3. CASE STUDY #3 3
Alzheimer’s Disease
One may look at the recent mental health issues and not realize the impact of
Alzheimer’s disease. The number of those affected by the disease is growing every single
day. In addition, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease every 67 seconds (cite).
The cost of this disease was last reported at 226 billion dollars with half of the money
coming from Medicare. There needs to be a more cost effective way of treating this
disease. Mental health issues never taken a precedence role in society, but hopefully the
stigmatism will soon be lifted.
Alzheimer’s disease has been affecting the populating dating back to the year of
1906, when Dr. Alois Alzheimer first described it. Dr. Alzheimer was a German
physician who linked symptoms to microscopic brain changes. Emil Kraepelin, who was
also a German physician, named the disease in 1910 in the eight edition of his book
Psychiatrie. Alzheimer’s disease is still being studied today for a possible cure or a
treatment to slow down the progression of the disease.
4. CASE STUDY #3 4
Michelle Obama once stated, “At the root of this dilemma is the way we view mental
health in this country. Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg or your brain, it’s
still an illness, and there should be no distinction” (Cite). This quote supports the
determination to end the mental stigmas associated with mental health issues.
