finally, I will provide link entity in which you can see how the brain works and how Alzheimer's affects it. There are 16 interactive slides. As you view each slide, roll your mouse over any colored text to highlight special features of each image. Then, click on the arrow to move to the next slide.

URL: http://www.alz.org/braintour/3_main_parts.asp

Bibliography:

1. Castro, C. Alberdi, J. Marey, J. Demencia tipo Alzheimer. Fisterra. [Revisado el 3 de mayo del 2013]. Disponible en: http://www.fisterra.com/guias-clinicas/demencia-tipo-alzheimer/

2. Medline. Mal de Alzheimer. Medline Plus. [Revisado el 14 de mayo del 2013]. Disponible en: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/ency/article/000760.htm

3.Alzheimer`s Association. Younger/Early Onset Alzheimer's & Dementia. Alz.org. [Revisado el 25 de abril del 2013. Disponible en: http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_early_onset.asp