What does AD Medical stand for? The initial diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by a loss of ‘normed’ or ‘ritual’ response. However, patients with AD may be able to recognize that their condition is getting worse. The underlying concept of human function is at stake. Because of this, the first step in addressing the condition is to identify the causes. In this way, a treatment plan can be devised and implemented.
Currently, the mechanism of the disease is not fully understood, but there is a characteristic neuropathologic course of the disease. In addition to the characteristic clinical course of AD, the disease is accompanied by neurofibrillary changes. The clinical course of the disease may vary among individuals, but there are three major stages: transentorhinal stages I and II, limbic stages III and IV, and neocortical stages V and VI.
Early stages of the disease may present challenges in the social context. A critical factor for determining a diagnosis is awareness of disease-related changes. High awareness of disease-related changes has been linked to both anxiety and dysthymia in patients with AD. This discrepancy is referred to as anosognosia. Van Vliet et al. conducted a study to determine the role of awareness in predicting the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Early signs of the disease include brain deposition of b-amyloid. Progressive stages involve a gradual decline in the brain’s glucose utilization, a deterioration of brain wave electrical activity, and the breakdown of acetylcholine. Several other brain regions are affected by AD, such as the hippocampus, resulting in neuropathologic symptoms. The disease is often called ‘the black-swan’ of Alzheimer’s disease, because the degeneration of neurons in these regions affects both early stages of the condition and the progression of the disease.
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown. Certain genetic combinations are associated with an increased risk for the disease. Certain genotypes are known to predispose patients to early-onset AD. These include the b-amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene, as well as presenilin 1 and 2 mutations. Other genetic factors and gene interactions are unknown, but researchers have linked these genes to a variety of other pathologies.
Contractures are typically caused by the progressive degeneration of a person with Alzheimer’s disease. These can result in increased disability and hospitalization. They also require significant long-term care resources. AD is also a condition that affects the quality of life for a person with the disease. This can make it difficult to walk, eat, or engage in daily activities. In addition, contractures may lead to fractures and pressure sores.
