Question

Alzheimer‘s Disease

During the past 4 years, Mr. Ludwig has demonstrated rapidly progressive memory impairment and disorientation, as well as deterioration in his ability to function, related to Alzheimer’s disease. He is a 67-year-old man who retired at 62 years of age to spend some of his remaining “youth” with his wife and to travel, garden, visit family, and finally implement the plans they made over the previous 40 years. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at 63 years of age.

Mr. Ludwig has been taken care of at home by his wife and his daughter Daisy. Daisy is divorced and has returned home with her two young daughters.

The family members find themselves progressively closer to physical and mental exhaustion. Mr. Ludwig has become increasingly incontinent when he cannot find the bathroom. He wanders away from home constantly, despite close supervision. The police and neighbors bring him back home an average of four times a week. Once, he was lost for 5 days after he had somehow boarded a bus for Pittsburgh, 1000 miles from home. He was robbed and beaten before being found by the police and returned home.

He frequently wanders into his granddaughters’ rooms at night while they are sleeping and tries to get into bed with them. Too young to understand that their grandfather is lonely and confused, they fear that he is going to hurt them. Four times in the past 2 weeks, he has fallen while getting out of bed at night, thinking he is in a sleeping bag camping out in the mountains. After a conflicted and painful 2 months, the family places him in a care facility for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Mrs. Ludwig tells the admitting nurse, Mr. Jackson, that her husband wanders almost all the time. He has difficulty finding the right words for things (aphasia) and becomes frustrated and angry when that happens. Sometimes, he does not seem to recognize the family (agnosia). Once, he thought that Daisy was a thief breaking into the house and attacked her with a broom handle. Telling this story causes Daisy to break down into heavy sobs: “What’s happened to my father? He was so kind and gentle. Oh, God… I’ve lost my father.”

Mrs. Ludwig tells Mr. Jackson that her husband can sometimes participate in dressing himself; at other times, when he appears confused over what goes where, he needs total assistance. At this point, Mrs. Ludwig begins to cry uncontrollably, saying “I can’t bear to part with him, but I can’t do it anymore. I feel as if I’ve betrayed him.”

Mr. Jackson then focuses his attention on Mrs. Ludwig and her experience. He states, “This a difficult decision for you.” He says that he supports their decision to move Mr. Ludwig to the Alzheimer’s unit. However, he is also aware that families usually have conflicting and intense emotional reactions of guilt, depression, loss, anger, and other painful feelings. Mr. Jackson suggests that Mrs. Ludwig talk to other families with a cognitively impaired member. “It might help you to know that you are not alone, and having contact with others to share your grief can be healing.” One of the groups he suggests is the Alzheimer’s Association, a well-known self-help group.

1. What is Alzheimer’s disease? The answer is directly from the book
2. Compare and contrast Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia?
3. What are some current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic?
4. What causes Alzheimer's disease?
5. What are the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?
6. Do men or women have a higher risk and does aluminum play a role in developing Alzheimer's disease?

Answer 1

Alzheimer's disease can be said to be irreparable progressive brain disorder that destroys thinking and memory skills gradually. 2) comparison between Alzheimer's and lewy body demia : lewy body demia affects the cognitive functions especially problem -solving and reasoning while Alzheimer's affects the brains ability to store new information . Ii) Hallucinations can be observed early in lewy body demia but observed in Alzheimer's patient after about 4 years. Differences between Alzheimer's and Lewy body demia : in Alzheimer's movement problem is progressive in nature ,it progresses from mild, moderate to severe. While in lewy body the important cause of disability is movement symptoms. 3) phamacological current treatment: Three cholinesterase inhibitors are used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's but from moderate to severe therepeutic option is used. Non phamacological treatment : I) nutritional support , dietary supplement improve patient conditions.eating walnuts,apple etc ii) patient is led towards self sufficient: care provider should be qualified enough to use gradual steps to help patient. Iii) programming activities: reducing active participation of patients to some duties . I'v) environmental manipulation : it a wide approach to the patient and the adaptation of the environment in which they are ,so they feel more comfortable there. Causes of Alzheimer's: it is cause by combination of genetic, environmental factors,lifestyles which affects the brain over a long period of time. Symptoms of Alzheimer's : memory loss, difficulty in thinking and reasoning, declined in judgment and decision making, depression, mood swings, social withdrawal.etc. It's occurs mostly in women. Alluminium do not play a role in developing Alzheimer's.