Alzheimer Disease

loss of acetalcholine
1. affects the hippocampus
Memory loss, cognitive impairment, depression, loss of function, loss of insight, loss of visio-spatial,awareness
1. iritability, mood changes, agnosia, psychosis
  1. signs and symptoms forget fullness, agitation, short term memory loss, decrease function in ADL's
risk factors: relative, HT, DM, smoking, alcohol
1. advanced age
  1. female
    1. previous brain injury
lack of clearence of amyloid deposition
1. neurofiberal tangles
Diagnosed by symptoms of dementia and rule out other disease processes
1. definite diagnosis on death by autopsy
Teatment: includes management of symptoms
1. Patient and caregiver support
  1. Maintain a safe environment, handrails, remove scatter rugs and clutter, monitor nutrition
2. Aricept, Exelon and Namenda
  1. Stay active mentally physically and socially
Debilitating disease with no known cure
1. is a complication of advanced age over 65 most people over 80 have some degree of dementia
2. CT, MRI, and PET Scans may help identify tangles

Resource summary

	Created by nanarn1 about 11 years ago