Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a cognitive disorder with two forms: neurodegenerative and vascular disorders. Neurodegenerative is a deterioration of the mind and vascular disorders are caused by a decreased blood supply to the brain.(Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1444) With Alzheimer’s disease, the brain starts to change with age and brain transmitters start to get covered with plaque, get tangled, louse connections, and cause death in some transmitters. These brain transmitters are called neurons. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1446)
Genes may also play a role in how likely a person is to get this disease especially if it is a close family member. Part of the difference between Alzheimer’s being present or not is the …show more content…
Other common symptoms of mild Alzheimer’s includes difficulty recalling new information, forgetfulness of recent events and new names, difficulty doing simple math, loss of interest, and inability to plan and implement tasks. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1449) An individual, even in the early stages, may start to change in personality gradually or suddenly going from being normally happy to angry or some other dramatic shift in mood. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1448)
As the disease progresses to the moderate stage, the individual may start having delusions, hallucination, and accompanying behavioral problems. By this stage, memory loss is more apparent and the individual may have difficulty recognizing close family and friends. Individuals at this stage may start having incontinence, agitation, and have trouble sleeping. Even in the moderate stage of the disease, a person may start to lose judgment and require assistance doing basic daily activities like getting dressed in the morning. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. …show more content…
A person with the disease often has difficulty maneuvering their environment and with increased wandering are at a higher risk for falls and other environment related injuries. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1454) Simple tasks become increasingly more difficult and losing the ability to self-feed and loss of interest in food leads to higher rates of malnutrition. Immobility of a person with the disease also creates complications with increased risks of urinary tract infections from reduced liquid intake, pneumonia, and skin breakdown. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1455) Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer 's can also create strains in the family with caregiver roles being reversed. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1456) Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease meaning its’ main characteristic is degenerating the brain. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1445) Changes because of the disease in the brain can start anywhere from 5 to 20 years before any noticeable symptoms occur. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1447) Normal aging shows increased plaque in the brain but with Alzheimer’s there are increased amounts in certain areas of the brain. (Lewis et al., 2014, p.
Genes may also play a role in how likely a person is to get this disease especially if it is a close family member. Part of the difference between Alzheimer’s being present or not is the …show more content…
Other common symptoms of mild Alzheimer’s includes difficulty recalling new information, forgetfulness of recent events and new names, difficulty doing simple math, loss of interest, and inability to plan and implement tasks. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1449) An individual, even in the early stages, may start to change in personality gradually or suddenly going from being normally happy to angry or some other dramatic shift in mood. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1448)
As the disease progresses to the moderate stage, the individual may start having delusions, hallucination, and accompanying behavioral problems. By this stage, memory loss is more apparent and the individual may have difficulty recognizing close family and friends. Individuals at this stage may start having incontinence, agitation, and have trouble sleeping. Even in the moderate stage of the disease, a person may start to lose judgment and require assistance doing basic daily activities like getting dressed in the morning. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. …show more content…
A person with the disease often has difficulty maneuvering their environment and with increased wandering are at a higher risk for falls and other environment related injuries. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1454) Simple tasks become increasingly more difficult and losing the ability to self-feed and loss of interest in food leads to higher rates of malnutrition. Immobility of a person with the disease also creates complications with increased risks of urinary tract infections from reduced liquid intake, pneumonia, and skin breakdown. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1455) Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer 's can also create strains in the family with caregiver roles being reversed. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1456) Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease meaning its’ main characteristic is degenerating the brain. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1445) Changes because of the disease in the brain can start anywhere from 5 to 20 years before any noticeable symptoms occur. (Lewis et al., 2014, p. 1447) Normal aging shows increased plaque in the brain but with Alzheimer’s there are increased amounts in certain areas of the brain. (Lewis et al., 2014, p.