Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimers Disease
The most common form of dementia A neurologic disease characterized by loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living, lasting at least six months, and not present from birth. AD usually occurs in old age Marked by a decline in cognitive functions such as remembering, reasoning, and planning.

Alzheimers Disease
There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, nor any proven ways to prevent its onset. Treatment focuses on support and managing symptoms. The condition is ultimately fatal.

Pathophysiology
Initial damage of neurons in temporal lobes and later in neocortex Loss of synapses, in association with shrinkage of the dendritic arbor of large neurons, is the critical pathological substrate. The death of cholinergic neurons in the basalis nucleus of Meynert leads to a deficit in acetylcholine (Ach), a major transmitter believed to be involved with memory. In addition, loss of serotoninergic neurons in the median raphe and adrenergic neurons in the locus ceruleus lead to deficits in serotonin and norepinephrine, respectively.

Pathophysiology
The neuropathologic hallmarks of AD are neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles .

Pathophysiology
Amyloid Plaques Contain forms of -amyloid protein (A) found in extracellular deposits throughout the central nervous system (CNS). A is believed to interfere with neuronal activity because of its stimulatory effect on production of free radicals, resulting in oxidative stress and neuronal cell death. Neurofibrillary Tangles Neurofibrillary tangles are paired helical filaments composed of tau protein, which in normal cells is essential for axonal growth and development. Leads to cell death when hyperphosphorylated.

Pathophysiology
Plaque buildup induces inflammation causing injury in hippocampus and cerebral cortex

Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology
The brain of a patient with AD often shows marked atrophy, with widened sulci and shrinkage of the gyri Every part of the cerebral cortex is involved; however, the occipital pole is often relatively spared. The cortical ribbon may be thinned and ventricular dilatation apparent, especially in the temporal horn, due to atrophy of the amygdala and hippocampus.

Signs and Symptoms

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE HAS A GRADUAL ONSET
THE FIRST CLUE IS A CHANGE IN THE PERSONS BEHAVIOR MILD FORGETFULLNESS PROBLEMS FINDING THE RIGHT WORD INABILITY TO RECOGNIZE OBJECTS INABILITY TO USE SIMPLE OBJECTS

Signs and Symptoms

AT FIRST, THE ONLY SYMPTOM MAY BE MILD FORGETFULLNESS
PEOPLE WITH AD MAY HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING:

RECENT EVENTS
NAMES OF FAMILIAR PEOPLE MATH PROBLEMS THE PERSON MAY BE ABLE TO HIDE THE PROBLEM FROM FAMILY AT THIS POINT

Signs and Symptoms

IT MAY TAKE MONTHS FOR THE FAMILY TO NOTICE SOMETHING IS WRONG EVENTUALLY FRIENDS, FAMILY, OR CO-WORKERS START TO NOTICE THINGS LIKE: INCREASING AND PERSISTENT FORGETFULLNESS MILD PERSONALITY CHANGES MINOR DISORIENTATION FREQUENTLY LOSES OR MISPLACES FAMILIAR ITEMS HAS MILD DIFFICULTIES FINDING THE RIGHT WORD HAS MILD DIFFICULTY PERFORMING FAMILIAR TASKS

DISORIENTATION OF TIME AND PLACE

POOR OR DECREASED JUDGEMENT LOSS OF INITIATIVE DIFFICULTIES PERFORMING ARITHMETIC CALCULATIONS

Stages of Alzheimers Disease

Early Stage Middle Stage Late Stage

Early Stage
THIS STAGE CAN LAST FOR TWO TO FOUR YEARS A PERSON IN THIS STAGE MAY BE AWARE OF THE DIAGNOSIS OR KNOW THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG A PERSON IN THE EARLY STAGE MAY STILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN DECISIONS AFFECTING THEIR FUTURE MEDICATIONS GIVEN FOR ALZHEIMERS DISEASE TRY TO PROLONG THE EARLY STAGE OF THE DISEASE RATHER THAN CURE IT

Early Stage
Behaviors associated: MILD FORGETFULLNESS NAMES WHAT HAS BEEN SAID RECENT EVENTS DIFFICULTY PROCESSING NEW INFORMATION LEARNING NEW THINGS FOLLOWING CONVERSATIONS PROBLEMS WITH ORIENTATION BECOMES EASILY LOST TROUBLE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS DATE AND TIME

Early Stage
COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS USING PROPER GRAMMER PRONOUNCING WORDS DISINTEREST IN GROOMING OVERREACTION TO STRESS

Middle Stage
THIS STAGE MAY LAST FROM TWO TO TEN YEARS THIS IS THE STAGE WHERE SOME PEOPLE WITH AD BECOME RESTLESS AND PACE OR WANDER PEOPLE IN THIS STAGE MAY NEED HELP WITH MANY DAILY TASKS DRESSING, BATHING, USING THE TOLIET CAREGIVER MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY AS CARE BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT

Middle Stage
Behaviors associated: CONTINUED MEMORY LAPSES FORGETFULLNESS ABOUT PERSONAL HISTORY INABILITY TO RECOGNIZE FRIENDS AND FAMILY PERSONALITY CHANGES CONFUSION ANXIETY SUSPICIONS SADNESS/DEPRESSION HOSTILITY

Middle Stage
DECLINING CONCENTRATION ABILITIES RESTLESSNESS PACING WANDERING REPETITION DELUSIONS AGGRESSION ASSISTANCE REQUIRED FOR DAILY TASKS APPETITE FLUCTUATIONS

Late Stage
THIS STAGE USUALLY LASTS FROM ONE TO THREE YEARS

THE PERSON WILL NEED 24-HOUR A DAY CARE THE PERSON WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME BEDRIDDEN AND BECOME INCONTINENT

Late Stage
Behaviors associated: LOSS OF ABILITY TO REMEMBER, COMMUNICATE OR FUNCTION INABILITY TO PROCESS INFORMATION SEVERE DISORIENTATION ABOUT TIME, PLACE AND PEOPLE WITHDRAWAL MUST USE NON-VERBAL METHODS TO COMMUNICATE MAY RESPOND TO MUSIC OR TOUCH BECOMES BED-RIDDEN

Late Stage

LOSES ABILITY TO SPEAK BECOMES INCONTINENT INABILITY TO SWALLOW MAY BECOME UNRESPONSIVE ( COMA ) ENDS IN DEATH

THANK YOU!

Alzheimers disease is never an accident in a marriage. It falls under the purview of Gods sovereignty. In the case of someone with Alzheimers, this means Gods unconditional and sacrificial love has an opportunity to be even more gloriously displayed in a life together. - Joni Eareckson Tada