dementia - alzheimers type

8/11/2019 Dementia - Alzheimers Type

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Mental Health:

Exercising the Mind

Dementia:

Alzheimers Type

By Melissa D.L. Jacobs, MSW, LCSW


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Feeling Old Yet

Test youre A.Q. (Aging Quotient)

A. Swimming Pool

B. Prune

A. Raindrop

B. Mouth drool


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Feeling Old Yet

Test youre A.Q. (Aging Quotient)

A. Plains Landscape

B. Cardiogram

A. Snowflake

B. Cataract


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What is Alzheimer's Disease?

Progressive, degenerative brain disease thatdestroys brain cells by attacking the brain. Itcauses problems with memory, thinking andbehavior.

Currently, there is no cure. It is a terminal diseasethat shortens ones life span.

There are 5 million Americans who haveAlzheimers Disease.

It is the 7thleading cause of death in the UnitedStates.


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What Alzheimers Disease is NOT:

An emotional illness The result of the normal aging process

Contagious

Hardening of the arteries

Mental retardation or mental laziness

A direct result of stress, grief, neglect or familyconflict

A result of vitamin deficiency.

Caused by lack of blood or oxygen to the brain.

A result of poisoning, a blow to the head or chronicalcoholism.

Preventable or curable.


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If its not part of the aging process

why do older people mostly have it?

There are risk factors with Alzheimers Disease.

Age: 65+ and increases +5 years; After age 85,the risk factor jumps almost to 50%

Family History: 2-3 times more likely to developthe disease if there is a family member with thediseasethe risk increases if there is more thanone.

Other Risk factors: Head injuries, Unhealthylifestyle. Risk increases for conditions thatdamage the heart and blood vessels (i.e. heartdisease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes,

high cholesterol).


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How does someone know if they have

Alzheimer's Disease?

There are 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's Disease.

1. Memory Loss

2. Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks

3. Problems with Language4. Disorientation to Time and Place

5. Poor or Decreased Judgment

6. Problems with Abstract Thinking

7. Misplaced Things8. Changes in Mood Swings

9. Changes in Personality

10. Loss of Initiative


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Memory Loss

A common early sign of Alzheimer's

disease.

Forgetting information recently learned. Frequently forgetful overall and not being

able to recall information.


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Difficulty Performing Familiar

Tasks It becomes difficult to complete everyday

functions or even to try and plan tasks.

Examples:

- How to operate the microwave to

cook a meal.

- How to play a game.

- Organizing and paying monthly

bills.


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Problems with Language

Forgetting simple words or substituting

words.

Often makes speech or writing incoherentor difficult to understand.


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Disorientation to Time and

Place Becoming lost in neighborhoods they

have lived in for decades.

Wandering around in strange placesbecause they do not know where they are

or how they got there.

Forgetting how to get back home.


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Problems with Abstract

Thinking

Difficulty performing mental tasks.

They may forget how to use numbers.

Example:- How to correctly count up

money when grocery shopping

to pay for their purchase.


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Misplacing Things

Placing things inappropriately.

Examples:

- Milk in the closet.- Coins or money in the ice tray.


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Change in Mood or Behavior

They have mood swings that shift rapidly

without reason, (i.e. cryingcalm

anger.)


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Changes in Personality

Dramatic changes and or shift in

personality.


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Loss of Initiative

They may become withdrawn andpassive. Not doing their normalactivities.

Examples:

- Sleeping more hours thanusual.

- Sitting and watching TV forlonger periods of time.


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How does someone find out if they

have Alzheimers Disease?

If someone suspects they, a family member orfriend has Alzheimers Disease the best thing todo is have them speak to their primary care

physician.

No one test can diagnosis Alzheimers. It isdiagnosed through exclusion.

Ideally, the patient should have a medicalhistory, neurological evaluation, psychiatricevaluation, and social history included in adiagnostic work-up.


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Alzheimer's Disease:

General Stages of Progression

First Stages: Forgetfulness

Impaired Judgment

Unable to handle routine tasks

Lacks spontaneity

Lessening of initiative

Disorientation time/place Depression & terror


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General Stages of Progression

Second Stage Wandering and perseveration

Increasing disorientation

Increasing forgetfulness

Agitation and restlessness

Repetitive actions

Decreased sensory perception Inability to think abstractly

Muscle twitching may develop


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General Stages of Progression Third Stage

Major Disorientation

Complete dependence in activities of daily living

(ADLs)

Inability to recognize self or other people about

them

Speech impaired, or progresses to being mute

Becomes emaciated

Develop morbid need to put everything in their

mouth

Develop a necessity to touch everything in sight.

Cant walk, talk, swallow (lost of all body functions)


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Treatment Options?Cognitive Symptoms

There is no cure for Alzheimers Disease but there aretreatment options to help treat some of the cognitive andbehavioral symptoms.

Some of the medications approved by the FDA to treat thebrain for memory, awareness, language, judgment andthought processes are: Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne.

Namenda is a medication that treats informationprocessing.

Vitamin E is another treatment option which can be usedunder the supervision of a physician.


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Treatment Options?Behavioral Symptoms

The behavioral symptoms (anxiety, depression, wandering,impulses, sleep disturbances, restlessness, agitation, delusions,etc.) can be managed with medications as well.

If the symptoms are managed with medications they should be

closely monitored by a physician.

Best practice is to try and change behaviors without medicationsfirst. By identifying the symptomUnderstanding its causeChanging the caregiving environment to remove challenges.

Try to identify if there are any triggers or obstacles (i.e. differentliving arrangement, new caregiver, travel, company in the home,being asked to bathe or change clothes, admission to a hospital)

in the environment that are causing the behavior and change orremove it.


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Caregiver Tips Learn about resourcesIn-home assistance, visiting nurses, Meals-on-Wheels,

adult day care

Stay educated about the disease as it progresses

Get HelpAsk for assistance if you feel overwhelmed. There are supportgroups available. You must accept the changes and learn to utilize theresources available for you.

Take care of yourselfBe careful and watch your diet by getting plenty ofexercise and rest to reduce stress levels.

Do legal & financial planningConsult an attorney to discuss legal andfinancial care issues. Try to involve the person with Alzheimer's and otherfamily members if possible.

Be realisticThe behaviors experienced through Alzheimers cannot becontrolled.

Give yourself credit, not Guilt!You are doing the best you can. Dont feelguilty because you cant do more. You are there caring for them and for thatyou should be proud.

(alz.org)


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Alzheimers Association

1-800-272-3900http://www.alz.org

For more information:
http://www.alz.org/http://www.alz.org/

dementia - alzheimers type

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