ALZHEIMERS DISEASE:

problems and
decisions
The second course general practice nursing
student (Atanas Grozdev ).
Medical University of Plovdiv Sant Georg,
Bulgaria.

Alzheimers disease
is the most common
form of dementia. It
is a neurological brain
disorder named after
a German physician,
Alois Alzheimer, who
first described it in
1906.
Slide 2

What is Alzheimers Disease?

Alzheimers disease is an irreversible,
progressive brain disease that slowly
destroys memory and thinking skills.
Abnormal changes in the brain worsen over
time.Memory loss is one of the earliest
symptoms, along with a gradual decline of
other intellectual and thinking abilities, called
cognitive functions, and changes in
personality or behavior.

Alzheimer's advances in stages,

progressing from mild forgetfulness
and cognitive impairment to
widespread loss of mental abilities.
The time course of the disease varies
by individual, ranging from five to 20
years. The most common cause of
death is infection.

Who Is Affected by Alzheimers Disease?

35 million people worldwide have
Alzheimers disease.
Alzheimer's is the fifth leading cause of death
in people 65 and older.
Approximately 496,000 people will develop
Alzheimers in 2011.

What Causes Alzheimers Disease?

The causes of Alzheimer's disease are not
yet fully understood, but scientists are
zeroing in on the answers.

Scientists believe that there are several

reasons that lead to Alzheimer's
disease on :
Genetical and biological factors ;
Head trauma ;
Lifestyle factors (dietary habits, high
blood pressure and high cholesterol )
Stress .

The main symptoms of Alzheimer's :

Sleeplessness
Wandering and pacing
Aggression
Agitation
Anger
Depression and hallucinations
Delusions.

In advanced Alzheimer's, people

become dependent on others for every
aspect of their care.

Where are people with AD cared for?

Home
Assisted living facilities (those in
the early stages)
Nursing homes (special care units)

Slide 6

Experts suggest these general coping strategies

for managing difficult behaviors::
Stay calm and be understanding.
Be patient and flexible. Dont argue or try
to convince.
Acknowledge requests and respond to
them.
Try not to take behaviors personally.
Remember: its the disease talking, not
your loved one.