Alzheimer's Disease and the Family What Is Alzheimer’s Disease? Prepared by: Dr. Jan Park Gerontology Specialist Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service April 10, 2002

Alzheimer's Disease “It is the worst form of all diseases, not just for what it does to the victim, but for its devastating effect on family and friends”, by Lewis Thomas, M.D., Chancellor of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

What is Alzheimer's Disease?

What Alzheimer’s Disease IS NOT:  Normal aging  Mental retardation  Mental laziness  Vitamin deficiency  Brought on by stress, grief, neglect or family problems  Emotional illness  Lack of blood or oxygen to the brain  Preventable or curable

What is the Cause of Alzheimer's Disease? Unknown

What are Risk Factors?  Age  Female sex  Heredity  Head Injury

What Are the Warning Signs?  Memory loss  Lack of judgment  Inability to do familiar tasks  Difficulty finding the right words  Changes in personality  Changes in behavior, mood and concentration

What Are the Warning Signs?  Disorientation to time and place  Poor judgment  Misplacing possessions  Loss of motivation  Difficulty learning new information

How Does Alzheimer's Disease Type of Dementia Progress?

Stage I  Develop symptoms  Less initiative  Tired  Unwilling to try anything new

Stage I  Give up favorite activities  Unable to learn new skills or information  Maintains a “social façade”  Spouse and family cover make excuses for changed behavior

Stage II  Diagnosis  Symptoms of stage 1 more pronounced  Requires supervision  Requires repetition and reassurance  Family becomes isolated  Person becomes “someone else”

Stage III  Terminal stage  Body weak  Incontinence sets in  Needs total help with personal care  Unable to communicate  Cannot recognize loved ones  Bedridden  Nursing home care

Why is a Diagnosis Important?  Complete physical examination  Neurological examination  Psychiatric evaluation  Discovery reversible conditions

What are the Benefits of an Evaluation of the Patient?

What an Evaluation can Determine:  Determine nature of illness.  Whether the condition is reversible.  Extent of the disability.  Identify functions still in tact.

What an Evaluation can Determine:  Determine if other health problems exist that affect mind.  Determine the social and psychological needs.  Identify resources for patient and caregivers.  Identify changes expected in the future.

What Should a Thorough Medical and Neurological Evaluation Include?  Social support  Current abilities  Medical History  Mental Status exam  Tests to rule out other health problems that cause dementia  Neurological examinations status of nerve and cell function  Laboratory tests

What Should a Thorough Medical and Neurological Evaluation Include?  Lumbar puncture  EEG  CT Scan  MRI  PET Scan  Occupational therapy evaluation  Neuro-psychological test

What Kind of Physician?

What is the Social Cost of Alzheimer's Disease?