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ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. BY: Rachel Sue Miller Language, Health, and Aging Spring 2006 (Berk 2003). What is ALZHEIMER’S????.

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ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

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  1. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE BY: Rachel Sue Miller Language, Health, and Aging Spring 2006 (Berk 2003)

  2. What is ALZHEIMER’S???? • Alzheimer’s is the most common form or dementia in which the structural and chemical brain deterioration is associated with gradual loss of many aspects of thought and behavior. • So what is dementia? Dementia refers to a set of disorders occurring almost entirely in which many aspects of thought and behavior are so impaired that everyday activities are disrupted.

  3. SYMPTOMS • Memory problems: forgetting names, date, appointments, routes, or the need to turn off the stove. • Recent memory impairs first • Personality changes occur • Anxiety, mental problems, aggressiveness, withdrawls

  4. STATS • 8-10 percent of people over the age of 65 have the disorder • Those over 80 , close to 50 percent are affected. (Heinz & Blass, 2002) • In the US-63,000 deaths involve Alzheimer’s (Wilkins 2000)

  5. Brain Deterioration • Neurofibrillary tangles appear-twisted threads that are the product of collapsed neural structures. • Amyloid plaques-dense deposits of deteriorated protein called amyloid, surrounded by clumps of dead nerve cells.

  6. TYPES • Familial-runs in family *early onset *rapidly progresses *linked to chromos 1, 14, and 21 • Sporadic-no family history *Chromo 19 *caused by toxins, viruses, defected blood, head injury

  7. Protection • Vitamins C and E • Anti Inflammatory drugs • Ibuprofen • Steroid prednisone • Education and active lifestyle

  8. CAREGIVERS • Antidepressants and mild sedatives • Family interventions • Devoting more time to the patients • Community agencies • Avoid dramatic changes and offering a comfortable lifestyle.

  9. WHY I CHOSE ALZHEIMER’S • I have chosen this disease primarily because I work with these types of patients. I work at a nursing home everyday. As a caregiver I experience first hand how to deal with these patients. It is very sad to see someone wander around and not know what is going on. I always wonder what these people were like before the disease took over their brain. It is also very hard to communicate with these patients.

  10. GERTONTOLOGY • Alzheimer’s is a sad disease. I have learned a little more about it. It is hard to communicate with these types of patients. This class has really opened my eyes to the languages the elderly speak. I work with it everyday and after taking this class I have really listened to what the residents say and the meanings behind their phrases.

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