Alzheimers Disease in Australia - Literature review Example

Alzheimer’s Disease in Australia Name Institution Lecturer Course Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Alzheimer's Disease 4 Causes of Alzheimer's Disease 5 Alzheimer’s disease in Australia 6 Australia Statistics on Alzheimer’s Disease 7 Treatment and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease in Australia 8 Conclusion 9 References 10 Table 1: The effect of delaying Alzheimer's disease on disease development and progression 8 Abstract This paper aims at describing Alzheimer’s disease, which is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder that is associated with age. The paper also strives to establish how the disease is prevented and treated prevented and treated in the Australian care system. The paper begins with a description of Alzheimer’s disease, causative factors of the disease, Australian statistics of the disease and strategies being employed to prevent and/or deal with the disease. Key words: Alzheimer’s disease, Australia, age Alzheimer’s Disease in Australia Introduction In Australia, there is general aging of the population, which is caused by an increase in life expectancy coupled by reduction in fertility (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012). For example, there has been a rapid increase in median age (the age at which 50% of the population is younger and 50% of the population are older), which has increased by about 4.8 years within a period of 20 years (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012). In 2008, Alzheimer’s disease was ranked third among the leading cause of deaths in Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011). Between 1998 and 2008, cases of Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s disease related deaths increased by about 67% resulting to a death rate of about 32.3 for every 100,000 people (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011). As the Australian population age increases, there is a likely hood of increase in Alzheimer’s disease given the fact that age is a paramount factor in the development of the disease (Rahmadi, Steiner and Munch, 2011, p. 385). Alzheimer's Disease Rahmadi, Steiner and Munch (2011) define Alzheimer’s disease as a “progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, make judgments, communicate with the social environment and carry out daily activities” (p. 385). The initial stage of the disease is characterized by loss of short-term memory, which is caused by death of cells in the amygdala and hippocampus, and neural dysfunction (Rahmadi, Steiner and Munch, 2011, p. 385). Further disease progression leads to death of neurons in other brain regions, a condition that leads to dramatic personality and behavioral changes among the victims, such as agitation, suspiciousness, anxiety and hallucinations (Middle et al., 2010, p. 561). Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease often develop steadily, getting worse with time and sometimes even becoming so serious that they interfere with the daily activities of a sufferer. Cognitive impairment is the general feature that is used for defining the disease (Middle et al., 2010, p. 561). Causes of Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a rather complicated disease whose ultimate cause has not been identified (Sutherland, Janitz and Kril, 2011, p. 937). Intense debate still exists regarding the cause of the mental disorder (Rahmadi, Steiner and Munch, 2011, p. 385). Age is considered a paramount factor in the development of AD and other neurogenerative disorders. Rahmadi, Steiner, and Munch (2011) indicate that disease prevalence increases with age advancement (p. 385). In fact, Sutherland, Janitz and Kril (2011) indicate that age is the major risk factor associated with AD (p. 938). For example, AD prevalence is about 1% for people aged between 65 and 69 years, 3% for people aged between 70 and 74 years, 6% for people aged between 75 and 79 years and 12% for people aged between 80 and 84 years (Rahmadi, Steiner and Munch, 2011, p. 385). Therefore, it is apparent that AD patients will increase as a society ages if there is no intervention made to reduce the rate of disease progression. Until recently, AD was thought to be a genetic disorder resulting from mutations of genes encoding products that operate in the pathways concerned with production of β-amyloid (Middle et al., 2010, p. 563). Another line of argument is that Alzheimer's disease may result from a multifaceted interaction particularly the genes and some aspects of the environmental. Other risk factors that may directly bring about the effect of the disease pathology, particular on the brain of an old individual include hypercholesterolemia, high blood pressure as well as diabetes (Sperling et al., 2011, p. 284). These risk factors notwithstanding, the result as already noted, is associated cognitive malfunction. One of the unique signs of AD is generally a change in the way tau, which is protein in nature, behaves. Middle et al. (2010) studied this disease and concluded that plaques of β-amyloid, specifically neuritic senile plaques, often build up in the neuropil, where they trigger neuropathogenic process that eventually interferes with the production of insoluble tangles of modified or customized tau. It is worth noting that, in a healthy brain, tau is often present in the form individual units and which is vital to neuron’s health. However, in a person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, tau usually combine to form some twisted structures called neurofibrillary tangles, which many scholars have considered the basic pathological hallmark of this disease (Middle et al., 2010). Alzheimer’s disease in Australia In the recent past, Alzheimer's disease and its associated impacts has really attracted much attention in Australia especially among the public and medical professionals. In part, this could be attributed to the alarming rate of prevalence and the increased growth in the aged population. This disease accounts for about 50 percent of all dementia cases, conditions manifested by impaired brain functions comprising of memory lapses, language, personality and cognitive capabilities. It is, however, unfortunate that there is no specific cure for the disease owing to its complexity and lack of the specific cause of the disease. Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for the major cognitive impairment as well as mortality rate in the world, for example, (Skaalvik, Normann and Henriksen, 2009, p. 2639). It is a form of dementia associated with functional impairment in the neural elements and circuits underlying cognitive and memory functions (Rahmadi, Steiner and Munch, 2011, p. 386). In simple terms, it generally interferes with memory, thinking, behaviors and other memory related problems. Therefore, it is clear that Alzheimer disease is a global problem. A recent study conducted by Wimo and Prince (2011) revealed that, in 2010 alone, there were about 35.6 million people suffering from this disease. It is also projected that this will have increased to about to 65.7 million people with similar cases by 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050 (Wimo and Prince, 2011, P. 8). Australia Statistics on Alzheimer’s Disease In 2008, Alzheimer’s disease was ranked third among the leading causes of deaths in Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011). Between 1998 and 2008, cases of Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s disease related deaths increased by about 67% resulting to a death rate of about 32.3 for every 100,000 people (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011). The number of people that are affected by the mental disorder in Australia is about 227,300, which is expected to reach 731,000 by the year 2050 (Alzheimer’s Australia, 2011). Considering that the disease has a significant economic impact in terms of medication and nursing given to patients, increase in Alzheimer’s cases will result into increased economic impacts. A study conducted by Alzheimer’s Australia (2011) indicates that failure to delay the onset of the disease has resulted the rapid development of the mental disorder. Table 1 indicates that increased delay of disease onset results into reduced development rate hence reduced disease impacts. Table 1: The effect of delaying Alzheimer's disease on disease development and progression Delayed period from 2005 Annual reduction in new disease cases % fewer cases in 2020 % fewer cases in 2040 5 months (if disease started in May 2005) 5 (%) 3.5 4.8 5 years (if disease started in 2010) 50 (%) 35.2 48.5 Note. Table adapted from “Living with dementia,” by Alzheimer’s Australia, 2011. From Accessed April 24, 2012. Treatment and Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease in Australia There is no particular cure for Alzheimer’s disease although there are only drugs that help in relieving the pain associated with the disease while improving the quality of life for the victims. Australia has licensed Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which are very useful in relieving the various symptoms of the disease but this is only for some time (Alzheimer’s Australia, 2008). Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drugs that are already registered in Australia include Donepezil Hydrochloride (Aricept), Rivastigmine (Exelon) and Galantamine Hydrobromide (Reminyl) (Alzheimer’s Australia, 2008). Besides relieving pain associated with the disease, these drugs also aid patients in other respects, such as the ability to carry out daily activities effectively, restore normal human behaviors (delusions, hallucinations and apathy) and thinking clearly (Alzheimer’s Australia, 2008). Before a person is put under drugs, he/she must be properly diagnosed and assessed to determine whether the person has Alzheimer’s disease. Further, proper assessment and diagnosis is done to determine the development stage of the disorder (mild, moderate or critical), which determines if the individual should be given the drugs and if he/she qualifies for subsidized drugs, which go for about $ 31.3 or $ 5 for people who hold concession cards. People who do not qualify for subsidized drugs (those who are not in the mild or moderate stage) may buy the drugs from pharmaceutical shops at full costs, which ranges between $160 and $220 per month depending on dosage prescribed and the pharmacy selling the drugs (Alzheimer’s Australia, 2008). The process of assessment, diagnosis, and drug administration involves various specialists, such as geriatrician, psycho geriatrician and neurologist (Alzheimer’s Australia, 2008). Conclusion Age plays a significant role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Research studies associate advancement in age with increased risk of development of the disease, which affects a person’s brain, especially the short memory leading to deterioration in a person’s behaviors. The Australian population, in general, is growing old implying that risks for the development of the disease are increasing. In fact, Alzheimer’s disease cases and related deaths have increased significantly. There is no particular cure for Alzheimer’s disease although there are only drugs that help in relieving the pain associated with the disease while improving the quality of life for the victims. Increased delay of disease onset results into a reduction in the rate of development of the disease hence reduced disease impacts. Therefore, there is a dire need to come up with effective strategies for delaying the development of the disease. References Alzheimer’s Australia. (2008). Fight Alzheimer’s Save Australia. Retrieved from Accessed April 24, 2012. Alzheimer’s Australia. (2011). Living with Dementia. Retrieved from Accessed April 24, 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2011). Measures of Australia's Progress, 2010. Retrieved from Accessed April 24, 2012. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2012). Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories, Jun 2010. Retrieved from Accessed April 24, 2012. John Wherrett, Naglie, G., Hamani, C., Smith, G. S., Lozano, A. M. (2010). A phase I trial of deep brain stimulation of memory circuits in Alzheimer's disease, Annals of Neurology, 68(4), 521–534 Middle, F., Pritchard, A., Handoko, H., Haque, S., Holder, P., and Corinne, L. (2010). No Association Between Neuregulin 1 and Psychotic Symptoms in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 20, 561-567. Rahmadi, A., Steiner, N., and Munch, G. (2011). Advanced Glycation Endproducts As Gerontotoxins and Biomarkers for Carbonyl-Based Degenerative Processes in Alzheimer’s Disease. Clinical Chemistry Lab Med, 49(3), 385-391. Skaalvik, M., Normann, K., and Henriksen, N. (2009). Student Experiences in Learning Person- Centered of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease as Perceived by Nursing Students and Supervising Nurses. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19, 2639-2648. 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