Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: Week Six
Tonya James
Walden University
Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease: Week 6
In this case study the patient has experienced a steady decline in cognitive functioning over a period of 5 years. His ability make sound decisions, care for himself appropriately, keep himself safe and be a productive citizen were all affected as a result of his decline in cognitive functioning. After being hospitalized for 9 months his functioning had declined to the point where he did not recognize his loved ones, he had no short term memory and was unable to communicate clear and concise and correct thoughts and information.
Confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease can be best described as a progressive disease that causes impairment of memory and disturbs at least one other type of thinking (Granello & Fleming (2008). Granello & Fleming (2008) advises that when diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease consider “diagnosing by exclusion”. There is not one specific test that can be administered for Alzheimer’s like a test for diabetes or HIV. But it’s based on test that rule out other diseases. Diagnosis can be made through the evaluation of several areas of a person’s functioning, an assessment of their mental status and testing to “evaluate language, memory, reasoning, and physical condition” (Granello & Fleming, 2008) can be administered as well. The early warning signs provided a small window into what is to come for these patients, there is short term memory loss, declines of abstract thinking and intellectual function development (Granello & Fleming (2008),). In the final stages patients become very confused and disoriented, their physical health deteriorates and the onset of a number of physical conditions occur that could lead to death (Granello & Fleming (2008).
In this case the patient clearly had impairment in memory that disturbed his ability to function appropriately. As reported he had...