Ch. 36 & 4 Flashcards
(128 cards)
alzheimer’s disease
- unknown cause
- most common type of dementia
alzheimer’s disease: pathophysiology
structural changes in the brain
risk factors of alzheimer’s
- age: over 65
- gender: females
- genetics: familial history
there is a higher incidence and prevalence of alzheimer’s after age
65
alzheimer’s can affect anyone older than age
40
how many people are affected by alzheimer’s in the U.S.?
> 6 million (over 65 years)
is there a proven way to prevent alzheimer’s?
no- there is no proven way to prevent AD
what may contribute to alzheimer’s?
chronic health problems
- diabetes
- acrosclerosis
alzheimer’s: health promotion
- diet
- exercise
- stop drinking and smoking
alzheimer’s assessment: history
- onset (gradual onset of symptoms),
- duration,
- progression,
- course of sx
- functional assessment
alzheimer’s assessment: physical assessment
- 3 clinical stages (early, middle, late)
- changes in cognition
- attention and concentration
- judgement and perception,
- learning and memory,
- communication and language,
- information processing
alzheimer’s assessment includes
- history
- physical assessment
- psychosocial assessment
- laboratory and imaging assessment
alzheimer’s assessment: laboratory and imaging assessment
- brain tissue examination at autopsy is only definitive diagnosis
- diagnosis based on patient history and clinical presentation and imaging:
- PET scan
- MRI, CT scan
- genetic testing
what is the only definitive diagnosis of alzheimer’s?
brain tissue examination at autopsy
- therefore cannot “definitively” be diagnosed until after death
the priority collaborative problems for patients with alzheimer’s disease include:
- decreased memory and cognition r/t neuronal degeneration in the brain
- potential for injury or falls r/t wandering or inability to ambulate independently (think fires)
- potential for elder abuse by caregivers r/t patient’s prolonged progression of disability and the patient’s increasing care needs
the priority for interprofessional care of a patient with alzheimer’s is
safety
planning and implementation: what do we do as nurses for patients with alzheimer’s?
- manage memory and cognitive dysfunction
- nonpharmacologic interventions
- drug therapy
- prevent injuries and accidents
- prevent elder abuse
drug therapy for alzheimer’s includes
- cholinesterase inhibitors: donepezil
- NMDA receptor antagonist: memantine
care coordination and transition management of alzheimer’s includes
- home care management
- self-management education
- health care resources
alzheimer’s: home care management
- respite care
- caring for caregiver
alzheimer’s: self-management education
- emphasize mobility
alzheimer’s: health care resources
- Safe Return Program
evaluation of care for a patient with alzheimer’s includes:
- evaluating expected outcomes
- did the patient achieve these outcomes or do you need to revise the plan of care?
parkinson’s disease
- progressive neurodegenerative disease