Matthew Domico - What You Need to Know about Alzheimers Disease

What You Need to
Know about
Alzheimers Disease

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What You Need to
Know about
Alzheimers Disease

Matthew Domico and Valerie Hill

Inside Diseases and Disorders

Copyright 2022 by ABC-CLIO, LLC

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.

This book discusses treatments (including types of medication and mental health therapies), diagnostic tests for various symptoms and mental health disorders, and organizations. The authors have made every effort to present accurate and up-to-date information. However, the information in this book is not intended to recommend or endorse particular treatments or organizations, or substitute for the care or medical advice of a qualified health professional, or be used to alter any medical therapy without a medical doctors advice. Specific situations may require specific therapeutic approaches not included in this book. For those reasons, we recommend that readers follow the advice of qualified health care professionals directly involved in their care. Readers who suspect they may have specific medical problems should consult a physician about any suggestions made in this book.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Domico, Matthew, author. | Hill, Valerie, 1975- author.

Title: What you need to know about Alzheimers disease / Matthew Domico and Valerie Hill.

Description: Santa Barbara, California : Greenwood, ABC-CLIO, [2022] | Series: Inside diseases and disorders | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021054204 (print) | LCCN 2021054205 (ebook) | ISBN 9781440870316 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781440870323 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Alzheimers disease. | Families.

Classification: LCC RC523 .D66 2022 (print) | LCC RC523 (ebook) | DDC 616.8/311dc23/eng/20211121

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021054204

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021054205

ISBN: 978-1-4408-7031-6 (print)

978-1-4408-7032-3 (ebook)

26 25 24 23 22 1 2 3 4 5

This book is also available as an eBook.

Greenwood

An Imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC

ABC-CLIO, LLC

147 Castilian Drive

Santa Barbara, California 93117

www.abc-clio.com

This book is printed on acid-free paper

Manufactured in the United States of America

To the first survivor of Alzheimers.

Contents

Disease is as old as humanity itself, and it has been the leading cause of death and disability throughout history. From the Black Death in the Middle Ages to smallpox outbreaks among Native Americans to the modern-day epidemics of diabetes and heart disease, humans have lived withand died fromall manner of ailments, whether caused by infectious agents, environmental and lifestyle factors, or genetic abnormalities. The field of medicine has been driven forward by our desire to combat and prevent disease and to improve the lives of those living with debilitating disorders. And while we have made great strides forward, particularly in the last 100 years, it is doubtful that mankind will ever be completely free of the burden of disease.

Greenwoods Inside Diseases and Disorders series examines some of the key diseases and disorders, both physical and psychological, affecting the world today. Some (such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and ADHD) have been selected because of their prominence within modern America. Others (such as Ebola, celiac disease, and autism) have been chosen because they are often discussed in the media and, in some cases, are controversial or the subject of scientific or cultural debate.

Because this series covers so many different diseases and disorders, we have striven to create uniformity across all books. To maximize clarity and consistency, each book in the series follows the same format. Each begins with a collection of 10 frequently asked questions about the disease or disorder, followed by clear, concise answers. profiles cutting-edge research and speculates on how things might change in the next few decades.

Each volume also features five fictional case studies to illustrate different aspects of the books subject matter, highlighting key concepts and themes that have been explored throughout the text. The reader will also find a glossary of terms and a collection of print and electronic resources for additional information and further study.

As a final caveat, please be aware that the information presented in these books is no substitute for consultation with a licensed health care professional. These books do not claim to provide medical advice or guidance.

I am tremendously fortunate to have the support of so many wonderful people who provided great patience, kind understanding, and genuine interest as I worked to complete this project. I am especially grateful to my wife for helping me find time to write, for encouraging me throughout the process, and for showing me a lifetime of kindness. Thank you for every countless act of love. I am also grateful to my parents for helping me discover the path that would one day lead me to write the words printed on this page. Heartfelt thanks for everything. I would also like to express deep gratitude to my admirable colleague, Valerie Hill, for inviting me to coauthor this book. Valerie, thank you for the uplifting conversations, helpful guidance, and great camaraderie. I look forward to collaborating with you again.

MD

This book would not have been possible without the love and support of my family and friends. I would especially like to thank my husband for his constant words of encouragement, my mother for always making sure I had uninterrupted time to write, and my bestest friend for always being there to lend an ear when I need it most. To my daughter, seeing your smiling face and spending time with you are by far the best part of each day. To my skillful coauthor, Matthew Domico, thank you for agreeing to take on this book with me. We were able to overcome some significant challenges and have a few laughs along the way.

VH

Our editor, Maxine Taylor, also deserves a special thanks for being remarkably patient and helpful throughout this process. It was our pleasure to contribute to this book series.

MD & VH

Human development encompasses all of the changes that occur across the life span due to natureour biological processesand nurtureour environmental influences and life experiences. When teaching about development, we often ask students,