Alzheimer's Disease Flashcards
It’s involves progressive decline in what areas of cognition.
Memory, language, calculation, visual spatial perception, judgment, abstraction, and behavior.
What’s his Alzheimer’s disease
It is a degenerative disorder of the brain that is manifested by dementia and progressive physiological impairment.
Half of all dementia patients have what progressive disorder
Dementia of the Alzheimer’s type
What is the average time from onset of symptoms to death in alzheimer’s patients
8 to 10 years
what is the protein found in an autopsy in brains in patients with DAT
AZ-50
What are the two basic types of Alzheimer’s disease from a genetic standpoint
Familial and sporadic ( associated with late onset disease)
What is familial Alzheimer’s disease
It is a rare form of a alzheimer’s disease that has an early onset before and after age 65 and affects less than 10% of Alzheimer’s disease patients.
The majority of Alzheimer’s disease cases are what type from a genetic standpoint
Sporadic (late onset. Developing after the age of 65).
What gender has this disease more
Females more than Males
What is characterized in stage one of dementia of the Alzheimer’s
Recent memory loss, increased irritability, impaired judgment, loss of interest in life, decline of problem-solving ability, and reduction and abstract thinking. Remote memory and neurological examination remain unchanged from baseline
What is characterized in stage two of dementia of the Alzheimer’s
Lasts 2 to 4 years and reveals a decline in the patient’s ability to manage personal and business affairs, an inability to remember shapes of objects, continued repetition of a meaningless word or phrase, wandering or circular speech patterns (circumlocution dysphasia), wandering at night, restlessness, depression, anxiety, and intensification of cognitive and emotional changes of stage one
What is characterized in stage three of dementia of the Alzheimer’s
Dysphasia/aphasia, and ability to recognize familiar objects (Agnosia), inability to use objects properly(apraxia) , inattention, distractibility, involuntary emotional outbursts, urinary or fecal incontinence, lent picking motion, and chewing movements. progression through stages to three varies from 2 to 12 years
What is characterized in stage four of dementia of the Alzheimer’s
Lasts approximately one year, reveals a patient with a mask like facial expression, no communication, apathy, withdrawal, eventual immobility, assumed fetal position, no appetite, and emaciation.
What examination tool assists in diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease progression
Folstein mini- mental state exam
What are some differential diagnoses for dementia
Thyroid disease, stroke, vitamin D deficiency, brain tumor, drug and medication effects, infection, anemia, depression, and Subdural hematoma.
What is a primary nursing diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease
Self care deficit related to impaired cognitive and motor function
What does the medication Donepezil do for alzheimer’s patients
It’s a cholinesterase inhibitor; it elevates acetylcholine concentration in cerebral cortex by slowing down degradation of acetylcholine released by intact neurons. Improves cognitive symptoms; improves cognitive function in the early stages of the disease only; drug affects diminish as the disease progresses
What is a normal dosage and frequency for Donepezil
5 to 10 mg PO QD
Why antidepressants given to Alzheimer’s patients
To treat depression anxiety and irritability symptoms
To control night wondering and behavior outbursts positions prescribed mild senses such as what particular medication
Diphenhydramine (benedryl)
Why are barbiturates avoided in Alzheimer’s disease patient
Because they can precipitate confusion
Emotional outbursts or changes in behavior are often a signal of what for patients that have alzheimer’s disease
Toileting needs, discomfort, fatigued, hunger, or infection
