In medicine, an early diagnosis can mean the difference between life and death. Advancement’s in technology are making an early diagnosis for many diseases possible. One of these diseases is Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, (AFA, 2015) “Worldwide it is estimated that 24 million people have dementia, the majority of these people are also thought to have Alzheimer’s disease.” The AFA (2015) also states that, “Alzheimer’s Disease affects 5.1 million Americans, making it a top ten leading cause of death in the United States. It has been discovered that one of the best tools for diagnosing this disease is MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Even though a volumetric MRI is not as quick as a normal MRI, or
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Individuals with this disease show two different types of abnormal lesions that aren’t seen in normal brains. The beta-amyloid plaques, which are lumps of protein and other cellular material that form in and around the neurons, and neurofibrillary tangles, which are insoluble fibers made up mostly of the protein tau that build up inside nerve cells, both of these lesions will clog the brain; however physicians and scientists are unsure whether these lesions actually cause the disease, or if the lesions are a side effect of the disease. (Mayo Clinic, …show more content…
Clinicians and physicians are now able to diagnose Alzheimer’s with 90 percent accuracy using diagnostic medical radiography. Alzheimer’s Disease has no cure and Alzheimer’s patients on average only live 8 to 10 years after their diagnosis. The reason it is so important to diagnose Alzheimer’s early on is because patient’s can then manage their symptoms, and set up a plan for their future. (AFA, 2015) There are two types of Alzheimer’s Disease that have been discovered, sporadic Alzheimer’s disease and familial Alzheimer’s disease, familial Alzheimer’s is more rare and is hereditary; it can be passed down from generation to generation. This type of Alzheimer’s occurs in less than 10 percent of all cases. This early onset form of the disease affects ages 30 to 60; the etiology of Familial Alzheimer’s Disease is three mutations on chromosomes 1,14, and 21. (AFA, 2015) Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease makes up the other 90 percent of
Individuals with this disease show two different types of abnormal lesions that aren’t seen in normal brains. The beta-amyloid plaques, which are lumps of protein and other cellular material that form in and around the neurons, and neurofibrillary tangles, which are insoluble fibers made up mostly of the protein tau that build up inside nerve cells, both of these lesions will clog the brain; however physicians and scientists are unsure whether these lesions actually cause the disease, or if the lesions are a side effect of the disease. (Mayo Clinic, …show more content…
Clinicians and physicians are now able to diagnose Alzheimer’s with 90 percent accuracy using diagnostic medical radiography. Alzheimer’s Disease has no cure and Alzheimer’s patients on average only live 8 to 10 years after their diagnosis. The reason it is so important to diagnose Alzheimer’s early on is because patient’s can then manage their symptoms, and set up a plan for their future. (AFA, 2015) There are two types of Alzheimer’s Disease that have been discovered, sporadic Alzheimer’s disease and familial Alzheimer’s disease, familial Alzheimer’s is more rare and is hereditary; it can be passed down from generation to generation. This type of Alzheimer’s occurs in less than 10 percent of all cases. This early onset form of the disease affects ages 30 to 60; the etiology of Familial Alzheimer’s Disease is three mutations on chromosomes 1,14, and 21. (AFA, 2015) Sporadic Alzheimer’s Disease makes up the other 90 percent of