Alzheimer's Association

detected in the brain by certain scans or tests. This sort of disease is rapid and once a patient is diagnosed, it only gets worse from that point on. The cerebral cortex is responsible for thinking, planning, and remembering information. For Alzheimer’s patients, the cortex shrivels up causing the loss or gain of any information. The shrinkage of the Hippocampus is directly responsible for the inability to store new memories. Researchers have conducted various tests to visualize the…

However, as we age the risks of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease increases and will continue to increase especially with the longer lifespans our society sees today. Basically, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is the deterioration of the brain’s capacity to recall memories, thought processes and behavioral tasks needed to carry out activities of daily living and frequently individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s require constant care (Berk, 2014). Considering this especially…

Alzheimer’s is a complex neurodegenerative brain disease. It has multiple stages, is chronic, and causes shrinkage of the brain as well as neuronal dysfunction and death. There are six current hypotheses as to cause and all hypotheses seem to be somewhat relative. Diagnosis is achieved with neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging, genetic, blood, and cerebral spinal fluid testing, as well as up and coming urine and retinal tests. Symptomatic pharmaceutical treatment is available. Etiologic…

Delirium is a subacute fluctuating disturbance of consciousness characterized by disorientation, inattention, disordered thinking, cognitive impairment, emotional lability, hallucinations or delusions, and sleep-wake cycle disturbance (DynaMed, 2016). Delirium can occur in patients of all ages, but the highest incidence is seen in older patients 65 years and above (DynaMed, 2016). Delirium can be recognized by five key elements namely: (1) Disturbance in attention and awareness; (2) Develops…

diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. How will he be able to care for himself on his own? What if something bad happens to him? " Case Manager: "I understand that you feel scared, do I understand you correctly?" Antonio: "I am fine. I can live by myself. I don’t need extra help." Case Manager: “Mr. Antonio, I understand that you do not feel like you need help” Antonio's daughter: “Dad, you cannot live by yourself. You will degenerate” Case Manager: “Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, you…

Case of Elderly Couple John and Lydia are an elderly couple that are face with a lot of challenges due to their age, and social situations. Some of the challenges that they are faced with is their mobility is limited, and they are confused and forgetful. According to Broderick an Blewitt (2015), “Dementia is a syndrome that affects multiple functional domains do to chronic and progressive disease processes in the brain. Cognitive and emotional skills like memory, judgement, language,…

Alzheimer’s presents changes in the brain referred to as neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The neuritic plaques are formed when amyloid precursor proteins are not processed, resulting in toxic amyloid beta proteins, forming to make plaques. Neurofibrillary tangles are formed from the tau protein, a microtubule-binding protein, detaching from neurons to form tangles. Both plaques and tangles contribute to the death of neurons, resulting in the hallmark features of Alzheimer’s…

The lay people associate Dementia with memory loss, but it’s just not that simple. Dementia is a gradual disease with many other characteristics, such as, loss of attention, orientation, language, judgement, and reasoning (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Harding ). “Personality changes and behavioral problems such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations may occur” (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Harding). All of the issues that come with Dementia affect the entire person’s…

most irritating and annoying thing knowing you walked into that room to find something, do not take that feeling for granted. Many people suffer with Alzheimer’s disease, they cannot even remember that they walked into the room.…

This study investigated adult child caregivers existential experience providing care to their parents at end-of-life (EOL). A literature review identified limited research about the existential experience of adult child caregiver populations providing EOL care. For instance, Totman, Pistrang, Hennessey, and Martin (2015) identified existential domains as receiving very limited attention, despite a large amount of research focused on caregiver needs. In addition, Totman et. al. reported…