Case Study – Alzheimer’s Disease
Case Study – Alzheimer’s Disease essay assignment
Case Study – Alzheimer’s Disease essay assignment
1. Explain the risk factors, symptoms, etiology, progression, diagnosis, treatment and
prognosis.
2. Demonstrate the ability to access and critically evaluate information from a wide variety of sources (such as Library databases and internet sources).
Read the case presentation and answer the questions that follow: The Case Study
Rubric will be used to assess your work. The Case Study rubric lists the criteria for each question (required resources, word counts and citation requirements).
Get solution to your nursing paper : Case Study – Alzheimer’s Disease
Case Presentation
A 83 year old woman, Mary, was brought for neurological evaluation by her brother because of a 3 year history of memory impairment. She completed high school and worked in a clerical position until her retirement in 2005. She had lived alone and maintained her own home and financial affairs since the death of her husband in 2010. She did not have any children. The brother had begun to notice gradually worsening memory impairment and difficulty finding words, but the patient became angry at the suggestion that she may have memory loss. Other friends and family members noted a decline in socializing and in her housekeeping. Her brother is concerned that she has dementia.
Mary’s speech had a tendency to use vague references such as “things” and “stuff”. She was able to provide her name, but when asked about her current age she said, “I don’t know…about 12 I think”. She was unable to give the year of her birth, the current year, or the name of the current U.S. President. On formal testing, General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG) and Mini-Cog, she scored well below average in all cognitive domains.
The physician explained to Mary’s brother that all patients suspected of Alzheimer’s should have computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed to rule out any other conditions. The results of Mary’s CT and MRI showed generalized and focal atrophy of the brain, specifically in the hippocampus. There were several white matter lesions, which was likely amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The physician determined that Mary met the criteria for probable Alzheimer’s disease and would be required complete supervision around the clock to insure her safety. The physician prescribed donepezil (Aricept).
Photo: Alzheimer’s patients exhibit accelerated neurodegeneration, shown by open spaces (dark areas) in MRI images.
Butch, R. (n.d.). [Alzheimer’s Diases]. Retrieved July 8, 2018, from
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/research/advancements-in-research/fundamentals/in-depth/we-need-to-talk-about-alzheimersdisease
Questions
1. Define the bold words.
2. Describe the cause of Alzheimer’s Disease.
3. Other neurological conditions must be ruled out when patients show signs of
dementia. Parkinson’s disease is another condition that can have memory impairment.
Compare the etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for Parkinson’s
disease to Alzheimer’s.
4. Mary’s brother needs to be educated on the treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Explain the treatment using terms that Mary’s brother can understand. At minimum this should include any at-home-care, over the counter medications, prescriptions, alternative or complementary care. In addition, investigate any recent findings in Alzheimer’s research within the last two years. It can be new finding/evidence on how it is caused, diagnosed, prevented or treatment.
5. Explain the prognosis of the disease to Mary’s brother.