Alzheimer’s Disease
Nick Beisel
Rebecca Ingold
Liz Conway
Alzheimer’s Introduction
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Form of Dementia
Dr. Alois Alzheimer: discovered
plaques and tangles
Two Types: _______ and Late Onset
Ongoing Research
No Cure
Long-term Care
Risk Factors
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Age: numbers diagnosed ________
every five years after age 65
Family History: Implications for Early
Onset
Risk Factors: Ongoing Research
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Genetic Interaction
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_________________ (ApoE): protein
synthesis
ApoE carries __________ in blood
Only 15% have type that increases risk
Others still undiscovered
Risk Factors: Speculation
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Diet: low _______ levels
Environment
Correlations?
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Heart Disease and Stroke
High BP
High Cholesterol
Previous slides from ADEAR
www.alzheimers.org/pubs/adfact.html
Symptoms: Characteristics
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Precursor
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Mild forgetfulness: “senior moment”
Early Stages:
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Trouble remembering names, events,
important dates, etc.
________________ difficulty
Bothersome but not alarming
Symptoms: Characteristics
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Moderate Stages:
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Interference with simple daily activities,
e.g., brushing teeth
Impaired ____________________
Impaired speech, reading, writing, etc.
Unable to recognize family members
Easily noticed and reported
Symptoms: Characteristics
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Advanced Stages
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Further deterioration of speech, etc.
_________
Restlessness
Mood Swings
_____________
Wandering away from home
Symptoms: Why?
Normal MRI
Alzheimer’s MRI
Images from www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/cases/case3/mr1/040.html
Symptoms: Why?
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Loss of brain volume
Atrophy of various lobes
Asymmetry of ventricles
Atrophy of _____________ and
Amygdala
Treatment of Alzheimer’s
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Is no cure
May be possible to reverse or minimize
symptoms
Types of Treatment
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Medications
Hormonal
Herbal
_____
At Home Techniques
Medications
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Numerous kinds of medications to
relieve symptoms or control behavior
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Tacrine, Donepezil, Galantamine, & Memantine
____________
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Helps with anxiety, sleep and behavior problems
http://www.alzheimers.org/treatment.htm
http://my.webmd.com/hw/alzheimers/hw136880.asp
Hormonal
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HRT can ________ risk of AD
Estrogen
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Increased risk of dementia too
http://www.alzheimers.org/treatment.htm
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/54/61448.htm
Herbs
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Ginko Biloba
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May delay ___________ decay
May have preventive measures
http://www.alzheimers.org/treatment.htm
New Diet Research
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__________ plaque build up causes
oxidation and inflammation kills brain cells
 Diets high in anti-oxidants slow oxidation and
work to prevent inflammation
 Purple fruits and vegetables
 Curcumin (spice) may help prevent memory
loss
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6560710/
At Home Techniques
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Make everything a ________
Walking helps stimulate the brain to talk
Use reminders/ schedules
Recall happy memories (LTM not impaired)
http://www.my.webmd.com/content/article/54/61448.htm
http://www.alzheimersdisease.com/info/answers/alzheimer-treatment-choices.jsp
AD by the numbers:
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There is an estimated 4.5 million
Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s
Disease.
This number has more than doubled since
_____.
www.alz.org
Alzheimer’s Association Poll
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1 in 10 Americans have a family
member who suffers from Alzheimer’s
Disease.
_____ Americans know someone with
the disease.
www.alz.org
Costs of Alzheimer’s Disease
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____ of all nursing home residents
have Alzheimer’s Disease.
Living in a nursing home can range
from $42,000-$70,000 a year.
The average lifetime cost of care is
$174,000.
www.alz.org
Care Giving for someone with
Alzheimer’s
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7 out of 10 Alzheimer’s patients live at
home.
75% of their care is provided by family
and ________.
The remaining 25% is paid care which
can typically cost around $19,000.
www.alz.org
Care Giving
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Most caregivers are _______.
Care giving for Alzheimer’s disease is
physically and mentally demanding
These care givers can suffer from
fatigue, frustration, grief, depression,
etc.
High levels of stress make the care
giver vulnerable to illness.
www.faqs.org/health
Care Giving
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In early stages the patient loses ability
to do minimal tasks such as tying their
shoes and selecting clothing.
Over time the patient will gradually
lose the ability to take care of oneself.
www.ahaf.org
Nutrition
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___________ is also very important. A
patient might forget how to prepare
food or that they are hungry.
The caregiver should make sure the
patient is receiving healthy meals.
www.faqs.org/health
The Safety of the Patient
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Patient will gradually lose the ability to drive
a car, cook, clean, shower, and ultimately
take care of oneself.
Insert _______ devices such as bed rails
and hand rails for the bathrooms.
Adjust electrical appliances
www.ahaf.org
Care for the Care Giver
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_______________ and professional
counseling.
Extremely demanding and frustrating.
Spirituality
www.ahaf.org