“One in nine people age 65 and older (11 percent)… [have] Alzheimer’s Disease” (Alzheimer’s Association), that’s a 1 out of nine chance that you could develop Alzheimer’s in the future. Alzheimer’s develops and affects the person for the rest of their life. The disease affects not only the patient but the family also. The pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, and medical management are what make Alzheimer’s different from any other disease.
Pathophysiology
The ultimate cause of Alzheimer’s is currently unknown, but there are two basic problems that scientists think cause Alzheimer’s to develop. The first problem is plaques. Plaques are clumps of protein called beta amyloid. The plaques damage and destroy brain cells, sometimes interfering …show more content…
The first thing is early symptoms. The symptoms of early on set Alzheimer’s are; Memory loss, “challenges in planning and solving problems”, problems completing daily tasks they always preform, “confusion with the time and date”, problems speaking or writing, “decreased judgment”, and “changes in mood and personality” (Angela Lunde). There are four main tests used to determine if a person has Alzheimer’s; genetic testing, neurological exams, brain imaging, and mental status testing. Although there is not a specific gene that causes Alzheimer’s scientists are able to pin point at least one gene that has a risk of causing Alzheimer’s. The strongest risk gene is APOE-e4 which a blood test is ran to determine if you have this gene. If this gene is present you have a high chance of developing Alzheimer’s. (Alzheimer’s Association). Another form of testing is neurological testing which entails “the physician… [testing] reflexes, coordination, muscle tone and strength, eye movement, speech, and sensation” (Alzheimer’s Association). Brain imaging will mostly follow the neurological testing. Mental status testing is the final clinical test done to determine if Alzheimer’s is present. There are two main mental status tests that are ran mini-mental state exam (MMSE) and mini-cog. The MMSE tests the mental state of a person through a “series of questions designed to test a range of everyday …show more content…
There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s. Patients are treated to “maintain quality of life, maximize function in daily activities, and enhance cognition, mood, and behavior” (Alzheimer’s Association). There is not a proven way to prevent Alzheimer’s. Some studies suggest staying in shape, being socially active, and keeping your brain intellectually engaged (Alzheimer’s Association). Caring for a patient with Alzheimer’s can be difficult but there are a few things to take into consideration when taking care of a patient with Alzheimer’s. Try to reduce frustration, be flexible, and create a safe environment when taking care of a person with Alzheimer’s (Mayo Clinic
Pathophysiology
The ultimate cause of Alzheimer’s is currently unknown, but there are two basic problems that scientists think cause Alzheimer’s to develop. The first problem is plaques. Plaques are clumps of protein called beta amyloid. The plaques damage and destroy brain cells, sometimes interfering …show more content…
The first thing is early symptoms. The symptoms of early on set Alzheimer’s are; Memory loss, “challenges in planning and solving problems”, problems completing daily tasks they always preform, “confusion with the time and date”, problems speaking or writing, “decreased judgment”, and “changes in mood and personality” (Angela Lunde). There are four main tests used to determine if a person has Alzheimer’s; genetic testing, neurological exams, brain imaging, and mental status testing. Although there is not a specific gene that causes Alzheimer’s scientists are able to pin point at least one gene that has a risk of causing Alzheimer’s. The strongest risk gene is APOE-e4 which a blood test is ran to determine if you have this gene. If this gene is present you have a high chance of developing Alzheimer’s. (Alzheimer’s Association). Another form of testing is neurological testing which entails “the physician… [testing] reflexes, coordination, muscle tone and strength, eye movement, speech, and sensation” (Alzheimer’s Association). Brain imaging will mostly follow the neurological testing. Mental status testing is the final clinical test done to determine if Alzheimer’s is present. There are two main mental status tests that are ran mini-mental state exam (MMSE) and mini-cog. The MMSE tests the mental state of a person through a “series of questions designed to test a range of everyday …show more content…
There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s. Patients are treated to “maintain quality of life, maximize function in daily activities, and enhance cognition, mood, and behavior” (Alzheimer’s Association). There is not a proven way to prevent Alzheimer’s. Some studies suggest staying in shape, being socially active, and keeping your brain intellectually engaged (Alzheimer’s Association). Caring for a patient with Alzheimer’s can be difficult but there are a few things to take into consideration when taking care of a patient with Alzheimer’s. Try to reduce frustration, be flexible, and create a safe environment when taking care of a person with Alzheimer’s (Mayo Clinic