Alzheimer's Disease: Etiology, Affected Population, Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment (Essay Sample)

Alzheimer’s Disease
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Alzheimer’s Disease
Maintaining cognitive function in old age is key to a high quality of life. Dementia, which involves the gradual decline of the brain's functioning, affects a patient’s memory, thinking, and cognitive skills. One of the most common causes of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association (2021), the disease affects approximately 6.2 million individuals in the United States, with 72 percent of the patients aged 75 years or more. The increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the United States makes it a significant public health concern. The burden of the disease is not limited to patients since the role of caregivers increases as a patient’s cognitive function declines. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease is key to further research, which could develop more effective treatments.
Etiology
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown, with no accepted theory explaining the disease’s pathogenesis. The disease’s etiology is therefore based on a variety of risk factors. According to Breijyeh and Karaman (2020), the most important risk factor in Alzheimer’s disease is aging. Most individuals develop the disease after 65 years of age. Aging is an irreversible process that typically causes organs and systems in the body. In the case of the brain, its volume and weight decrease, and it loses synapses. Additionally, conditions such as cognitive decline, mitochondria dysfunction, and depression