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PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease include lifestyle factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and poorly controlled diabetes. While age is the biggest non-modifiable risk factor, with most cases affecting those over 65, sex also impacts risk with women being more likely to develop the disease than men. The disease is caused by the accumulation of defective tau protein and beta-amyloid in the brain, which leads to neuronal death and symptoms like memory loss, mood changes, and difficulty performing tasks. Currently, there is no cure, but some drugs may help slow the progression for a while.

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883 views

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

Modifiable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease include lifestyle factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and poorly controlled diabetes. While age is the biggest non-modifiable risk factor, with most cases affecting those over 65, sex also impacts risk with women being more likely to develop the disease than men. The disease is caused by the accumulation of defective tau protein and beta-amyloid in the brain, which leads to neuronal death and symptoms like memory loss, mood changes, and difficulty performing tasks. Currently, there is no cure, but some drugs may help slow the progression for a while.

Uploaded by

likeblack001
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modifiabl Non-

e: Modifiable:

Lifestyle Age
The same factors that put Alzheimer's usually
you at risk of heart disease affects people older than
may also increase the 65, but can, rarely,
likelihood that you'll affect those younger
develop Alzheimer's
than 40. Less than 5
disease. Examples include:
percent of people
between 65 and 74 have
 High blood Alzheimer's. For people
pressure 85 and older, that
number jumps to nearly
 High cholesterol 50 percent.

 Poorly controlled
diabetes
Heredity
And keeping your body fit
isn't your only concern —
you've got to exercise your
mind as well. Some studies Sex
have suggested that
Women are more likely than
remaining mentally active
throughout your life, men are to develop the disease,
especially in your later in part because they live longer.
years, reduces the risk of

Accumulation of defective
tau protein and A-beta

Neurofibrillary tangles and and senile


neuritic plaques

Neuronal death

Decrease APP(amyloid precursor protein) ( decrease regulator of synapse


formation)

Decrease Acetylcholine (memory processing)


S/S:

Memory loss
Repeat things
Often forget conversations or appointments
 Routinely misplace things, often putting them in
illogical locations
 Eventually forget the names of family members
and everyday objects
Difficulty finding the right word
Disorientation
Loss of judgment
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
Personality changes
People with Alzheimer's may exhibit:
 Mood swings
 Distrust in others
 Increased stubbornness
 Social withdrawal
 Depression
 Anxiety

Problems with abstract thinking


People with Alzheimer's may initially have
trouble balancing their checkbook, a problem hallucinati
that progresses to trouble recognizing and on
dealing with numbers.
There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but there are
medicines that may slow it down for a while and make it
easier to live with. Drugs that may be prescribed include:
psychosis
Acetylcholinesterase  Pneumonia. Difficulty swallowing food
Inhibitors and liquids may cause people with
Alzheimer's to inhale (aspirate) some of
what they eat and drink into their airways
• Donepezil and lungs, which can lead to pneumonia.
o 5 mg once daily, can increase to 10 mg
 Infections. Urinary incontinence may
daily after 4-6 wk
require the placement of a urinary
• Treated:tartrate
Rivastigmine catheter, which increases the risk of
Un treated
urinary tract infections. Untreated urinary
o Pill: 1.5 mg bid initially, then titrate by
tract infections can lead to more-serious,
1.5 mg bid every 2 wk up to 12 mg daily life-threatening infections.
o Patch: 4.6 and 9.5 mg patch size daily
• Galantamine*
 Injuries from falls. People with
Alzheimer's may become disoriented,
o 4 mg bid initially, then titrate by 4 mg bid increasing their risk of falls. Falls can lead
every 4 wk up to 24 mg daily to fractures. In addition, falls are a
common cause of serious head injuries,
• Galantamine ER

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