Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

Symptoms

Diagnostic Criteria

Involves failure in at least three cognitive functions› Awareness› Perception› Comprehension

Failure in memory, use of language, visuospatial skills, personality, and calculating skills

Mosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Profession 7th Edition

Early Symptoms

Inability to incorporate new knowledge despite the retention of new old information

Inability to recall words Inability to orient to one’s surroundings

Mosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Profession 7th Edition

Common Symptoms (Detailed)

Impaired Memory and Thinking Disorientation and Confusion Misplacing Things Problems with Abstract Thinking Trouble Performing Familiar Tasks Changes in Personality and Development Poor or Decreased Judgments Inability to Follow Directions Problems with Language and Communications Impaired Visual and Spatial Skills Loss of Motivation or Initiative Loss of Normal Sleep Patterns http://www.webMD.com

http://www.alz.orghttp://www.alzinfo.org

Mosby’s Medical Dictionary 8th Edition

Alzheimer’s Disease Stages

Mild Alzheimer’s Disease› Regularity of forgetfulness› May repeat questions› Getting lost in once familiar places› Have trouble remembering what they’ve

just heard or read› Maybe difficult but not impossible to learn

new things

http://www.webMD.comhttp://www.alz.org

http://www.alzinfo.org

Alzheimer’s Disease Stages

Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease› May begin in inability to recognize family

members and friends› May have trouble sleeping during the night› As the disease worsens, they may

eventually spend their day asleep› More pronounced personality changes› Experience hallucinations, delusions,

paranoia, and compulsive behaviors

http://www.webMD.comhttp://www.alz.org

http://www.alzinfo.org

Alzheimer’s Disease Stages

Severe Alzheimer’s Disease› Virtually unable to respond to people

around them› Can no longer sit unsupported or hold up

their head› Unable to control urination or bowel

movement› May repeated cry out, groan, or scream› Trouble eating or refusing to eat

http://www.webMD.comhttp://www.alz.org

http://www.alzinfo.org

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)Signs

Types of Alzheimer’s Disease

Early-onset Alzheimer’s› Rare form of Alzheimer’s› Diagnosed before the age of 65› High risk for people with Down Syndrome› Linked with genetic defect on

chromosome-14› A condition called Myoclonus – spasm of

muscles or group of muscles

http://www.webMD.comMosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Profession 7th Edition

Jonas: Mosby’s Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Copyright 2005

Types of Alzheimer’s Disease

Late-onset Alzheimer’s› Most common form of Alzheimer’s disease

accounting for 90% of cases usually occurring after age 65

› Strikes almost half of all people over the age of 85

› May or may not be hereditary› Late on-set dementia is also called

Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease

http://www.webMD.comMosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Profession 7th Edition

Types of Alzheimer’s Disease

Familial Alzheimer’s Disease (FAD)› Extremely rare accounting for less than 1%

of all Alzheimer’s disease cases› Form of Alzheimer’s disease known to be

entirely inherited› In affected families, members of at least

two generations have had Alzheimer’s disease

› Has much early onset, often in the 40s› Can be clearly seen to run in families

http://www.webMD.comMosby’s Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Profession 7th Edition

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of North Indiana

http://www.alz-nic.org/html/alzheimersaffacts.html