Causes of Alzheimers Disease (AD)

Alzheimer’s Disease - Definition: A disabling degenerative disease of the nervous system characterized by dementia and failure of memory for recent events, followed by total incapacitation and eventually death.

Incidence: Most common cause of elderly dementia, accounting
for about half of all dementias.

Onset:The disease process starts long before symptoms start
to develop. The early-onset form of AD may begin as early as
40 years of age and the late-onset form typically begins after
age 60. Life expectancy after development of symptoms ranges
from 8–10 years.

Etiology: Unknown.

Clinical Findings:
Stage I: Loss of recent memory, easily irritated, loss of interest in life, and decline of abstract thinking and problem-solving ability.

Stage II: (Most common stage when disease is diagnosed) profound memory deficits, inability to concentrate or manage business or personal affairs.

Stage III: Aphasia, inability to recognize or use objects, involuntary emotional outbursts, and incontinence.

Stage IV: Pts become nonverbal and completely withdrawn. Loss of appetite leads to a state of emaciation. All body functions cease and death quickly ensues.

Nursing Focus
■ Monitor vital signs and LOC and implement collaborative care as ordered.
■ Keep requests simple and avoid confrontation.
■ Maintain a consistent environment and frequently reorient the Pt.

Patient Teaching
■ Provide Pt and family with literature on AD.
■ Advise family that, as AD progresses, so does the need for
supervision of ADLs such as cooking and bathing.
■ Advise family to lock windows and doors to prevent
wandering.
■ Explain that Pt should wear an ID bracelet in case he or she
becomes lost.
■ Explain the actions, dosages, side effects, and adverse
reactions of meds.