Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slowly progressive disease of the brain that is characterized by impairment of memory and eventually by disturbances in reasoning, planning, language, and perception. Many scientists believe that Alzheimer's disease results from an increase in the production or accumulation of a specific protein (beta-amyloid protein) in the brain that leads to nerve cell death.
The likelihood of having Alzheimer's disease increases substantially after the age of 70 and may affect around 50% of persons over the age of 85. Nonetheless, Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging and is not something that inevitably happens in later life. For example, many people live to over 100 years of age and never develop Alzheimer's disease.
Common Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include:
- Impaired memory and thinking, ie patients with Alzheimer's disease difficulty remembering new information. At the final stage of the disease, long-term memory disappears, and people with Alzheimer's disease can not remember personal information, such as date of birth, occupation, or the names of close family members.
- Confusion. Patients with Alzheimer's disease can get lost when out alone and sometimes can not remember where he was or how he could get there.
- Misplacing things, such as glasses, keys, wallet, etc.
- Abstract thinking. Patients with Alzheimer's disease feel duties of his office or study more difficult to do than usual.
- Difficulty doing daily habits, such as eating, bathing, dressing, etc.
- Changes in personality and behavior of people with Alzheimer's disease. Become irritable, agitated, or be quiet. Sometimes, become confused, paranoid, or fear.
- Poor judgment, such as leaving the house on a cold night without a jacket or shoes, or can go to the store wearing a nightgown.
- The inability of Alzheimer's disease patients to follow the instructions.
- Problems with language and communication, such as can not remember the words, name objects, or understand the meaning of common words.
- Worsening of visual and spatial abilities, such as assessing the shape and size of an object.
- Loss of motivation or initiative.
- Loss of normal sleep patterns.
On the other conditions such as depression, head injury, an imbalance of certain chemicals or vitamins, or the effects of some drugs can produce symptoms similar to Alzheimer's disease. Consult your doctor if these symptoms appear. Most of these conditions can be cured.
Cases of Alzheimer's disease varies greatly from patient. Alzheimer's disease can be a short duration (2-3 years) or long (up to 20 years). Usually the parts of the brain that control memory and impaired thinking first, but over time, the cells will die in other parts of the brain. Which will eventually lead to loss of brain function and death.
Because the exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is not known, then there is nothing that can be done for prevention. But there are some things that are believed to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease such as a healthy diet, exercising, quitting smoking, and not drinking alcohol.
4 Nursing Diagnosis for Alzheimer's Disease
- Disturbed Thought Processes - Scribd related to :
- Irreversible neuronal degeneration
- Memory Loss
- Psychological Conflict
- Sleep deprivation
- Disturbed Sensory Perception related to :
- Changes in perception, transmission and / or sensory integration
- Limitations related to the social environment
- Disturbed Sleep pattern related to :
- Changes in sensory
- Psychological pressure
- Changes in activity patterns
- Risk for Injury related to :
- The inability to recognize / identify hazards in the environment
- Disorientation, confusion, impaired decision making
- Weakness, the muscles are not coordinated, the presence of seizure activity.
Nursing Diagnosis Alzheimer's Disease