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What is Alzheimers disease
By Jane Keightley of giggleberries
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible degenerative brain disease and although first discovered by Dr Alois Alzheimer in 1907, there is still no cure or preventative treatment. It is the most common form of dementia, striking approximately 10% of the population over age 65 and nearly 50% of those 85 years or older. (American statistics taken from Flagler 1994). The average life expectancy of an person with Alzheimer’s is roughly five to 10 years but the rate of progression may vary depending upon the patients personality prior to the onset of the illness.
The disease is initially noticed through subtle changes in a person’s ability to remember things and then eventually further cognitive functions are affected. Eventually the individual will be dependant on others for all their care and daily needs. Patients with Alzheimer’s disease can be catgorized in various was depending upon their level of senility but the purpose of this report a simple three stage category based on the theory of Coste (2003) will be used. The stages defined below show the shifting emphasis that a patient will require as the disease progresses. Early stage
One of the first signs a patient detects is the loss of short term memory, forgetting events, information or appointments. Loosing track of time, acting accusatory or paranoid and misunderstanding what it being said often occurs early on. Determined walking or wandering in a less directed mode is also characteristic or the disease, which seems to relieve stress, however due to diminished cognitive abilities the patient can get lost. Probably the most disturbing symptom for the patient is their inability to recognise once familiar faces. As this stage progresses they will become frustrated or angry and loose the ability to sequence tasks and words. At this stage the patient’s capacity of perceiving the environment and remembering objects remains relatively unchanged Middle stage
As the disease progresses skills such as fastening a button, reading text and recognizing objects will diminish. The patient will be repetitious in speech and actions and possibly have delusions and hallucinations. Continuous pacing or violence is a way of communicating, possible the desire to go home, or express boredom. A change in visual perception takes place during this stage as well as frequent emotional changes such as acting catastrophically to minor events. The ability to walk is still present but it is more of a shuffle. As this stage progresses, the patient will become incontinent and be mostly unintelligible. Late stage
In the final stages of the disease a total loss of language and mobility occurs, along with difficulty with feeding and swallowing and inability to recognize or separate sounds. During the first two stages the patient’s long term memory often remains in varying degrees and there is a difficulty in separating the past from the present. Stimulation of past pleasant memories is often a way in which carers can alleviate suffers frustration; this can be done through using fragrances, sounds or visual stimuli as it is believed that the sensory ability is in tact for the early and early-middle stages. As yet there is little known about the sensory ability in the later stages. Researchers such as Brenda Sibley believe that stimulating the senses can help to reduce the speed at which the patient will progress through stages, this is because the long strings of brain cells normally used are shortened in dementia suffers as individual cells die, these can be ‘re-linked’ by using multi-sensory therapy. Flagler et al regard sensory activity as a key to good health stating that ‘Activity levels, socialization patterns or morale can be directly associated with sensory deprivation, depression and diminished ability to perform.’ The needs of suffers change as they progress through the stages of the disease,. During the early stages the need to hold on to independence is important and keeping mentally stimulated through activities such as gardening will help to overcome anxiety and stress. Physical activity is also important to help improve moods and general health. Often depression will play a role in the patients functioning which may be caused by a lack of social functioning.
During the mid stages an emphasis more on sensory stimulation rather than physical should be addressed. Fragrances or sounds which stimulate past memories will help the sufferer to remember happier times.
For the late stage of the disease a pleasant environment with noise and visual stimulation will help the patient to become calm.
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This intel was contributed by Jimbob
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May, 2012
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