Within each person is a world of dreams and memories, some good, some bad.

These
memories, dreams, and thoughts make us who we are. Once diagnosed with Alzheimers, a
degenerative disease that affects the brain, there is no recovery. It strips the patient of their
identity and robs them of many of their memories, dreams, and thoughts. It slowly destroys the
nerve cells in all parts of the brain, making simple and everyday tasks unrecognizable.. This
disease is something that the patient will live with from diagnosis to death.
Breanne Bustria had a grandmother who died of Alzheimers. She was 17 when her
grandmother was diagnosed, and to this day, Bustrias mothers thoughts have been plagued
with the idea that shell have Alzheimers too. Her mother fears Alzheimers because it is
hereditary and often has a lot to do with old age. 1 in 9 people, 65 or older have Alzheimers and
after the age of 65, the risk of Alzheimers doubles every 5 years. 5.3 million Americans are living
with Alzheimer's, and 1 in 3 seniors die with Alzheimer's, making Alzheimers is the 6th leading
cause of death.
Alzheimers Disease is hereditary due to mutations within certain genes, Presenilin -1
(PS-1), Presenilin -2 (PS-2), and Apolipoprotein E -e4 (APOE4)1. Symptoms of Alzheimers
include the inability to make new memories; inability to reason and multi-task; having impaired
visual abilities; having impaired speaking, reading, and writing; and changes in personality and
behavior. Alzheimers targets three parts of the brain: the temporal lobe, frontal lobe, and the
parietal lobe. The temporal lobe is in charge of memory. If a patient isare diagnosed with
Alzheimers, the nerve cells within this portion of the brain die. In the frontal lobe, its job is to
manage everyday tasks like solving problems or making decisions. The parietal lobe in the brain
is in charge of managing our senses. It is what controls our body. Along with the temporal lobe,
if an individual has Alzheimers, the brain cells die and damaging these parts of the brain.2
Alzheimers is a severe condition that severs the connection between brain cells.
Eventually, the damaged brain cells die and the outer layer of the brain shrinks. This is what had
happened to Bustrias grandmothers brain. Bustria recalls, We assumed that it was just old age
and that she was senile. We didnt think she would have Alzheimers. She would only show
forgetfulness, and thats about it.
There is an estimated 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimers3 . After being
diagnosed, patients go through three general stages of Alzheimers: mild, moderate, and severe.
During the mild stage, patients may still do simple tasks such as driving, working, and taking
part in any kind of social activity. Although the brain may still function normally, they tend to
forget small things like words or phrases. The moderate Alzheimers stage typically lasts the
longest because there is more damage to the nerve cells in the brain. Slowly, patients will start to
forget more and more, and there will be shifts in ones personality and usually a refusal of help
from others. In the severe stage of Alzheimers, patients lose the ability to distinguish between
reality and what is going on in their head. Most patients often hallucinate during this stage,
which makes it harder for families to witness. I feel like it was frustrating because of the fact
that she couldnt remember certain things and we couldnt do anything to refresh her memory.

"Alzheimer's & Dementia Risk Factors | Alzheimer's Association." A

lzheimer's & Dementia Risk Factors
| Alzheimer's Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
2
Society, Alzheimer's. "Dementia

and the Brain." N

atasha Judd. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2016.
3
"What Are the 7 Stages of Alzheimer's Disease?" Alzheimers.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.

Her behavior wasnt aggressive or anything like that. She would just be stubborn at the fact that
she couldnt really do simple things. She would try to be independent with what was going on.
Patients tend to only live twenty years after diagnosis, limiting time with their families and their
own sanity. It was frustrating because we couldnt do anything about it specifically, and it
would be heartbreaking when she would forget who I was, Bustria said. My family was
devastated.
Some patients remember small things, but this never lasts very long. When Bustrias
grandmother would remember something, it would be in regards to her husband. They just had
that type of relationship. So they would talk back to each other and she would still continue to
tease him, but that was about it. It wouldnt last very long. Learning from her grandmother,
Bustria added, So its just kind of a reminder to myself that I should be trying to prevent it from
happening, which I havent been the greatest at. I dont want my mom to go through that
without really knowing whats happening.
There are small ways thought to prevent Alzheimers like eating healthier and living a
healthier lifestyle, but none have been proven. Current research has been unsuccessful in finding
a cure because of the little background Alzheimers has. Researchers have created a shape
shifting protein in hopes of replacing what has been lost in the brain. Amyloid Beta changes its
internal structure and forms something called a beta sheet that is absorbed into the cell
becoming toxic4. Its a 2 step process5 . The amyloid beta can interfere with the mitochondria
causing the cell to stop breathing, which will lead to eventual cell death. Studies on late-stage
Alzheimer's patients show many dead nerve cells in the brain. This may stop the symptoms of
Alzheimers, but it doesnt cure the disease and can actually make it worse.
In life, there is always a beginning, a middle and an end. Each living person lives an
unique story crafted by the world around them. Within each story, the protagonist will face
many challenges, along with having multiple victories. Alzheimers takes the patient hostage and
erases what once was. Due to this, other people suffer. Patients with Alzheimers are not alone
when dealing with this disease. Everyone around them is affected and has to watch their loved
one suffer. Since there is no cure as of right now, people need to understand that each moment
in life is special. A story can end as quickly as it begins, which is the heartbreaking truth for
those with Alzheimers. Keep this in mind: one must treasure what they have in life.

Goldman, Bruce.

"Scientists Reveal How Beta-amyloid May Cause Alzheimer's." N

ews Center. N.p., 19
Sept. 1970. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
4

"Alzheimer's Brain Plaques - Alzheimer's Association." Alzheimer's Brain Plaques - Alzheimer's

Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.