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Alzheimer’s Disease and Demetia Awareness

Alzheimer’s Disease and Demetia Awareness. By: Erika Suhl, Diandra Schonyers, Meryl Abag , Kristin Prengergast , Alyson Slomko , Christina Musantry , Yasir Williams. Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

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Alzheimer’s Disease and Demetia Awareness

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  1. Alzheimer’s Disease and Demetia Awareness By: Erika Suhl, Diandra Schonyers, Meryl Abag, Kristin Prengergast, Alyson Slomko, Christina Musantry, Yasir Williams

  2. Alzheimer’s & Dementia • A progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brains nerve cells, or neurons resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills and behavioral changes. • This disease affects 26.6 people around the world right now and is only getting worse. • Starts affecting most individuals at age 65 and older.

  3. Alzheimer’s on the Rise • Anne Stone the author of “Sources of Uncertainty: Experiences of Alzheimer’s Disease” said “The world’s population aged 65 and older is growing at an unprecedented rate of 800,000 people per month” • People are living longer, Alzheimer’s is becoming more prevalent in today’s society.

  4. Improvements are being made • Howard Chertkow author of “Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia: Introduction” discussed the improvements made in Alzheimer’s and Dementia research. • “Memantine has been introduced in Canada. This antagonist to glutamate receptors (foundation for memory) has a small beneficial effect in cases of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease but it has not been shown effective in the mild stages.

  5. Awareness • If you know about Alzheimer’s now it allows a person to detect early signs of this disease • Allows an individual or loved one to start dealing with this disease instead of having to learn about it first. • Plays such a significantly big role in today’s society, it could affect your life one day.

  6. Pat Summit • Head coach of Tennessee for thirty-eight years and is only fifty nine years old. • In August she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and Dementia Disease. • Started the Pat Summitt Foundation for Alzheimer’s patients and families. • Still maintains a independent & successful lifestyle

  7. Sources of Uncertainty: Experiences of Alzheimer’s disease • The number of people suffering from this disease is set to increase to about 1 in every 85 people by the year 2050 (Stone 2009). • Participants • Uncertainty was found in 3 significant areas • Medical, Personal and Social

  8. Sources of Uncertainty cont. • Medical Uncertainty • Related to lack of knowledge about the disease • Personal Uncertainty • Related to the care givers feelings • Social Uncertainty • Related to the perception of one’s peers

  9. Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia: Introduction • What is dementia? • Denegerative brain condition that affects the nerve cells • Memantine • Drug used in Canada • Vitamin E • Idea has been disregarded

  10. Knowledge of Memory Aging & Alzheimer’s Disease in College Students and Mental Health Professionals • Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire (KMAQ) • Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Test (ADK) • Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA) • 100 participants • 70 undergrad students (53 females, 17 males) • 30 mental health professionals (11 females, 19 males)

  11. Findings • Mental health professionals had a higher level of knowledge of memory aging issues and AD than the students • Both groups showed significant improvement in response accuracy • College students endorsed more ageist attitudes than the mental health professionals

  12. Article vs. Research • Gather information • Accurate knowledge • Avoids ageist stereotypes • Helps best serve elderly clients • Promotes educational programs

  13. Personality Changes in Patients with beginning Alzheimer’s Disease • To investigate personality traits in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, compared with mentally healthy control subjects • 54 patients with mild AD • 64 healthy control subjects

  14. Five-Factor Model • A Structured Interview describing their personality traits • Neuroticism • Extraversion • Openness • Agreeableness • Conscientiousness

  15. Article vs. Research • Personality change is a consistent aspect of Alzheimer’s disease but no particular personality • Vulnerable to stress, more dependent, hopeless, reserved, somewhat gregarious and compulsive • An early detection of dementia • Strategies for delaying the occurrence of symptoms of Alzheimer’

  16. Methodology • Participants located in Glassboro, NJ • Friends, family & classmates • Called and met with friends • 15 friends outside of Rowan • 20 Students in classrooms at Rowan • No specific criterion • Anyone we handed the survey to was eligible

  17. Methodology cont. • Freshman dorms at Rowan University • Chestnut Hall • Willow Hall • Magnolia Hall • Mimosa Hall • Memorial Hall • Science Bldg • Family Party • Edgewood Park Apartments

  18. Methodology cont. • Creating our survey • Making it as easy as possible • Truthful and helpful answers • Pilot Testing • Took under 10 minutes • Easy to understand • Got the results we wanted • Perfect!

  19. Results • # of people who knew someone with this disease • Amount that knew someone: 40% of the participants • Amount that did not: 55% of the participants

  20. Correct Answers on Survey

  21. Survey Questions • At what age does Alzheimer’s Disease usually begin to affect a person? • 30-39 • 40-49 • 50-59 • 60+ • What sex is most affected by this disease? • Male • Female

  22. Final Results • Less than 50% knew the right answers to each question on our survey. • Overall, the local community of Glassboro is not aware of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.

  23. Discussion • Overall Awareness • Not many people are informed • Limitations • Biased • 105 surveys • Not indicative of all Gloucester County • Participants • 18 or older • Did not have of be students of Rowan University

  24. Discussion cont. • Results • Somewhat Predictable • Surprising • Quite Frankly • What was expected • What was unexpected • If we were to conduct again • Not much • A bit more information • Conclusion

  25. References • Jackson, E., Cherry, K., Smitherman, E., & Hawley, K., (2008, March). Knowledge of Memory and Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease in College Students and Mental Health Professionals. Aging and mental Health • Pocnet, C., Rossier, J., Antonietti, J., Gunten, A., (2007 July). Personality Changes in Patients with Beginning Alzheimer Disease. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry • Certkow, H., (2008 January 29). Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia: Introduction. Canadian Medical Association Journal • Stone. Anne., Jones, C., (2009). Sources of Uncertainty: Experiences of Alzheimer’s Disease. Issues in Mental Health Nursing

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