1. By: Brandon Daniels Psychology Per.3
Alzheimer’s Disease
By: Brandon Daniels
Psychology
Per.3

2. WHAT IS IT?
(also known as Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type) is an unfortunate misnomer, as it implies that aging process involves an inevitable loss of cognitive functions.

3. Alois Alzheimer
He was a German psychiatrist and Neuropathologist who reported this psychological disorder in

4. Associated Features Subtypes With delirium With delusions
With depressed mood
Uncomplicated (for cases in which none of these other characteristics apply)

5. Associated Features
People with this disorder develop multiple cognitive deficits manifested by memory impairment, and at least one of the following cognitive disturbances:
Language disturbance
Impaired ability to carry out motor activities
Failure to recognize or identify objects
Disturbance in executive functioning, such as planning, organizing, or abstracting

6. Associated Features
The stages associated with Alzheimer’s Disease are:
Forgetfulness
Early confusional
Late confusional
Early dementia
Middle dementia
Late dementia

7. Associated Features DSM-IV-TR Criteria
The development of multiple cognitive deficits manifested by both
Memory impairment(impaired ability to learn new information or to recall previously learned information)
One(or more)of the following cognitive disturbances:
Aphasia (language disturbance)
Apraxia (impaired ability to carry out motor activities despite intact motor function)
Agnosia (failure to recognize or identify objects despite intact sensory function)
Disturbance in executive functioning (i.e., planning, organizing, sequencing, abstracting)

8. DSM-IV-TR(continued)
B. The cognitive deficits in the criteria A1 and A2 each cause significant impairment in social or occupational functioning and represent a significant decline from a previous level of functioning.
C. The course is characterized by gradual onset and continuing cognitive decline.
D. The cognitive deficits in criteria A1 and A2 are not due to any of the following:
Other central nervous system conditions that cause progressive deficits in memory and cognition
Systemic conditions that are known to cause dementia
Substance-induced conditions

9. DSM-IV-TR(continued)
E. The deficits do not occur exclusively during the course of a delirium. F. The disturbance is not better accounted for by another Axis I disorder.

10. Etiology
Scientists believe that for most people, Alzheimer’s Disease results from a combination of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect the brain overtime.
The brain will lose many fewer cells and many fewer connections among surviving cells than does a healthy brain, and it can lead to brain damage.

11. Prevalence
One out of eight people over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s Disease.
One out of every two people over the age of 85 has Alzheimer’s.
The probability of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s nearly doubles every five years after age 65.

12. Treatment
Alzheimer’s therapy involves a number of different treatments that address each of these problems. They are therapies like:
Hormone replacement therapies
Sensory therapies
Alternative therapies
Also there are medications that people with Alzheimer’s disease can use.
Donepezil(Aricept)
Rivastigmine(Exelon) and (Razadyne)
Memantine(Namenda)
These are used to treat mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s.

13. Prognosis
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, and the average life expectancy for someone with Alzheimer’s is 8 to 10 years after the onset of symptoms.

14. References
Halgin, R.P. & Whitbourne, S.K. (2005). Abnormal psychology: clinical perspectives on psychological disorders. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.
WebMD. Treatment & care. Retrieved from
Alzheimer’s Association. What is Alzheimer’s?. Retrieved from
Mayo Clinic Staff. (Jan. 18, 2011). Causes. Retrieved from disease/DS00161/DSECTION=causes
Carrie Hill. C. (Nov.9, 2010). What causes Alzheimer’s Disease?. Retrieved from

15. Discussion Question
How could Alzheimer’s Disease be related to classical conditioning?

16. END OF MY PRESENTATION