Alzheimer's By Emily Toro Period 1

What is Alzheimer’s? Alzheimer’s is a psychological disorder that causes problems with the memory, thinking, and behavior. Alzheimer’s is a dementia type of disorder What is dementia? De- “Away from” Mens- “Mind” Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning - Thinking, remembering, and reasoning

Alois Alzheimer’s Alois Alzheimer was a psychiatrist and neuropathologist who reported Alzheimer’s disease as he noticed changes in the brain tissue of a woman who had died of poor memory and mental illness After an autopsy he found changes in the brain tissue, abnormal amyloid plaques, tangled bundles of fibers

Associated Features Alzheimer’s include Memory loss Mood changes: Confusion about events, time, and place, depression, hallucinations Difficulty remembering Memory loss Familiar objects, family members, loss of language, hard time performing movement Swallowing

DSM-IV-TR DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for 294.1x Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type   A. The development of multiple cognitive deficits manifested by both   (1) memory impairment (impaired ability to learn new information or to recall previously learned information)   (2) one (or more) of the following cognitive disturbances:     (a) aphasia (language disturbance)     (b) apraxia (impaired ability to carry out motor activities despite intact motor function)     (c) agnosia (failure to recognize or identify objects despite intact sensory function)     (d) disturbance in executive functioning (i.e., planning, organizing, sequencing, abstracting) B. The cognitive deficits in Criteria A1 and A2 each cause significant impairment in social or occupational functioning and represent a significant decline from a previous level of functioning. C. The course is characterized by gradual onset and continuing cognitive decline.

D. The cognitive deficits in Criteria A1 and A2 are not due to any of the following:   (1) other central nervous system conditions that cause progressive deficits in memory and cognition (e.g., cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, subdural hematoma, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, brain tumor)  (3) substance-induced conditions   (2) systemic conditions that are known to cause dementia (e.g., hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, niacin deficiency, hypercalcemia, neurosyphilis, HIV infection) F. The disturbance is not better accounted for by another Axis I disorder (e.g., Major Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia). Code based on presence or absence of a clinically significant behavioral disturbance:   294.10 Without Behavioral Disturbance: if the cognitive disturbance is not accompanied by any clinically significant behavioral disturbance.   294.11 With Behavioral Disturbance: if the cognitive disturbance is accompanied by a clinically significant behavioral disturbance (e.g., wandering, agitation). Specify subtype:   With Early Onset: if onset is at age 65 years or below   With Late Onset: if onset is after age 65 years

Stages of Alzheimer’s Forgetfulness -forgetting names and where things are Early confusional -lost at a familiar place, not being able to concentrate hard time comprehending things Late confusional -forgetting personal history Early dementia problems recalling important features in life Middle Dementia -Unaware of surrounding Late Dementia -No ability to talk or to control things

Diagnosis Autopsy Is the only way that doctors can definitely diagnosed a person that has Alzheimer’s Making an examination in the brain tissue Brain Scanning CAT and MRI scans

Mini- Mental Examinations -Questions to assess orientation -Assessment of memory of new information -Attention and calculation -Memory recall -Language -Copy design -Assessment of level of consciousness

Etiology The Causes of Alzheimer’s Scientist’s don’t yet know what are the causes of Alzheimer’s but they base their theories on include genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors Ex. -Genetics- -Family history -head injuries

Build up of Proteins in the brain Scientists are still studying how plaques and tangles connect with Alzheimer’s Plaques – deposits of the protein beta amyloid that accumulate in the spaces between nerve cells Tangles– deposits of the protein tau that accumulate inside of nerve cells they block nerve cells’ ability to communicate with each other, making it difficult for the cells to survive.

Prevalence More than 5 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s About 13% of people older than 65 have dementia Prevalence rises to 50% with people who are over 85 The average life expectancy of people with Alzheimer’s is 8 to 10 years after the symptoms Down Syndrome- 100%

Treatment There are no cure for this disease but medications do exist to help control the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) Donepezil Hydrochloride (Aricept) Both medications help slow the breakdown of acetylcholine Side Effects: Produce toxic effects on the liver, and gastrointestinal side effects

Prognosis People with Alzheimer’s would end up not remembering their family members at all as much as they try to stop it. People with Alzheimer’s disease may need someone to take care of all their needs such feeding, bathing, etc. home or in a nursing home. - 44% caregivers are spouses Depression -Family There is no recovery or cure

References Halguin, R.P. &Whitbourne, S.K. (2005). Abnormal psychology clinical perspectives on psychological disorders. New York, NY: McGrawhill Myers, D.G. (2011). Myers’ psychology for AP. New York, NY: Worth Publishers Howard C. (n.d). Alzheimer’s Disease. Retrieved from http:// www.medicinenet.com/alzheimers_disease_causes_stages_and_sy mptoms/article.htm

Discussion Question If someone in your family had Alzheimer's before would you choose to be tested for the Alzheimer’s gene or would you prefer not to know? Why or why not?