Condition-Alzheimer's Disease Case Studies

Words: 1396
Pages: 6
Open Document
For the sake of confidentiality, the resident whom this case study is based upon will be referred to by the initial H.
1. Client Information:
Age – 89 years, born on January 3, 1927.
Significant social history – H was a member of the outdoors and hiking club and cross-country ski organization for many years. She has hiked most mountain ranges from here to Alberta. She knew the names of most wild flowers and plants. Travelling was one of her favorite things. She and her late husband explored much of Canada in their R.V. H was most enchanted by Christmas celebrations and would bake her specialities over a month in advance to give away to loved ones. She managed a household from a young age, due to the passing of her mother and 3 of her 4 brothers. …show more content…
It causes the thought and memory process to become seriously impaired. The presence of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are the two main microscopic biomarkers of this disease. Plaques are abnormal dense protein deposits which build up between nerve cells and impair neuron function. Dead and dying nerve cells contain tangles, which are made up of twisted strands of another protein. Tangles interfere with vital processes and essentially choke off living cells. When these brain cells degenerate and die, . the brain shrinks dramatically in some regions, affecting nearly all its …show more content…
The beginning of Alzheimer’s disease, the preclinical stage, occurs on a microscopic level. These changes can occur over years or even decades before a diagnosis, as there are generally no evident behavioural or cognitive symptoms associated with this stage. When the plaques and tangles build up to a higher level, a person begins to exhibit the signs of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. These symptoms can include difficulty finding objects, remembering faces, or navigating familiar environments. They may also get confused, anxious, or irritable and struggle with everyday activities that involve multiple steps and planning. Expressing themselves verbally and organizing their thoughts will become increasingly difficult. Significant changes in personality and behaviour will occur as the patient drifts in and out of lucidity. Wandering may occur, and because of changes in visual perception that person is at an increased risk for falls. This stage can last anywhere from 2 to 10 years, and is typically the phase in which individuals are diagnosed. When a person enters the advance stages of AD 24/7 care is usually required. Due to the pronounced amount of cell death in the brain, the individual loses their ability to process information,
Show More

Related Documents: Condition-Alzheimer's Disease Case Studies

Living With Alzheimer’s disease Essay

HISTORY OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE A. Dr. Alois Alzheimer III. WHAT IS ALHEIMER’S DISEASE? A. Definition B. Warning Signs C. Symptoms D. Diagnosis IV. WHO’S AT RISK? A. Risk Factors B. Biological & Genetics C. Other Possible Causes V. TREATMENTS A. Pharmacological Treatments B. Surgical C. Therapeutic VI. THE FUTURE OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE VII. CONCLUSION VIII. REFERENCE LIST Abstract As per the Alzheimer’s Association, An estimated 5.2 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease…

Words 2826 - Pages 12

Alzheimer's Dilemma

protection of the participants involved in scientific studies. For example, the process…

Words 541 - Pages 3

Alzheimer Disease Essay examples

Alzheimer Disease 2013 michaeltin [Type the company name] 4/30/2013 Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. In most people with Alzheimer’s, symptoms first appear after age 60. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people…

Words 1400 - Pages 6

ALHEIZMER’S DISEASE Essay

ALHEIZMER’S DISEASE Alzheimer’s Disease Case Study The memory changes as people become older, and memory loss can interfere with daily life as people are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Proper diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is the only way to know whether or not someone has the disease. There is no single test that will diagnose someone with Alzheimer's disease. In order to properly be diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the doctor…

Words 1566 - Pages 7

Depression: Psychology and Subsequent Vascular Dementia Essay

risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, and people with M.C.I. often have depression and anxiety,” said Dr. David Loewenstein, a professor of psychology and behavioral sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “The depression reported could have been a co-morbid condition of underlying early stage disease.” Deborah Barnes, associate professor of psychiatry, epidemiology and biostatics at the University of California, San Francisco. She is the author of a study of 13,535 members…

Words 474 - Pages 2

Research Paper On Alzheimer's

have heard the term “Alzheimer’s” come up once or twice. “Alzheimer’s is an illness of the brain that causes large numbers of nerve cells in the brain to die. This affects a person’s ability to remember things, think clearly, and use good judgment.” (Alzheimer’s Association) Alzheimer’s is a disease that has no cure yet, affects half of all elders that reach age 85. All though it is believed that Alzheimer’s comes with old age, researchers are not quite sure what causes the disease, more than twenty…

Words 1547 - Pages 7

Anthropology Research Paper

theory or genetic studies and mechanisms in medicine, seem most important to you for their direct connection to you, your relatives, and your (future) descendants, and why? Begin by thinking about medical challenges that ‘run in your family,’ and therefore are likely to have a genetic component. Use these challenges as the starting point for your research. Over the last 10 years, there have been many research studies based on or related to evolutionary theory, genetic studies and mechanisms in…

Words 1401 - Pages 6

Hypothyroidism Research Paper

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which there is lack of thyroid hormones due to disorder in the thyroid gland of human beings. Hypothyroidism is also known as underactive thyroid which states the inappropriate function of thyroid glands. Thyroid gland is responsible for the growth and development of human body, however lack of this hormone results in number of different diseases. Structure of thyroid gland resembles with that of a butterfly. It is found to be situated on the front of human neck,…

Words 1422 - Pages 6

Alzheimer’s: The Forgotten Disease Essay

Alzheimer’s: The Forgotten Disease University of Central Missouri Alzheimer’s: The Forgotten Disease Alzheimer’s disease, while it may not have been widely recognized as a life threatening disease decades ago, the knowledge of this incurable disease is growing with each year passing. With each year we grow as a community, country and world we learn more about ourselves and the way our bodies age. With the advancements in technology we have been able to live…

Words 2282 - Pages 10

A Brief Note On Cultural And Disease

Cultural and Disease University of Phoenix Mrs. Ruth Grendell HCS/245 October 27, 2013 Everyone has heard the saying that a good mind is a terrible thing to waste, one would never have thought that was remotely possible. But in the 1906 when the first ever recording of Alzheimer a form of dementia doctors and researchers found that the human mind can indeed revert to early stages of no memory. Dementia is a term used in describing a vast array of symptoms related to the decline…

Words 1301 - Pages 6