Alzheimer's Disease - Still Alice

Question 1

Dementia

Answer 1

• gradual worsening loss of memory
• loss of cognitive functioning
• loss of neurons in the brain
• irreversible

Question 2

Delirium

Answer 2

• confused state that develops over a short period of time
• often associated with agitation and hyperactivity
• can be fixed

Question 3

Cognitive Processes

Answer 3

• perception and attention
• memory
• reasoning and decision making

Question 4

Neurologists

Answer 4

Physicians who deal with disease of the brain and nervous system

Question 5

Neuropsychologists

Answer 5

Assess for cognitive impairments

Question 6

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test

Answer 6

Measures set shifting, the ability to display flexibility in thinking as the goal of the task changes

Question 7

Cognitive Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 7

• forgetfulness increases gradually
• difficulty remembering names and familiar objects
• changes in emotional responsiveness and personality
• while early signs are vague, in the late stage intellectual and motor functions may disappear completely

Question 8

Early Onset Alzheimers

Answer 8

• age is the biggest factor - under age 65
• lighter symptoms at first
• shows more dysfunction on executive function domains, written language, visuospatial activities, and motor skills

Question 9

Aphasia

Answer 9

Loss of ability in language, the ability to speak and understand others

Question 10

Apraxia

Answer 10

Difficulty performing purposeful movements in response to verbal commands

Question 11

Retrograde Amnesia

Answer 11

Inability to retrieve memories from the past

Question 12

Anterograde Amnesia

Answer 12

Inability to learn or remember new information

Question 13

Agnosia

Answer 13

Perception without meaning, not recognizing what they are seeing

Question 14

Perceptual Deficits

Answer 14

• deficits in how information is interpreted
• how memory is stored and recalled
• how information is used

Question 15

Issues with Judgement and Social Behavior of Alzheimers

Answer 15

• disruption of short term memory, perceptual skills, and higher level cognitive abilities disrupts judgement
• impulsive and careless behaviors
• activities such as shopping, driving, and using tools can create serious problems

Question 16

Neuropsychological Assessment of Alzheimers

Answer 16

• administration of psychological tests to indicate whether a person has a brain disorder
• designed to measure sensorimotor, perceptual, and speech functions
• some tasks require the person to copy single objects or drawings

Question 17

Issue of Depression in Dementia Patients

Answer 17

• sometimes dementia is caused by depression
• depression - complain of memory loss, dementia - hides memory loss
• depression - worse memory loss in the morning, dementia - worse at night
• depression - aware of and exaggerates symptoms, dementia - unaware of or minimizes the disability

Question 18

Motor Issues in Dementia

Answer 18

• may cause agitation
• pacing restlessly
• wandering away from familiar places
• may have trouble controlling muscles

Question 19

Neurofibrillary Tangles

Answer 19

• insoluble twisted fibers
• protein build up of tau
• exists with amyloid plaques

Question 20

Amyloid Plaques

Answer 20

Aggregates of misfolded protein that forms in the spaces between nerve cells

Question 21

Genes Related to Alzheimer’s Disease

Answer 21

the presenilin gene causes early onset alzheimer’s

Question 22

Neurotransmitters and Brain Regions Affected by Alzheimers

Answer 22

• deficits of Acetylcholine (Ach) in the temporal lobe
• early onset tends to preserve the hippocampus
• early onset causes a greater density of senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and greater neuronal loss

Question 23

Acetylcholine (Ach)

Answer 23

Neurotransmitter involved in memory

• levels reduced in patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Question 24

Donepezil (Aricept)

Answer 24

• Inhibits the breakdown of acetylcholine esterase which breaks down Ach

Question 25

Causes of Alzheimers

Answer 25

• deficits of Acetylcholine

* Presenilin gene

Question 26

Treatment and Management of Alzheimers

Answer 26

• use of Donepezil, which inhibits acetylcholine breakdown
• only works for 6-9 months and unable to reverse progression
• following a structured and predictable routine
• preserving familiar surroundings

Question 27

Personality and Emotional Symptoms of Alzheimer’s

Answer 27

• loss of identity
• hallucinations and delusions
• apathetic, exaggerated and unpredictable emotions, or depression

Question 28

Issues for Caregivers of Alzheimer Patients

Answer 28

• loneliness and sadness
• learning to cope with patient’s incontinence, functional deficits, and disruptive behavior
• relationships are more difficult with an Alzheimer’s patient than caring for someone with a physical disability
• many caregivers develop PTSD