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Alzheimer
Alzheimer is a slow progressive disease of the brain that is associated with loss of cognitive functions eventually leading to a total loss of all forms of memory, severe disability and progression to death.
Approximately 4.5 million American are known to be afflicted with this disease.
The disease can be genetically inherited and can subsequently, runs in families. The onset of adult Alzheimer is usually individuals over the age of sixty.
A great number of this patient population are residents of our Nations Nursing home facilities.
Women are more apt to suffer from Alzheimer than men probably because more women live longer than men or maybe due to some yet unknown factor associated with the female. The etiology of Alzheimer is unknown but chromosomal analysis has determined that certain chromosomal inheritance may predispose one to Alzheimer disease.
There are three stages of Alzheimer
Stage 1
- Usually associated with
- Loss of recent memory
- Problem retaining new information
- Minor speech problem
- Subtle personality changes
- Problem with judgment and with abstract thinking
- Getting confused with tasks patient should be familiar with
Stage 2
- Inability to learn or recall new information
- Long term memory slowly begins to be affected
- Household chores (eating, dressing, toilet, etc) may require assistant
- Orientation is clearly affected at this stage resulting in patient being monitored. It is also associated
- Often at night patient will get up to go to the bathroom but unable to find their way
- back to the bedroom
- Aggressive behavior now becomes prominent
Stage 3
- Inability to ambulate or perform any ADL's (Activities of Daily Living)
- Incontinent is prominently featured
- Total loss of both new and old memories
- Total care dependent set in and nursing home placement becomes prominent
- Total loss of speech, motor function and sensory response leads to terminal conditions and eventual death
Treatment: New drugs in the treatment of Alzheimer diseases that have shown promise are
Aricept
Excelon
Ginkgo Biloba
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