1. Explain the etiology, incidence and pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease.

  2. Describe collaborative management of the client with Alzheimer's disease.

STUDY QUESTIONS BELOW TO ACCOMPANY TEXTBOOK READINGS : IGNATAVICIUS, WORKMAN & MISHLER, PP. 1044-1053.
      Also do netsearch or see site: www.alzheimers.com/
 

 1. List the changes that occur in the brain and the functions affected by those changes in the client with Alzheimer's disease.
 
 

2. Which of the following statments is correct regarding Alzheimer's disease?
 
     a. There is an inherited predisposition to the disease.
     b. Alzheimer's occurs most often between ages 40 and 65.
     c. It is the leading cause of death in the elderly.
     d. There is a higher incidence in men than in women.
 
3. List the subjective client data relevant to Alzheimer's disease.
 
 

4. List rationales for including the family in the history-taking process for the client with Alzheimer's disease.
 

5. List the objective client data relevant to Alzheimer's disease.
 
 

6. Among the first signs that the client with Alzheimer's disease manifests is:
 
     a. Disorientation to time, place, and person.
     b. Hesitant speech and severe memory loss.
     c. Forgetfulness, memory disturbance.
     d. Ritualistic, repetitive behavior and paranoia.
 
 7. The laboratory test that is commonly performed and that definitively confirms the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is:

    a. a brain biopsy.
    b. a brain scan.
    c. Positron emission tomography.
    d. None of the above.
 
 
 
 

8. Interventions to assist the client who has Alzheimer's disease with the nursing diagnosis of altered thought process include:

    a. rearranging the furniture periodically for distraction.
    b. establishing and following a daily routine consistently.
    c. posting a monthly calendar with the family's activities.
    d. discouraging any reminiscing, as it is disorienting.
 
9. Drug therapy for the client with Alzheimer's disease includes all of the following EXCEPT:
 
     a. Antidepressants.
     b. Antipsychotics.
     c. Antihistamines.
     d. Barbiturates.
 
10. Interventions for the family of a client with Alzheimer's disease include:
 
      a. advising them to seek legal counsel regarding the client's competency.
      b. referring them to a local Alzheimer's support group for networking.
      c. encouraging them to arrange for regular respite care of their stricken family members.
      d. all of the above actions, since they are all importane in helping families to cope.
 
 11. When instructing the family of a client with Alzheimer's disease about home care, the nurse includes information about:
 
       a. considering the need for long-term care in a nursing home.
       b. maintenance of a safe home environment.
       c. arranging for a durable power of attorney to help manage the client's financial affairs.
       d. all of the above.
 
 
 
 
STUDY QUESTION ANSWERS
 
1. Neurofibrillary tangles, senile(neuritic) plaques, neurotransmitter changes ; learning, reasoning, memory storage and recall, language abilities.
2. a
3. memory changes; increasing forgetfulness; ability to fulfill household duties; changes noted in ability to drive, handling routine financial affairs, and language and comunication skills; personality or behavior changes; social isolation, loss of interest in hobbies or current events, irritability, anxiety, suspiciousness, paranoia, hallucinations, delusions
4. 1. client may be unaware of any problems 2. client may deny that problems exist 3. client may try to cover up problems
5. Review stages of Alzheimer's  Chart 44-12, page 1046.
6. c          7. d            8. b          9. d          10. d           11. d