Alzheimer’s disease

1. Alzheimer’s disease Cristopher Ramirez Psychology Period 6

2. Definition • A common form of dementia, usually beginning in late middle age, characterize by memory lapses, confusion, emotional instability, and progressive loss of mental ability.

3. Associated features Diagnostic criteria for 294.1x dementia of the Alzheimer's type • The development of multiple cognitive deficits manifested by both • Memory impairment( impaired ability to learn new information or recall previously learned information). • One (or more) of the following cognitive disturbances: • Aphasia (language disturbances) • Apraxia(impaired ability to carry out motor activities despite intact motor function) • Agnosia (failure to recognize or identify objects despite intact sensory function)

4. Associated features d. Disturbance in executive functioning ( i.e., planning, organizing, sequencing, abstracting) B. The cognitive deficits in criteria A1 and A2 each cause significant impairment in social or occupational functioning and represent a significant decline from a previous level of functioning. C. The course is characterizes by gradual onset and continue cognitive decline D. The cognitive deficits in criteria A1 and A2 are not due to any of the following: 1. Other central nerves system conditions that cause progressive deficits in memory and cognition( e.g., subdural hematoma, normal pressure, hydrocephalus and brain tumor)

5. Associated Features 2. systemic conditions that are known to cause dementia (e.g., folic acid deficiency, hypercalcemia, neurosyphilis,) 3. substance induced conditions E. The deficits do not occur exclusively during the course of a delirium. F. The disturbance is not better accounted for by another axis 1 disorder (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia).

6. Associative Feature Behaviors • hallucination, delusion, personality changes, interpersonal relationship, and work ethics. Thoughts and feelings • Depression, and loss of memory Stages Forgetfulness (forgetting names & where one has placed things) Early confusional (getting lost when going to familiar place)

7. Associated Features Late confusional (cannot recall some important features of current life) Middle dementia ( may occasionally forget name of spouse; unaware of surroundings) Late dementia (loss of verbal abilities, needs help in toileting and feeding)

8. Etiology Biological perspective • Neurofibrillary tangles, the cellular material within the cell bodies of neurons becomes replace by densely packed, twisted micro fibrils or tiny strands of proteins. • Amyloid plaques, clusters of dead dying neurons mixed with fragments of protein molecules. Environmental perspective • the American diet or culture have increased the risk of the Japanese American men.

9. Prevalence • Alzheimer’s disease is most commonly found on people from the age 60 yrs & older. • It is estimated that as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer's disease.

10. Treatment • There is no cure for this disease but medication can control it

11. Prognosis • Memory loss, loss of verbal abilities, requires assistance in feeding and forgets how to walk • no chance of improvement because as time passes by the persons ability use cognitive thinking worsens

12. References Halgin,R.P & Whitbourne, S.K.(2005).Abnormal psychology: clinical perspective on psychological disorders. Newyork, NY: Macgraw-Hill. Mayers,D.G.(2011).Myers Psychology for Ap. New York, NY: Worth publisher Health.nytimes.com/health/guide/disease/Alzheimers-disease/overview.html Http://www.dnalc.org/view/2221-dsm-iv-criteria-for -alzheimer-s-disease.html www.alzfdhn.org/aboutalzheimers/statistics.html

13. Discussion Question • Is Alzheimer's Disease the same as down syndrome? if so, What are some similarities?