Alzheimer’s presentation: clinical manifestations, stages of Alzheimer’s and Prognosis (1524-1525)

Clinical manifestations of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) can be categorized similarly with dementia as being mild, moderate and late.

Manifestations of AD

Memory loss that can affect activities of daily living. Patients with AD may have difficulty paying attention or concentrating Patients with AD may have behavioral changes like agitation, aggression or personality changes. Patients may also experience difficulty with finding the “right” word and have poor judgment. Some patients may also have psychotic symptoms.

With progression the symptoms of AD may get worse to where the patient might have like dysphasia (difficulty comprehending language) or visual agnosia when the patient is unable to recognize objects by looking.

There are seven stages of Alzheimer’s

Stage 1= No impairment in this stages. The patient still has normal functions. Stage 2= Very mild cognitive decline. The decline may seem like a normal age related change. Stage 3= Mild cognitive decline. The early stages of Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed in some

patients but not in all. Some symptoms are misplacing things and forgetting. Stage 4= Moderate decline. In this stage the patient has mild to early stage of AD. The patient

may experience symptoms like forgetfulness. Stage 5= Moderately severe cognitive decline. This is the moderate to mid stage AD. In this stage

patient may experience symptoms like memory gaps, increased confusion, forgetting their name or number.

Stage 6= Severe cognitive decline. Patient has moderately severe or mid stage AD. In this stage the patient experiences symptoms like personality changes and difficulty remembering own name.

Stage 7= Very severe cognitive decline. This stage is severe or late AD. In this late stage the patient may not be able to respond to their environment, keeping a conversation or needing assistant with daily activities like eating and toileting.

Prognosis:

As of now, there is no cure Alzheimer’s disease. There are no treatments or drugs available that are able to stop the brain cells from deteriorating. There are some medications that can help with slowing down the disease and controlling some symptoms but nothing reversible.

Work citied

Lewis, S. L., Dirksen, S. R., Heitkemper, M. M., Bucher, L., et al, L., & Camera, I. M. C. (2011). Medical-surgical nursing, assessment and management of clinical problems. (8th ed. ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby.

Reisberg, B. (n.d.). Seven stages of alzheimer's. Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_stages_of_alzheimers.asp