Its onset may occur as early as age forty. First appearing as memory decline (www.ninds.nih.gov. 11). Alzheimer's disease is also twice as common in women than in men (www.ncbi 10). .
Key features of Alzheimer's disease in its early stage or stage I, are forgetting names with mild memory loss and short attention span. Misplacing household items. In the mild stage there are few signs of cognitive or mental problems (www. Stages AD 2).
In the middle, moderate stage or stage II, they have severe impairment of all cognitive functions and gross intellectual impairments. They have complete disorientation to time, place and event. They also have physical .
jr 3 impairment with possible depression and loss of ability to care for one self. Speech and language deficits, along with wondering are also accompanied with this disease (Medical Surgical Nursing 914 8). There is a loss in more than just short-term memory function (www.Stages AD 2). .
In the late or severe stage or stage III, they are completely incapacitated, totally dependent in activities of daily living. Their motor and verbal skills lost with general and focal neurologic deflicits (Medical Surgical Nursing 914 8). The patient gradually becomes more impaired in all of the areas above (www.Stages AD 2). .
This does not mean that the Alzheimer's person necessarily progress from one stage to the next in an orderly fashion. They may by pass a stage or they may exhibit symptoms of one or several stages. Each person is different. The most difficult aspects of Alzheimer's disease that families, significant others, and health care professionals cope with are the behavioral changes that occur in advanced disease. Aggressiveness, especially verbal and physical abusive tendencies with rapid mood swings occur.
