1. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE BY: Rachel Sue Miller BY: Rachel Sue Miller Language, Health, and Aging Language, Health, and Aging Spring 2006 Spring 2006 (Berk 2003) (Berk 2003)

2. What is ALZHEIMER’S????  Alzheimer’s is the most common form or dementia in which the structural and chemical brain deterioration is associated with gradual loss of many aspects of thought and behavior.  So what is dementia? Dementia refers to a set of disorders occurring almost entirely in which many aspects of thought and behavior are so impaired that everyday activities are disrupted.

3. SYMPTOMS SYMPTOMS  Memory problems: forgetting names, date, appointments, routes, or the need to turn off the stove.  Recent memory impairs first  Personality changes occur  Anxiety, mental problems, aggressiveness, withdrawls

4. STATS STATS  8-10 percent of people over the age of 65 have the disorder  Those over 80, close to 50 percent are affected. (Heinz & Blass, 2002)  In the US-63,000 deaths involve Alzheimer’s (Wilkins 2000)

5. Brain Deterioration Brain Deterioration  Neurofibrillary tangles appear-twisted threads that are the product of collapsed neural structures.  Amyloid plaques-dense deposits of deteriorated protein called amyloid, surrounded by clumps of dead nerve cells.

6. TYPES TYPES  Familial-runs in family *early onset *rapidly progresses *linked to chromos 1, 14, and 21  Sporadic-no family history *Chromo 19 *caused by toxins, viruses, defected blood, head injury

7. Protection Protection  Vitamins C and E  Anti Inflammatory drugs  Ibuprofen  Steroid prednisone  Education and active lifestyle

8. CAREGIVERS CAREGIVERS  Antidepressants and mild sedatives  Family interventions  Devoting more time to the patients  Community agencies  Avoid dramatic changes and offering a comfortable lifestyle.

9. WHY I CHOSE ALZHEIMER’S WHY I CHOSE ALZHEIMER’S  I have chosen this disease primarily because I work with these types of patients. I work at a nursing home everyday. As a caregiver I experience first hand how to deal with these patients. It is very sad to see someone wander around and not know what is going on. I always wonder what these people were like before the disease took over their brain. It is also very hard to communicate with these patients.

10. GERTONTOLOGY GERTONTOLOGY  Alzheimer’s is a sad disease. I have learned a little more about it. It is hard to communicate with these types of patients. This class has really opened my eyes to the languages the elderly speak. I work with it everyday and after taking this class I have really listened to what the residents say and the meanings behind their phrases.