Alzheimer's disease is a chronic degenerative mental disorder that typically presents after 65 years of age; however, there is a rare familial early-onset form of the disease that strikes as early as 40 years of age. Alzheimer's is a form of dementia that has long-term cognitive and psychiatric aspects. The disease has 7 stages and can progress very rapidly with late stage effects reached within 3 to 4 years of diagnosis or a person's condition can deteriorate over a 20 year span.
Depression
Depression is a manifestation of Alzheimer's disease that presents at any stage of the disease process and is characterized by irritability, withdrawal, apathy and isolation. Symptoms of depression worsen over time and thoughts of suicide are common. Symptoms of depression can be minimized with medication therapy at any stage of the disease process.
Alterations in Thought Processes
One of the long-term effects of Alzheimer's disease includes the impairment of the patient's attention span, concentration, recall and judgment. The Alzheimer's Association reports these symptoms become apparent around stage 3 or stage 4 of Alzheimer's disease. Carrying out complex tasks such as paying bills, organizing daily activities like making dinner and planning to engage in social activities becomes extremely difficult and stressful to the affected individual.
The 5 "A" of Alzheimer's
According to Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS RN, and M. Linda Workman, Ph.D, authors of the 2006 edition of "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care", there are five classic symptoms of Alzheimer's that progress in severity as the disease progresses. The Alzheimer patient experiences amnesia or memory loss. Initial memory loss involves difficulty recalling the names of things and misplacing objects. The long term effect is that the Alzheimer patient cannot remember recent events or activities, recall of personal history becomes impaired and she will forget the names of friends and family.
The Alzheimer patient loses the ability to correctly name objects or anomia and the ability to identify objects and how to use them correctly or apraxia. She becomes unable to recognize familiar objects and her sensations such as taste and sound will become altered. This characteristic of Alzheimer's disease is called agnosia. The inability to express herself through speech, called aphasia, will further her feelings of anxiety and isolation.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations, which include hearing or seeing things that are not there, are late stage symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Patients who experience hallucinations may at times become hostile and aggressive. The long-term effect of this characteristic becomes the need for continual monitoring of behavior, therapy with anti-psychotic medications and protection from environmental hazards in the form of locked doors to prevent wandering and gates to prevent access to stairs.
Inability for Self-Care
Another long-term effect of Alzheimer's disease includes the inability to care for one's self. The Alzheimer's patient loses the ability to perform hygiene care, toileting, feeding and dressing. In the final stages of the diseases, she becomes unable to walk or sit independently. She requires total care. Alzheimer's places a huge emotional, physical and financial burden on family and friends. Most people in the late stages of Alzheimer's require placement in adult daycare facilities or permanent placement in Alzheimer care institutions.
References
- Alzheimer's Association: "Stages of Alzheimer's"
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care"; Donna D. Ignatavicius MS RN, & M. Linda Workman Ph.D; 2006
- National Institute on Aging: "Alzheimer's Information: Symptoms"
- Alzheimer's Foundation of American: "About Alzheimer's: Symptoms"
