 A progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brains nerve cells, or neurons resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills and behavioral changes.  This disease affects 26.6 people around the world right now and is only getting worse.  Starts affecting most individuals at age 65 and older.

 Anne Stone the author of “Sources of Uncertainty: Experiences of Alzheimer’s Disease” said “The world’s population aged 65 and older is growing at an unprecedented rate of 800,000 people per month”  People are living longer, Alzheimer’s is becoming more prevalent in today’s society.

 Howard Chertkow author of “Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia: Introduction” discussed the improvements made in Alzheimer’s and Dementia research.  “Memantine has been introduced in Canada. This antagonist to glutamate receptors (foundation for memory) has a small beneficial effect in cases of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease but it has not been shown effective in the mild stages.

 If you know about Alzheimer’s now it allows a person to detect early signs of this disease  Allows an individual or loved one to start dealing with this disease instead of having to learn about it first.  Plays such a significantly big role in today’s society, it could affect your life one day.

 Head coach of Tennessee for thirty-eight years and is only fifty nine years old.  In August she was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s and Dementia Disease.  Started the Pat Summitt Foundation for Alzheimer’s patients and families.  Still maintains a independent & successful lifestyle

 The number of people suffering from this disease is set to increase to about 1 in every 85 people by the year 2050 (Stone 2009).  Participants  Uncertainty was found in 3 significant areas › Medical, Personal and Social

 Medical Uncertainty › Related to lack of knowledge about the disease  Personal Uncertainty › Related to the care givers feelings  Social Uncertainty › Related to the perception of one’s peers

 What is dementia? › Denegerative brain condition that affects the nerve cells  Memantine › Drug used in Canada  Vitamin E › Idea has been disregarded

 Knowledge of Memory Aging Questionnaire (KMAQ)  Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Test (ADK)  Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA)  100 participants › 70 undergrad students (53 females, 17 males) › 30 mental health professionals (11 females, 19 males)

 Mental health professionals had a higher level of knowledge of memory aging issues and AD than the students  Both groups showed significant improvement in response accuracy  College students endorsed more ageist attitudes than the mental health professionals

 Gather information  Accurate knowledge  Avoids ageist stereotypes  Helps best serve elderly clients  Promotes educational programs

 To investigate personality traits in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, compared with mentally healthy control subjects  54 patients with mild AD  64 healthy control subjects

 A Structured Interview describing their personality traits › Neuroticism › Extraversion › Openness › Agreeableness › Conscientiousness

 Personality change is a consistent aspect of Alzheimer’s disease but no particular personality  Vulnerable to stress, more dependent, hopeless, reserved, somewhat gregarious and compulsive  An early detection of dementia  Strategies for delaying the occurrence of symptoms of Alzheimer’

 Participants located in Glassboro, NJ  Friends, family & classmates  Called and met with friends  15 friends outside of Rowan  20 Students in classrooms at Rowan  No specific criterion  Anyone we handed the survey to was eligible

 Freshman dorms at Rowan University › Chestnut Hall › Willow Hall › Magnolia Hall › Mimosa Hall  Memorial Hall  Science Bldg  Family Party  Edgewood Park Apartments

 Creating our survey › Making it as easy as possible › Truthful and helpful answers  Pilot Testing › Took under 10 minutes › Easy to understand › Got the results we wanted › Perfect!

 # of people who knew someone with this disease › Amount that knew someone: 40% of the participants › Amount that did not: 55% of the participants

 At what age does Alzheimer’s Disease usually begin to affect a person? › › › › 60+  What sex is most affected by this disease? › Male › Female

 Less than 50% knew the right answers to each question on our survey.  Overall, the local community of Glassboro is not aware of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.

 Overall Awareness › Not many people are informed  Limitations › Biased  105 surveys  Not indicative of all Gloucester County  Participants › 18 or older › Did not have of be students of Rowan University

 Results › Somewhat Predictable › Surprising  Quite Frankly › What was expected › What was unexpected  If we were to conduct again › Not much › A bit more information  Conclusion

 Jackson, E., Cherry, K., Smitherman, E., & Hawley, K., (2008, March). Knowledge of Memory and Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease in College Students and Mental Health Professionals. Aging and mental Health  Pocnet, C., Rossier, J., Antonietti, J., Gunten, A., (2007 July). Personality Changes in Patients with Beginning Alzheimer Disease. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry  Certkow, H., (2008 January 29). Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia: Introduction. Canadian Medical Association Journal  Stone. Anne., Jones, C., (2009). Sources of Uncertainty: Experiences of Alzheimer’s Disease. Issues in Mental Health Nursing