EDWARD'S LECTURE NOTES:
More notes at http://tanguay.info/learntracker
C O U R S E
Care of Elders with Alzheimer's Disease
Nancy Hodgson, PhD, RN, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
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C O U R S E L E C T U R E Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Notes taken on October 19, 2013 by Edward Tanguay |
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dementia
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hallmark symptoms once it reaches a certain point
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memory impairment
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loss of ability to find words (aphasia)
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changes in emotion (apathy and lack of interest in things)
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loss of ability to interpret sensory information
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challenges providing an accurate diagnosis
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these influences can mimic dementia symptoms and need to be ruled out:
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Drugs
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Emotion
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Metabolic
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Endocrine
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Nutrition
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Trauma
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Infection
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Alcoholism
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very difficult and complex to diagnose
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an age-related disease
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25% of 80 year olds
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33% of 85 year olds
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50% of 90 year olds
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Alzeihmer's disease is the most common type of dementia
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Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915)
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German psychiatrist, neuropathologist
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colleague of Emil Kraepelin, founder of modern scientific psychiatry
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from Bavaria
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medical degree at Würzburg University in 1886
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1907: "a peculiar disease" in patient Auguste (woman)
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close relationship with her
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studied her brain after she died
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a role model clinician scientist for many
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1987: first clinical trial
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first drug tested to treat Alzheimer's symptom
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three stages
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1. pre-clinical diagnosis
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the disease is taking place but the person is not presenting with symptoms
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the earlier you diagnose it, the better it can be slowed down
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2. mild cognitive impairment (MCI) tue to Alzheimer's Disease
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3. dementia due to Alzheimer's Disease