Alzheimer's - Unit 3 Flashcards
About how many forms of Alzheimer’s are there?
About 170!
Alzheimer’s - __th leading cause of death.
6th (Although you die from other conditions, not Alzheimer’s itself).
10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s Disease - T/F?
True!
Is Alzheimer’s genetic?
Yes - if you have a sister or brother with it, you are %30 more likely to get it.
What is Alzheimer’s, exactly?
A chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease of the brain.
What are some of the pathological changes?
Cerebral atrophy, enlargement of cerebral sulci and ventricles. Tangles, plaques, etc.
In late stage, what happens to the cerebrum?
The layer that covers it will shrink
Three stages of Alzheimers, with a life-span of about 8-12 years after diagnosis. T/F?
True!
Where does Alzheimer’s typically start (in the brain?)
Hippocampus.
Early Stage - what happens?
This happens before symptoms are identified. Plaques and tangles begin to form. Memory starts to change, along with learning and thinking pattern. Cognitive impairment loss is more than what’s expected for the age group. These symptoms can show up 10-20 years before other symptoms show.
Moderate/Middle Stage - what happens?
Degeneration expands to areas that control language and reasoning. They have poor judgment and choices.
Severe/Late Stages - what happens?
Most of the cortex is damaged - brain shrinks. They loose their ability to communicate, to recognize family and loved ones.
What are the ten warning signs of Alzheimer’s?
Memory loss. Difficulty performing familiar tasks. Problems with language. Disorientation to time and place. Poor or decreased judgment. Problems with abstract thinking. Misplacing things. Changes in mood and behavior. Changes in personality. Loss of initiative.
What are some clinical manifestations?
Cognition deficits, behavior and personality changes, and changes in self-care habits.
What are some assessment things we have to do?
Thorough history and physical, assess memory, self care ability, etc. We need to do a cognitive assessment and check for communication alterations, hallucinations/behavioral assessments as well.
