ALZHIEMERS DISEASE…
“A journey of caring”
ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
•
ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IS THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF
DEMENTIA IN ELDERLY
•
ALZHEIMER’S IS PREDICTED TO AFFECT 1 IN 85 PEOPLE GLOBALLY
BY 2050
AD EXERTS A HEAVY EMOTIONAL TOLL ON FAMILY MEMBERS
•
RISK FACTORS
• OLD AGE
• APPRX. 10% OF ALL PERSONS AGE >70
HAVE SIGNIFICANT MEMORY LOSS,IN
WHICH MORE THAN HALF OF THE CASES
IS DUE TO ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
RISK FACTORS contd..
• POSITIVE FAMILY
HISTORY
• PAST HISTORY OF
HEAD TRAUMA
POTENTIAL RISK FACTORS
SMOKING
HYPERTENSION LESS EXCERCISE
LESS VEGTABLE & FRUITS IN DIET
CAUSES
• SCIENTISTS DON’T
YET FULLY
UNDERSTAND WHAT
CAUSES AD, BUT IT
IS CLEAR THAT IT
DEVELOPS BECAUSE
OF A COMPLEX
SERIES OF EVENTS
THAT TAKE PLACE IN
THE BRAIN OVER A
LONG PERIOD OF
TIME.
CAUSES CONT..
GENETIC FACTORS
LIFESTYLE FACTORS
•
•
•
•
ENVIROMENTAL
FACTORS
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
•
FORGETFULNESS
• SLOWLY IT BEGINS TO INTERFERE WITH DAILY
ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DRIVING,HOUSE
KEEPING,KEEPING TRACK OF FINANCES ETC.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS contd..
• IN EARLY STAGE,MEMORY LOSS MAY GO UNNOTICED.IT
MAY BE ASCRIBED TO BENIGN FORGETFULNESS
• PATIENT MAY BECOME LOST ON WALKS OR WHILE
DRIVING
• HELP IS NEEDED
WITH EATING,
DRESSING,
TOILETING ETC.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS contd..
• IN LATER STAGES OF AD PATIENT MAY BECOME
RIGID,MUTE,INCONTINENT AND BEDRIDDEN
• SOCIAL GRACES,ROUTINE BEHAVIOUR,SUPERFICIAL
CONVERSATION MAY BE SURPRISINGLY INTACT IN EARLY
STAGE
WHEN TO GET HELP ?
• INCREASE IN FREQUENCY OF MEMRY LOSS
• DIFFICULTY IN SIMPLE CALCULATION,CLOCK READING ETC
WHEN TO GET HELP?
•
•
•
TROUBLE PERFORMING LEARNED SIMPLE SKILLS LIKE
DRESSING,EATING WALKING ETC
SLEEP-WAKE PATTERN DISORIENTED,NIGHT TIME WANDERING
SIMPLE DELUSIONS LIKE THE THEMES OF
THEFT,INFIDELITY,MISIDENTIFICATION
TREATMENT
•
•
•
ALTHOUGH THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO CURE
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, RESEARCHERS ARE MAKING
ENCOURAGING ADVANCES IN ALZHEIMER'S TREATMENT,
INCLUDING MEDICATIONS AND NON-DRUG APPROACHES TO
IMPROVE SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT.
PROPER CARE AND SUPPORT IS REQUIRED FROM FAMILY
ALTHOUGH MEDICATIONS CANNOT CURE OR STOP THE
PROGRESS OF AD,IT CAN DELAY THE PROGRESS.
ROLE OF FAMILY
•
FAMILY MEMBERS SHOULD EMPHASIZE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE
PLEASANT & CURTAIL THOSE THAT ARE UNPLEASANT
•
KITCHEN,BATHROOM,BEDROOM & STAIRWAY NEED TO BE MADE
SAFE.EVENTUALLY PATIENT SHOULD STOP DRIVING
ROLE OF FAMILY
•
•
•
•
COMMUNICATION AND REPEATED CALM REASSURANCE ARE
NECESSARY
APPOINT A CARE GIVER IF NECESSARY
USE OF ADULT DAY CARE CENTRE MAY BE USEFUL
KEEP TAB ON THE MEDICTION
WHAT NOT TO DO?
•
•
PRACTISING SKILL THAT HAVE BECOME DIFFICULT SUCH AS
THROUGH MEMORY GAMES AND PUZZLES WILL OFTEN FRUSTATE
AND DEPRESS THE PATIENT WITH OUT PROVEN BENEFIT
LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE AND CHANGE OF ENVIROMENT MAY
WORSEN CONFUSION AND MAY AGITATE AND ANGER THE
PATIENT
“WORLD ALZHEIMERS DAY”
ANY QUESTIONS???