Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a disorder that affects the brain. This happens over a period of time slowly affecting the daily functioning of the affected person (Potashman et al., 2023). The changes that occur during this disease process are that the brain is reduced in size slowly causing brain cells to die in a slow progression (Potashman et al., 2023). Unfortunately, based on data there is no known cause for this disorder (Potashman et al., 2023). However, research study has correlated genetics with environmental factors that could cause this disorder (Potashman et al., 2023).

Alzheimer’s disease begins with short-term memory loss suddenly forgetting recent events or conversations, as the years pass this condition gets worse (Huang et al., 2023). As this condition worsens it becomes very challenging for older adults to function or complete simple tasks such as getting dressed or brushing their teeth (Potashman et al., 2023).

However, there are medications that will slow down the process of this disorder and by this, the symptoms are also slowed down (Huang et al., 2023).

In addition to medications, there are many other ways to promote health, and well-being, and improve quality of life. For instance, patients should place meds in secure locations and arrange medications in pill separators that will keep an accurate count of what is scheduled to take (Home & Community Based Care – Aging Resources, n.d.). Also reducing mirrors in the home and having the patient wear a medical alert bracelet since images in mirrors can cause greater confusion in Alzheimer’s patients (Huang et al., 2023).

In our community in central Florida, there are many community services that can provide help to the elderly. Organizations such as elder options which provide services like Home delivery meals or personal care services such as bathing and getting dressed (Home & Community Based Care – Aging Resources, n.d.). Furthermore, the Lake County Health Department also provides many resources of volunteer groups that help the elderly in Daily activities (Leesburg Health Center, n.d.)

 

 

References

Home & community based care – aging resources. (n.d.). https://agingresources.org/services/care-at-home/

Huang, J., Song, Z., Wei, B., Li, Q., Lin, P., Li, H., & Dong, K. (2023). Immunological evaluation of patients with alzheimer's disease based on mitogen-stimulated cytokine productions and mitochondrial dna indicators. BMC Psychiatry, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04634-x

Leesburg health center. (n.d.). https://lake.floridahealth.gov/locations/leesburg.html

Potashman, M., Pang, M., Tahir, M., Shahraz, S., Dichter, S., Perneczky, R., & Nolte, S. (2023). Psychometric properties of the alzheimer’s disease cooperative study – activities of daily living for mild cognitive impairment (adcs-mci-adl) scale: A post hoc analysis of the adcs adc-008 trial. BMC Geriatrics, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03527-0