Case study 5: Dementia (Alzheimer’s Disease) Patient description: SW is a 69 year old man, he is 5’9”, weighs 173 lbs. His blood pressure is 122/80 mmHg and total cholesterol is 204mg/dl, HDL-C is 47 mg/dl. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 2 years ago, shortly after retiring from a career as a financial advisor. He has now reached symptoms consistent with stage 4 of the disease http://www.alzheimers.net/stages-of-alzheimers-disease/ .…
Vasular dementia is caused by a reduction in blood flow to the brain. Blood carries essential oxygen and nourishment to the brain and, without it, brain cells can die. The network of blood vessels that carries blood around the body is called the vascular system. There are a number of different ways that blood vessels in the brain can become damaged , leading to vascular dementia.…
Consider the latest statistics on the specter of Alzheimer’s disease. More than 5 million Americans are presently afflicted with Alzheimer’s. One American out of every three dies from Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. In 2013, more than 15 million caregivers contributed more than 17.5 billion hours of unpaid care, which would have cost upwards of 216 billion dollars. Almost 15% of caregivers assisting Alzheimer’s or related dementia patients are doing so via long-distance arrangements. In 2013, Alzheimer’s cost America 203 billion dollars; in the year 2050, this figure is projected to increase to 1.2 trillion dollars (alz.org).…
Alzheimer’s disease has been referred to as the “family disease”. Care for an individual with Alzheimer’s can be very difficult to cope with. It has a greater impact on the family members involved with the individual suffering from this disease, than other chronic diseases. There are support groups that can help family members adjust to this life changing disease. Alzhiemer’s disease also has an effect on businesses. Businesses are effected when they have employees who are also caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s disease. These cost to the business owners, includes paying out for: absenteeism; productivity losses; worker replacement cost; continuing insurance for workers on leave and temporary worker replacement fees; and Employee Assistance…
It is a term used when describing good dementia care and also best practice in advocacy. It recognises a person's individuality, their personal history and personality. It seeks to understand the world from the individual's perspective. When a person behaves in a way that is difficult, aggressive or inappropriate it is the role of others to try to understand why the person is behaving in that way, especially if they are unable to explain this themselves. Knowing their past history, relationships and interests or trying to see the world from their perspective can often help with this. Person-centred also means focusing on the best in someone, their strengths rather than their difficulties, responding to their feelings even when we do not understand their behaviour.…
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and social/behavioral skills. The direct cause of it is not yet fully understood, but based on studies, the disease seems to be a result of the combination of genetic material, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain. While Alzheimer’s is most commonly found among people above the age of 65, it is not what would considered a normal part of aging. However, it is the most common risk factor for this disease. As the age of a person reaches 65, the risk of getting this disease doubles every five years.…
Alzheimers - is a physical disease that affects the brain. There are nore than half a million people in the UK with the disease. Alzheimers is progress when a build up of proteins in the brain lead to a loss of connection between the nerve cells. This itself causes the death of these nerve cells and the loss of brain tissue. People with alzheimers also suffer from a shortage of chemicals in their brain. Thesse chemicals are used to transmit signals around the brain. Where there is a shortage the signals are not transmitted effectively. This causes the person to have confusion over places and time and also issues with thinking and memory loss.…
Fixed cognitive impairments are due to a single event. Traumatic brain injury may cause generalized damage to the white matter of the brain or localized damages. A temporary reduction in the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain may lead to this type of dementia. A stroke or brain infection can also be the cause of dementia. Excessive alcoholic intake results in alcoholic dementia. Use of recreational drugs cause substance induced dementia. Once the over use of these drugs are stopped he impairment persists but may not progress. Dementia which begins gradually and worsens progressively over several years is usually caused by neurodegenerative disease; that is, by conditions affecting only or primarily the neurons of the brain and causing gradual but irreversible loss of function of these cells. Less commonly, a non-degenerative condition may have secondary effects on brain cells, which may or may not be reversible if the condition is treated. The causes of dementia depend on the age at which symptoms begin. In the elderly population, a large majority of cases of dementia are caused by Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia or both. It is rare to have dementia in young people, Among youngsters also the major dementia observed is Alzheimer's disease. People who are affected by frequent head trauma, like boxers and football players are risk of dementia. Other than alcohol, drugs and psychiatric reasons certain genetic disorders also can cause dementia.…
temporal lobe – The person may forget names, struggle to retain new information, repeat seemingly meaningless word, sounds or number or lose their sense of time and place…
1.1Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells and in many ways, from alcoholism, brain injury, drug abuse, side effects to medications, depression, age, thyroid function abnormalities, and vitamin B12 deficiency. Alzheimer’s Dementia is caused by a build-up of proteins which the body no longer breaks down and this affects the transmission of signals.…
Caselli, Richard J., M.D. "Dementia Medication Overview." EMedicineHealth. Web MD, Inc., 2013. Web. 09 Sept. 2013.…
The term 'dementia' is used to describe the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by specific diseases and conditions. Symptoms of dementia include loss of memory, confusion and problems with speech and understanding.…
i had a a sudden cognizance of a blasphemous locked way in my skull so uterly INCONGRUOUS that i'd buried the recollection of that PERFIDIOUS, ANOMALOUS PERVERSION my subcochous. the shadow of an unknown thing, curdling the air as it draws inexorably closer the the serfuse of my day time brain.i felt the erudition of dementia i my mind desolved in the THAT HATEFUL, ABYSMAL, PLIABLE acid of the the unknowable THAT PUTRID, PITILESS, LIQUID shadow the carods all mans sanity.…
Hendrie, H. C. (1998). Epidemiology of dementia and Alzheimer 's disease. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 6(2 Suppl 1), S3-18.…
Approximately 5.4 million Americans now have Alzheimer's disease and by the year 2050, more than 15 million Americans could possibly be living with the disease, unless scientists or medical professionals develop new ideas to prevent, slow or cure it. (AHAF) Alzheimer’s is usually associated with old age but it can also be diagnosed in younger individuals. “Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.” (ALZ) This is considered to be one of the most heartbreaking diseases for a loved one to go through, because you’re basically watching them mentally fall apart often to the point when they don’t even remember who you…