Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a common form of dementia. Patients who have Alzheimer’s disease encounter a gradual increasing impairment of their learning and memory abilities. There is evidence from clinical studies which show that there is a decrease in concentration of the neurotransmitter essentially involved in the processing of memory and learning, acetylcholine. Alzheimer’s disease disrupts both the activity of neurotransmitters and the way electrical charges travel within the cells. Nerve cells need to connect to one another at synapses to carry signals to other cells. In turn, this neurodegenerative disease will progressively cause brain death over a course of time. As the brain cells die, the total brain size will shrink, causing fewer nerve cells and connections. In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, there is very little to no impairment noticeable, which would soon become mild to moderately severe, and then from severe to ultimately death. Once at the mild stage, Alzheimer’s patients begin to notice abnormal memory lapses such as forgetting familiar words or locations of everyday objects. As the disease progresses, they begin to have trouble identifying or recalling their own address or phone number. At the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease, individuals have lost their ability to respond to their surrounding environment, to carry on a conversation, and then the ability to properly engage in daily personal care (eating or using the toilet).

Parkinson’s disease causes changes in speech and causes uncontrollable tremors or muscle stiffness. This disorder causes degenerative effects on the central nervous system, more specifically in the basal ganglia. Parkinson’s disease also gradually causes certain brain cells to die. These specific cells are responsible for aiding in the control of movement and coordination. The neurotransmitter dopamine helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers. It also helps regulate emotional responses and is responsible for implementing movements or actions. Deficiency in dopamine concentrations is what leads to Parkinson’s disease. Other disruptions in the balance between neurotransmitters are serotonin and acetylcholine. Parkinson’s disease could also be caused by genetics and passed down to future generations. Those who experience the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease feel as if they are no longer in control of their own body. There are treatments available to relieve the symptoms of the disease, but there is no cure. However, studies have shown that Parkinson’s patients who continue to maintain daily exercise and activity can slow the degenerative process.

Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are both different types of dementia associated with aging. Alzheimer’s disease is related to people suffering from severe memory loss and Parkinson’s patients encounter physical problems. Both diseases are degenerative effects of the brain causing brain cells to die and currently has no definite cure. Patients who experience either of these diseases tend to become frustrated because they feel that they are losing or have lost the control of their own body and mind. Not all patients will experience the same symptoms or progress at the same rate. These two diseases progressively worsen and eventually leads to death.