DEMENTIA / 3 STAGE MODEL / ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE / PHYSIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF AD / MEMORY LOSS SYMPTOMS OF AD / LATER STAGE OF AD

Question 1

DEFINITION: DEMENTIA

• SYMPTOMS
• Memory loss
• < in intellectual ability
• Poor judgement
• Poor social skills
• Abnormal emotional reactions
• NOTE: Dementia develops over a number of years (Gradually worsens)

Answer 1

• A general terms
• Describes a progressive decline
• Set of symptoms causing changes in brain functions
• Interferes with a person’s ability to FUNCTION and PERFORM everyday activities
• Not part of the normal ageing process. This is because not All older people suffer from DEMENTIA.

Question 2

3 STAGE MODEL - DEMENTIA / AD

• NOTE: Memory loss = one of the first symptoms (persistent and progressive)
• MILD
• Can typically still function independently
• MODERATE
• begin to need more assistance
• SEVERE
• Require full-time assistance

Answer 2

MILD (Early stage)

• Experience forgetfulness
• Losing or misplacing items
• Easily confused
• Poor judgements with planning and decision-making
• They cans typically still function independently (despite difficulties occurring)

MODERATE (middle stage)

• Will experience increased CONFUSION
• Greater memory loss
• Judgement is worsened
• Not able to recall personal information
• NEED more assistance (Dressing, grooming)

SEVERE (Later stage)

• < cognitive functioning
• Loss of their physical capabilities (EATING, Swallowing)
• Lose their ability to communicate fluently
• REQUIRE full-time assistance

Question 3

DEFINITION: ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Answer 3

• A type of dementia (Progressive mental deterioration)
• Characterized by a gradual, widespread DEGENERATION of neurons (Particularly in the hippocampus)
• Causes problems with MEMORY, THINKING and BEHAVIOUR

Question 4

PHYSIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Answer 4

• AMYLOID PLAQUES
• Abnormal clusters of beta-amyloid fragments
• collected outside of nerve cells and along the axon
• DESTROYS the synapses and the conduction of nerve impulses
• NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES
• Twisted strands of TAU proteins
• Located in the centre of dead and dying nerve cells
• Ultimately kill brain cells

Question 5

MEMORY LOSS SYMPTOMS OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Answer 5

• Loss of all or part of an event
• PROGRESSIVE forgetting (names and words)
• PROGRESSIVE inability to follow directions
• Known information is lost (HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE)
• Everyday skills (Cooking or dressing) are PROGRESSIVELY forgotten

Question 6

STAGES: LATER STAGES OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

• Not being able to recognize close family members and friends
• Forgetting their own identity
  Severe personality changes are common as well

Answer 6

• Third Stage: Severe (Later stage)
• Memory impairment is more severe in the LATER stage
• Decline in cognitive and physical functioning (Physical capabilities - EATING, SWALLOWING)
• Lose their ability to communicate fluently
• Difficult to perform daily tasks (Dressing, Cooking)
• Require full-time assistance

Question 7

CURE AND TREATMENT OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Answer 7

• There is currently NO cure
• Medications can be taken in the early or middle stage which increases the supply of ACETYLCHOLINE
• Medication: slow the rate of development of SYMPTOMS