Is It Normal Aging

or
Dementia
or
Is It Alzheimer’s Disease?
Dementia Facts
• It's estimated 46.8 million people worldwide are
living with dementia in 2015.
• There are over 9.9 million new cases of dementia
each year, implying one new case every 3.2 seconds.
• 58% of people with dementia live in low and middle
income countries, but by 2050 this will rise to 68%.
• In the Caribbean region, it is estimated that 8.1% of
persons aged 60 and over have dementia. 

Source: Alzheimer’s Association

Alzheimer’s and Dementia
• One can have Alzheimer’s Disease and not be
demented….yet
• Dementia is not a disease
• Dementia is, but a non-specific syndrome (i.e., set of
signs and symptoms).
The Diagnosis of Dementia
• Memory impairment:
• Inability to learn new information
• Memory abilities that decline from a prior
baseline
• Education, high intelligence, cultural factors,

Source: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. DSM-IV

The Diagnosis of Dementia

• At least one of the following deficits

• Language difficulties (aphasia)
• Difficulty with common tasks (apraxia)
• Unable to identify common objects (agnosia)
• Disturbance in executive functioning
• Planning, judgment, decision making

Source: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. DSM-IV

 The Diagnosis of Dementia
• It is progressive
• Cognitive problems sufficient to impair a person’s ability to keep a job,
live independently or represents a significant decline from previous
level of functioning

Source: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. DSM-IV

Diagnosis of Dementia: Testing
• History that is consistent
• Physical exam that rules out significant neurologic or other disease
(CT, MRI, Lab tests)
• Evaluation of mental status
• Mini-mental status exam(30 pt screening test)
• Clock drawing test, current events, serial 7’s
• Formal neuropsychologic testing
• The diagnosis is correctly made 85-90% of the time:
• Sometimes serial testing is required
10 Warning Signs of Dementia

• Memory changes that disrupt daily life

• Challenges in planning or solving problems
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks
• Confusion with time or place
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial
relationships

Source: The Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org

10 Warning Signs of Dementia
• New problems with words in speaking/writing
• Misplacing things and losing ability to retrace steps
• Decreased or poor judgment
• Withdrawal from work or social activities
• Changes in mood and personality

Source: The Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org

• CAUSES OF DEMENTIA
OVERVIEW
Functional areas of the human brain
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
CLINICAL MANFESTATIONS
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
COMPLICATIONS
DIAGNOSTIC EVLAUATION
DIAGNOSTIC EVLAUATION
MANAGEME
NT
MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT
NURSING MANAGEMENT-ASSESSMENT
NURSING DIAGNOSIS
DESIRED OUTCOMES
NURSING INTERVENTIONS
NURSING INTERVENTIONS
PATIENT TEACHING
TEACHING FAMILY MEMBERS
PROGRESSIVE DETERIORATION
INVOLVES
PROGRESSIVE DETERIORATION
INVOLVES
Information Put Together by Reynel Dan, Professional Nurse
Published in: Health & Medicine
Mar 28, 2011