____ Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias: Symptoms, Stages, and Communication Strategies Expanded
Self-Assessment Quiz Question 1. What is dementia?
The causes of AD vary and are impacted by environmental factors. The following lifestyle factors are linked to the devel- opment of the disease: • Age
A) Memory loss that is intermittent. B) A combination of behaviors and impairment that are a result of a brain disorder. C) Immediate diminished capacity. D) A loss of sensation.
• Limited physical activity • Poor diet and nutrition • Gene mutation • Poor cardiovascular health • Alcohol intake • Lack of social connection • Isolation • Poor sleep
OTHER DEMENTIAS (ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION, 2022)
Corticobasal syndrome (CBS) Creuzteldt–Jakob disease (CJD) HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) Huntington’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease results from the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles (NFT) that present and impede normal cognitive functioning. The plaques and tangles develop in the affected brain 15–20 years prior to presenting AD symptoms. Early detection and a healthy lifestyle may allay the progress of the disease while addressing symptoms. Healthy living habits such as diet, improved sleep hygiene, participation in physical exercise, social connection, and stimulating brain activities can significantly impact quality of life, especially for those who have genetic or other predisposi- tions to any type of dementia. It is important to note that it is never too late to implement lifestyle changes to modify disease progression. Self-Assessment Quiz Question 4. What is true about the plaques and tangles that present in the AD brain? A) Plaques and tangles will go away with proper hygiene. B) Plaques and tangles develop 15–20 years prior to an AD diagnosis. C) Plaques and tangles are in the spine. D) Plaques and tangles develop immediately after carbon dioxide exposure. Alzheimer’s disease is named after German psychiatrist Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who published the first case of the illness, initially called presenile dementia. He recognized that the dis- ease stemmed from the cerebral cortex after studying the brain of a diseased patient who had struggled with memory loss and cognitive decline resulting in complete loss of independence. Dr. Alzheimer noted the presence of amyloid plaques and a diminished number of neurons in this brain. He shared his findings in an article read by his colleague Dr. Emil Kraeplin, considered the founder of modern psychiatry and psychiatric genetics. When Kraeplin wrote the eighth edition of his psy- chiatry handbook, he referred to this disease as Alzheimer’s disease. It was characterized by memory loss, as well as specific behavior and personality changes that rendered the person unable to perform activities of daily living (Breijyeh & Kara- man, 2020).
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
Self-Assessment Quiz Question 2. How does Lewy body dementia often present?
A) Blindness. B) Flexibility. C) Claustrophobia. D) Hallucinations, paranoia.
Self-Assessment Quiz Question 3. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI):
A) Is a precursor to other types of dementia. B) May be reversible. C) Is a reliable way to verify an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. D) Both a and b.
ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that affects people primarily age 65 and over. AD is accountable for 60%–80% of confirmed cases of dementia (Zhou, 2021). This disease may vary, and symptoms include personality and behavior changes such as apathy, disorienta- tion, memory loss, and/or cognitive impairment. In the final stages cognitive and physical decline will render the person unable to live independently. AD is a leading cause of death for people over age 65 in the U.S. According to the World Health Organization (Zhou, 2021) there are approximately 50 million people globally living with dementia. The WHO projects that these numbers will almost double by 2050.
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