Interview with and Research on an Alzheimer’s Disease Patient

I chose to reference my fathers aunt, who is 85 years old and suffers from Alzheimers disorder. The reason I chose to interview her is be dumbfound she is at Stage 6 of the distemper, which means she is at the mid to tough level. At this stage, she is manifesting well-nigh on the whole the symptoms of the disorder moreover is hushed verb completelyy active. Alzheimers Disease is a progressive, disabling degenerative disease which has no cure. There are however, drugs such as tacrine and donepezil that can slow real symptoms of Alzheimers.However, our patient has non received any treatment for the disease as she does non believe in drugs and does not realize that she is suffering from anything early(a) then old age. Alzheimers Disease 4 Interview with and interrogation on an Alzheimers Disease enduring The Interview Our patient is an 85 year old Caucasian female, residing in Ontario, Canada. She currently lives with her daughter. Her husband passed extraneous about 10 y ears ago. She has a college education and was erst an mere(a) school teacher. She suffers from stage 6 Alzheimers Disease, which means she has lost almost alone her cognitive abilities, but still is somewhat verbal.She shuffled into the room with the economic aid of my aunt, whom she resides with. As she entered the room, I caught her eye and she gave me a friendly smile, but appearinged no sign of recognition. After she comfortable seated herself across from me, I started inquire her moves. When asked about her name, she smiled excitedly, almost like a little girl, and answered Agnes. Agnes is her correct name, so she does remember certain things about herself. I went to ask her about her age. She looked at me with a puzzled look on her face and said, Do I know you?.I told her who I was, but she still did not seem to show any sign of recognition. I enquired about her age again. She ignored my question completely and said, My dad must be getting very unhinged about me, I sho uld get home. I informed her that she was home, with her daughter. Her face took on a distressed expression and she starting insisting on career her dad, who passed away about twenty years ago. I try to change the subject and asked her about her gender, to find out if she remembered that piece of education about herself.She giggled in a childlike manner and stated, Im a girl, silly . When asked about what she does, she said she goes to high school, and wants to stimulate a teacher some day. The patient seemed to have lost almost all her short term memory and had regressed to her teenage days, a symptom usually associated with Alzheimers Disease. Surprisingly enough, Agnes remembered her birthday, and that her favorite person in the world was her Alzheimers Disease 5 mother. She could not recognize the very commonplace items in my hand, however, a paper and pen. She then went about asking me for a brownie.When I answered that I hadnt any, she accused me of lying to her. I inform ed her once more than that I hadnt any brownies, but I would be more than happy to get her some, if she so desired. At this point, the patients face went completely blank and she began staring into space and stopped respond any questions. . Judging from this short interview, it is evident that the patients cognitive abilities are severely impaired and she needs constant care and supervision. overdue to the fact that Alzheimers is a progressively degenerative disease, her condition is exclusively bound to worsen.There are plans for hiring an in-home caretaker for the patient in the in effect(p) future. Definition of Alzheimers Disease Alzheimers disease is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain, with unknown causes and cure. It is characterized and associated with clumps of neorofibrils and microscopic brain lesions, disorientation, confusion, memory difference, speech disturbances and eventual passing play of all mental capacity. Patient suffers from firing of menta l function. Origin The disease was first discovered by accident in the year 1906 by a German physician called Dr. Alois Alzheimer.When she passed away, an autopsy it was discovered that there were large(p) deposits called neuritic plaques around her nerve cells and neurofibrillary tangles inside the cells. Theories Regarding Alzheimers Disease There is more than one theory attempting to explain the causes of Alzheimers disease, although the exact cause is still undecided. Among the existing theories are age, family history and genetics, head injuries and heart disease. Alzheimers Disease 6 Pathology of Alzheimers Disease Clearly visible in AD brains are amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.The disease comes from severe atrophy of certain regions in the brain, including the temporal lobe and parietal lobe. Levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine are reduced, along with the levels of seratonin, somatostatin and norepinephrine. There is a loss of neurons and interfrence wi th neuronal processes in the cerebrl cortex and other regions within the brain. Signs and symptoms of Alzheimers Disease As observed during the interview and research process, our patient suffers from advanced stage symptoms of Alzheimers disease.Signs and symptoms of Alzheimers disease, which may manifest themselves as early as in an individuals 40s or 50s, include but are not limited to the following Forgetfulness to the extent of interference with normal anyday functions. afflicted speech. Difficulty reading and writing. Anxiety and agression. Recollection of very old events, and forgetting fresh ones. Loss of control over urinary and bowel moevements. Eventually, complete loss of cognitive abilities and verbal speech. A return to an earlier stage in life. ComplicationsThe patient often opens the front door and walks out, stating that she is going home to her father, which puts her at great risk for an injury or becoming lost outdoors. On certain days, she becomes aggressive an d refuses to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. This causes hygeinic complications because she is not in control of her bowel Alzheimers Disease 7 movements. Patient wears adult diapers and often suffers from diaper rash. Patient does not recognise family or caretakers, including the daughter she lives with and often becomes aggressive with them.Prognosis Eventually, patient will lose all congnitive and verbal ability. In-home care will be needed in the near future as it is becoming more difficult for her family to provide her with prim care. The patient is having more and more trouble moving around. Evetually she will become completely bedridden and may in the future suffer from cerebrate complications like bedsores, etc. Loss of cognitive abilities will also cause the patient to suffer from malnutrition, for she is slowly forgetting how to chew, suck, etc.Therefore, she will probably need to be ply through a nasogastric tube. ADLS Patient cannot function through every day li fe without extensive assistance. She attempts to but cannot groom herself. She has lost all control over her urinary and bowel movement, and neglects her hygeine. The patient needs to be bathed by another person every day. Her skin is thin and translucent, but that is commonly associated with old age. She has trouble feeding herself and needs to be fed by another person she often forgets how to chew or swallow.