Unit 16 Alzheimer's I

Question 0

Diseases causing damage to brain effect

Answer 0

Cognitive function

Question 1

Normal changes in the brain and nervous system due to aging

Answer 1

Nerve cells lost 
Nerve conduction slows
Reflexes slower
Senses decrease 
Decreased blood flow to brain 
Changes in sleep pattern 
Memory span shortens

Question 2

Cognitive function

Answer 2

Memory
Thinking
Reasoning
Ability to understand
Judgement
Behavior

Question 3

Dementia

Answer 3

Loss of cognitive function that interferes with routine persona, social and occupational activities

Question 4

Dementia is

Answer 4

Not normal part of aging
Not a disease, they are symptoms
Can be temporary or permanent

Question 5

Dementia is temporary if

Answer 5

Changes in brain haven’t occurred

-when cause is removed, so are symptoms

Question 6

Delirium

Answer 6

Acute confusion
Occurs suddenly
Temporary
Caused by infection, illness, injury, drugs

Question 7

Pseudodementia

Answer 7

Reversible dementia

Question 8

Pseudodementia caused by

Answer 8

Drug reactions
Emotional disorders
Metabolic & endocrine disorders 
Nutritional loss/dehydration
Tumors 
Infections
Artereosclerotic changes

Question 9

Permanent causes

Answer 9

Alzheimer's disease
Multi-infarct dementia
Trauma & head injury
Brain tumors
Korsakoff's syndrome (alcohol related)

Question 10

Most common permanent causes

Answer 10

Alzheimer’s disease

Multi-infarct (vascular dementia)

Question 11

Early warning signs

Answer 11

Recent memory loss
Personality changes
Problems with common tasks
Trouble finding names for familiar object
Getting lost on familiar routes
Loss of interest on previously enjoyed tasks
Poor judgement
Difficulty performing tasks/learning new info

Question 12

Orient them. Check to see if they know:

Answer 12

Person
Place
Time
Situation

Question 13

Diagnosing dementia

Answer 13

Establish dementia is present
History
Physical & neurological exam
Blood tests
Cat scan/MRI 
Chest x-Ray
Cardiac & vascular work up

Question 14

Definition of Alzheimer’s

Answer 14

Irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory until body shuts down

Question 15

Alzheimer’s info

Answer 15

Cause is unknown
Family history increases risk
More women than men 
Risk increases with age
Nearly half of 85 or older

Question 16

Alzheimer’s discovered

Answer 16

1906 by Alois Alzheimer
By autopsy of woman’s brain after she died from unusual mental illness
Plaques & Tangles present

Question 17

Brain changes

Answer 17

Damage can begin 10-20 years before evidence
Plaques & tangles prevent ability for neurons to communicate
Begins in hippocampus
Spreads to other areas (learning & memory)
As nerve cells die, brain shrinks

Question 18

Initial symptoms

Answer 18

Memory loss

Personality changes

Question 19

Stage 1

Answer 19

Mild
2-4 yrs from first symptom
Loss of recent memory 
Hidden onset 
Poor judgement 
Decreased attention span
Disorient to time and place
Emotional changes
Job skills change
Chores take longer
Can't remember words
Can't retain new info

Question 20

Stage 2

Answer 20

Moderate
2-10 yrs 
More memory loss
Severe loss of judgement 
Wandering
Sundowning 
Sleep disturbance
ADL dependence 
Fail recognize fam & friends 
Sensory changes
Communication deficit
Agitation, hostile or violent 
Incontinence
Gait disturbance
Repetitive movement
Seizures
Resist care

Question 21

Stage 3

Answer 21

Severe
1-3 years
Doesn't recognize fam & friends
Doesn't recognize self in mirror
Mute or unresponsive
Not able to walk
Erratic sleep
Unable to swallow
Joint Contractures

Question 22

Autopsy only way to definitely diagnose

Answer 22

.

Question 23

Other symptoms

Answer 23

Delusions
Catastrophic reactions
Agitation & restlessness
Screaming
Abnormal sexual behavior
Inappropriate social behavior