Overview of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is defined as a progressive neurologic disorder where neurons throughout the brain are injured and die, causing brain cells to die and the brain to shrink (National Institutes on Aging, 2017). Although Alzheimer's disease may often be forgotten and overlooked, it is becoming one of the leading causes of death and disability in the elderly population. The disease poses a significant health concern for many communities throughout the United States. The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease is predicted to rise as life expectancy continues to grow across populations (Han & Han, 2014). 

The most well known symptom of Alzheimer's is memory loss, however, that is not the only symptom according to Alzheimer's Association, "As Alzheimer's advances through the brain it leads to increasingly severe symptoms, including disorientation, mood and behavior changes; deepening confusion about events, time and place; unfounded suspicions about family, friends and professional caregivers; more serious memory loss and behavior changes; and difficulty speaking, swallowing and walking,"(What is Alzheimer's? 2021)

Our group researched and surveyed local communities to assess which public health issue presents the greatest threat to the populations throughout the United States. The results determined that aging, specifically Alzheimer's disease, is becoming a prevalent problem throughout the United States that deserves our attention. Alzheimer's disease is hard to diagnose due to the  lack of public knowledge, awareness of the disease, problems detecting the disease, and inadequate treatment.  

Many communities and organizations have implemented diverse strategies to help reduce the burden of Alzheimer's. Addressing the public health issue of Alzheimer's comes with several challenges. However, several organizations have made several interventions to help address this issue. Click here to learn more about the different interventions for Alzheimer's disease. The interventions include education, screenings, mental and physical exercise in conjunction to ones diet.