AD

1Psychology 260Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Health

Threats to Optimal Health Across the Life Span:Alzheimer’s Disease

󰂃A progressive, irreversible brain disorder characterized by a gradual deterioration of memory, reasoning , language, and eventually physical function

󰂃First diagnosed in 1906 by Alois Alzheimer, a German doctor

󰂃Much remains to be learned about this disorder –is the leading cause of dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease Facts󰂃An estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease󰂃By 2050, the estimated range of Alzheimer's disease prevalence will be 11.3 million to 16 million Americans󰂃One in 10 persons over 65 years of age and nearly half of those over 85 years of age have Alzheimer's (termed late-onset Alzheimer’s Disease)󰂃Early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease occurs before 60s (can even strike individuals in their 30’s or 40’s)󰂃A person with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease will live an average of 8 years and as many as 20 years or more from the onset of symptomsAlzheimer’s Disease Symptoms󰂃Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)󰂙Memory loss

󰂃Early Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms󰂙Memory loss 󰂙Confusion about the location of familiar places (getting lost begins to occur)

󰂙Taking longer to accomplish normal daily tasks 󰂙Trouble handling money and paying bills 󰂙Poor judgment leading to bad decisions 󰂙Loss of spontaneity and sense of initiative 󰂙Mood and personality changes, increased anxiety

󰂙Increasing memory loss and confusion 󰂙Shortened attention span 󰂙Problems recognizing friends and family members 󰂙Difficulty with language; problems with reading, writing, working with numbers

󰂙Difficulty organizing thoughts and thinking logically 󰂙Inability to learn new things or to cope with new or unexpected situations

󰂙Restlessness, agitation, anxiety, tearfulness, wandering -especially in the late afternoon or at night

󰂙Repetitive statements or movement, occasional muscle twitches

󰂙Hallucinations, delusions, suspiciousness or paranoia, irritability

󰂙Loss of impulse control (shown through sloppy table manners, undressing at inappropriate times or places, or vulgar language)

󰂙Perceptual-motor problems (such as trouble getting out of a chair or setting the table)

Moderate Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease SymptomsLate or Severe Stages of Alzheimer’s

Disease Symptoms

󰂙Weight loss 󰂙Seizures, skin infections, difficulty swallowing 󰂙Groaning, moaning, or grunting 󰂙Increased sleeping 󰂙Lack of bladder and bowel control

󰂙Death is usually due to other illnesses, particularly aspiration pneumonia 2

Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease󰂃Research is attempting to offer definitive answers: recently identified genes (3) for early-onset and late-onset (1) Alzheimer’s Disease

󰂃Alzheimer’s Disease involves disruptions of neural communication, metabolism, and repair

󰂃Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease have brain abnormalities such as: beta amyloid plaquesand neurofibrillary tangles, particularly in brain regions associated with memory & ACH deficits

Hippocampusentorhinal cortex

Cerebral cortexMild

Alzheimer’s Disease

Stages

Shrinkage of Hippocampus

Cortical Shrinkage

Moderately

Enlarged Ventricles

Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Stages

Extreme Shrinkage of Hippocampus

Severely Enlarged Ventricles

Extreme Shrinkage of Cerebral Cortex

Severe Alzheimer’s Disease Stages

PET scan of PET scan of Normal BrainAlzheimer’s DiseaseBrain

Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease󰂃Definitivediagnosis still only available after death in autopsy

󰂃Obtaining a detailed personal history 󰂃Interviewing family & friends󰂃Conducting brain-imaging tests such as PET, MRI

󰂃Conducting extensive neuropsychological testing 3

Treatments & Managing Symptoms󰂃Medications combat the enzyme that breaks down ACH –for mild to moderate disease stages –only help for months to a few years –do not reverse or stop the disease

󰂃Other promising drugs, gene therapy & even a vaccination are being researched

󰂃Understanding of symptoms󰂃Providing progressive levels of care through caregivers

Different Ages In Nursing Ho

Longitudinal Research in Alzheimer’s Disease

󰂃The Nun Study: began in 1986 with School Sisters of Notre Dame Convent in Mankato, Minnesota

󰂃Autobiographies & link with early writing skills & cognitive abilities later in life

󰂃Religious Orders Study: since 1993 have examined older nuns, priests, and brothers within 30 religious communities in a dozen

states󰂃“Use it or lose it” brain power hypothesis