Running Head: ALZHEIMER’s DISEASE 1

Alzheimer’s Disease
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Concept and Etiology

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disorder that destroys memory by causing the brain

to shrink and brain cells to perish. The medical condition Alzheimer’s affect the endocrine and

neural system that work together to influence diverse human behavioural aspects such as

metabolism, growth and reproduction (Walinga & Stangor, 2014). The change in the

neuroendocrine mechanisms in the body is one of the major indicators of the health problem. The

normal day to day functions that are performed by the endocrine and neural systems get

diminished due to the formation of plaques around the brain cells that affect the communication

between the systems (NHS, 2021).

Classification

The common yet complex multifactorial neurodegenerative disease is a common kind of

dementia that can be classified based on severity. According to Gupta, Alzheimer’s disease

(AD), including its mild cognitive impairment stage, might or might not progress into AD (Gupta

et al., 2019). It can be classified as early-onset or late-onset. The signs and symptoms relating to

early-onset appear when an individual is between the age of thirties and mid-sixties, whereas the

signs and symptoms of late-onset arise during or after mix-sixties (U.S. National Library of

Medicine, 2021).

Clinical Manifestations

The common signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are the loss of memory that can

disrupt day to day life, complexities in solving problems or planning things, difficulty in

completing familiar activities, and trouble comprehending spatial relationships and visual images

(10 early signs and symptoms of alzheimer's. Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, 2021). When
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individuals are affected by the mental health condition, they also find it difficult to take part in

conversations or follow conversations. Due to the diminished ability of the brain to function, the

affected individuals are unable to actively participate in work or social lives. There are signs of

mental decline, difficulty in understanding and thinking, disorientation and delusion and lack of

ability to create memories.

Diagnostic Tests

Some of the diagnostic tests that can be done to illuminate the diagnosis of the medical

condition are evaluation of medical history, physical and neurological examination, brain

mapping. Similarly, mental status tests can also be carried out to identify the deterioration in the

memory of individuals (Diagnosis. Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, 2021). According to

Alzheimer’s Association, there is no single test that can help to determine the neurodegenerative

disease. In addition to evaluating the medical history, neurological examinations and mental

cognitive status tests can also help to evaluate the issues that an individual might be experiencing

in the brain (Diagnosis. Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia, 2021). Several tests can be used for

identifying the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

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References

10 early signs and symptoms of alzheimer's. Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. (2021).

Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs\.

Diagnosis. Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. (2021). Retrieved November 16, 2021, from

https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/diagnosis.

Gupta, Y., Lama, R. K., Kwon, G. R., Weiner, M. W., Aisen, P., Weiner, M., ... & Hardy, P.

(2019). Prediction and classification of Alzheimer’s disease based on combined features

from apolipoprotein-E genotype, cerebrospinal fluid, MR, and FDG-PET imaging

biomarkers. Frontiers in computational neuroscience, 13, 72.

NHS. (2021). Causes -Alzheimer's disease. NHS choices. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alzheimers-disease/causes/.

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2021, April 7). Alzheimer disease: Medlineplus genetics.

MedlinePlus. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from

https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/alzheimer-disease/.

Walinga, J., & Stangor, C. (2014, October 17). 4.4 putting it all together: The nervous system

and the endocrine system. Introduction to Psychology 1st Canadian Edition. Retrieved

November 16, 2021, from https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/3-4-

putting-it-all-together-the-nervous-system-and-the-endocrine-system/.