After asking the family to describe M.E.'s behavior, you determine that she is in stage 2 of
Alzheimer's three stages. Describe common signs and symptoms for each stage of the disease.
What will be an ideal response?
• Stage 1: Early (mild): First symptoms up to 4 years
Early AD is marked by mild cognitive decline. Friends, family members, or co-workers begin to
notice problems with memory and judgment, as well as subtle personality changes. There might
be performance issues in work or social settings, and one might seem subdued and withdrawn in
social or mentally challenging situations. One might misplace valuable objects or have difficulty
planning, organizing, or concentrating. One might have the inability to perform complex tasks such
as managing finances or grocery shopping, and exhibit knowledge deficits about personal history.
These changes might be measurable during clinical testing or discernible during a detailed medical
interview.
• Stage 2: Middle (moderate): 2 to 3 years
Moderate AD is marked by major gaps in memory and cognitive deficits. One retains information
about self and names of spouse and children but is disoriented to place and time (day, week,
and season). Speech and language deficits are more obvious; one might be less talkative, have
decreased use of vocabulary, be increasingly nonfluent, and eventually aphasic. One requires help
with activities of daily living (ADLs) and experiences bowel and bladder incontinence. One might
experience paranoia, agitation, and insomnia, often having auditory and visual hallucinations that
result in behavioral problems. One tends to wander and become lost.
• Stage 3: Late (severe)
Severe AD, the final stage, is when an individual loses the ability to respond to his or her
environment and speak. One might still respond to his or her own name but lose facial recognition,
even of familiar faces. One requires help with eating and ambulating. Eventually, one loses the ability
to sit without support, smile, and hold up the head. Ultimately, one's reflexes become abnormal,
muscles grow rigid, and swallowing is impaired.
You might also like to view...
A nursing instructor presents a case study in which a three-year-old child is in constant motion and is unable to sit still during story time. She asks a student to evaluate this child's behavior
Which student response indicates an appropriate evaluation of the situation? 1. "This child's behavior must be evaluated according to developmental norms." 2. "This child has symptoms of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder." 3. "This child has symptoms of the early stages of autistic disorder." 4. "This child's behavior indicates possible symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder."
A nurse is providing education to the parents of a child with enuresis. The nurse is discussing the elimination of foods and beverages that are known irritants to the bladder
Which of the following should the nurse encourage the family to consider limiting? Select all that apply. a. milk and cheese c. oranges and grapefruits b. colas and teas d. grains
Which of the following statements made by the nurse reflects the best understanding of the ef-fect of dry skin on a client's general health and well-being?
1. "When her skin is cracked, she is so much more uncomfortable." 2. "Keeping the skin moist is so much easier than making the skin moist." 3. "She is such a proud lady; dry, cracked skin makes her feel unattractive." 4. "If I can keep her skin moisturized, it will be less likely to crack and bleed."
A psychiatric–mental health nurse is working with a client who is being treated for depression. Which statement by the client would indicate that her spirituality is intact?
A) "My church friends came to visit me this past Sunday afternoon." B) "Nothing will ever be the same again; my life is not worth living." C) "I know I am as well off as I can be under the circumstances." D) "I know God must be punishing me for all my sins."