Study paper on Alzheimer’s disease

Answer

Alzheimer’s Disease Management

Pathophysiology and Treatment and Management in Florida

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. The disease leads to slow but irreversible cognitive function and memory loss (Leilani & Hodges, 2016). Alzheimer’s disease is categorized under two pathological hallmarks as intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular beta-amyloid deposits. These two pathophysiological manifestations cause loss of neurons and synapses that make the brain areas affected to undergo gross atrophy commencing from the mesial temporal lobe.

The pharmacological treatments of Alzheimer’s disease available in Florida include cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne). However, these drugs lose their effect as the disease progresses. For people between 60 and 75 years with healthy cognitive ability, prevention treatment can be carried out using CNP 520 inhibitor of beta-secretase, CAD 106 anti-amyloidβ immune-therapy. For adults between 55-85 years suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s disease can be administered with N-methyl D-aspartate antagonist, bryostatin-1, and T3D-959 therapeutics among others. According to Leilani & Hodges (2016), these pharmacological treatments affect disease management especially because doctors commence with low dosages and increase the levels gradually depending on the tolerance level of the patient. For instance, although some people benefit from higher cholinesterase inhibitors, their side effects are highly intense.

Clinical guidelines for Assessment, Diagnosis, and Patient Education

According to Leilani & Hodges (2016), assessment and diagnostic testing for Alzheimer’s like other dementia conditions requires a comprehensive medical evaluation comprising of examination of mental status, psychological or psychiatric exam, a neurological exam, a medical test, and surgical and medical history of the patient as well as direct family members like siblings or parents. Some of the contents of assessment are the current changes in functioning ability, the successive symptom occurrence and their timing, and the history of the patient including their surgical and medical treatments, direct relatives, abuses/uses of drugs, neglect, and the history of their employment, education and social lifestyles. Other assessments include required physical and specialty medical exams, psychosocial assessments, blood and urine tests, brain CT and MRI scans, and medicine lists.

Patient education for Alzheimer’s disease patients should include how to cope with dementia which overwhelms the person and their families. Leilani & Hodges (2016) states that one of the areas of education is the importance of regular check-ups, proper medication administration, healthy diet, regular exercise, avoidance of risky activities, and getting sufficient quality sleep. Patients should also be connected to social workers, counselors, and support groups within their livelihoods where they can relieve their depression, loneliness, anger, frustration, and anxiety feelings. Also, patients should be educated on what to expect in the future and make arrangements for requisite assistance when the time comes (Kamoga et al., 2019). This also includes establishing the healthcare proxy status and power of attorney before then divulge into a health and financial crisis.

Effects of the Disease on Patients, families, and Populations in Communities

Alzheimer’s disease creates difficult experiences among the patients, their families, and populations. According to Grabher (2018), patients feel a sense of loss whenever their memory fails. This creates despair and frustration. Patients are also frustrated when they experience oppressive behaviors during moderate dementia and end up harming themselves or their caregivers. Families with patients suffering from the condition may not understand the best care to offer their loved ones. Other than handling the other daily activities, families and friends have to spend extensive hours caring for their loved ones. This creates an emotional and physical burden which can lead to emotional distress, social distancing, and physical illnesses (Grabher, 2018). Therefore, the role becomes harder as the disease progresses. Friends also help families take care of themselves and their loved ones with memory loss. Communities can set up support centers where patients are taken care of when their family caregivers attend to other duties to facilitate a balanced life. This makes families and other caregivers within the population second invisible patients that have to bear the ripple effect of the disease. Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is also very costly to patients and their families. Being a long-term condition, if not well managed, the disease can drain the personal and family financial accounts in search of treatment and management therapies (Grabher, 2018).

Strategies for Alzheimer’s Disease management

One of the strategies that can be effectively applied in the management of the disease in the local hospital is through motor and exercise rehabilitation. Regular moderate-intensity physical exercise has been established to improve cognitive ability and physical health, reduce the risk of depression and frailty, and narrow the risk of suffering Alzheimer’s disease (Zucchella et al., 2018). The hospital can document the physical exercise patients that confirm the positive reduction of psychological and behavioral symptoms and enhance daily life performance.

The other effective strategy is the cognitive intervention. According to Zucchella et al. (2018), this intervention is highly recommended as a robust complement or alternative to pharmacological treatment. The strategy employs a wide range of activities to enhance the overall social and cognitive functioning of the patient. The focus on language, executive functions, memory, and attention maintains or improves the neurodegenerative disease as long as it is used. The patients and families enjoy a better life through a compensative or restorative approach.

The other strategy is the pharmacological approach. In this strategy, medications are administered depending on the level of Alzheimer’s disease. Patients endure a life-long of taking medicine either voluntarily or forced depending on their degenerative behavior. The medications are not curative but are useful in managing the symptoms as they occur (Zucchella et al., 2018).