Unit 6 Dementia Conditions Alzheimer's Disease Flashcards
1
Q
True or False. Alzheimer’s Disease is caused by hardening of the arteries and by stress?
A
False.
- Not part of normal ageing
- affects both men and women
- more common over the ages of 65
2
Q
What are 4 causes and risk factors of Alzheimer’s Disease?
A
*multi-factorial (depending on several causes or risk factors)
- age
- genetics
- previous head-trauma
- previous minor stroke
- gender: 2x higher in women
3
Q
True or False. Alzheimer’s is a gradual onset disease?
A
True
4
Q
What is the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s Disease?
A
- Neuritic plaques
- accumulation of beta-amyloid protein between cells
- Neurofibrillary tangles
- accumulation of tau protein within cells
- ->process starts in hippocampus–>important for memory
- ->spreads throughout the brain in predictable pattern
- ->plaques and tangles develop much more than in normal ageing
- atrophy and decrease in the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
- final result is cerebral atrophy
5
Q
What are the 5 impairments of Alzheimer’s Disease?
A
- cognitive impairments
- memory loss
- psychological impairments
- anxiety, agitation, personal changes
- behavioral impairments
- wandering
- physical impairments
- communication impairements
6
Q
What happened in the early stage of Alzheimer’s Disease?
A
- mild memory problems (names)
- may get loss
- difficulty finding words
- mild anxiety
- MMSE: 21-25/30
7
Q
What happened in the middle stage of Alzheimer’s Disease?
A
- denial
- personality changes (suspicious)
- speech and language problems
- depression
- MMSE: 6-20/30
8
Q
What happened in the late stage of Alzheimer’s Disease?
A
- significant personality and behavioural changes
- swallowing problems
- non-ambulatory
- total care
- MMSE: 1-5
9
Q
What is the medical management of Alzheimer’s Disease?
A
- treat cognitive decline (aricept)
- treat behaviour and mood disorders
- provide education and support
