preview

Alzheimer'S Disease: The Biggest Culprit. Alzheimer'S Disease

Decent Essays
Alzheimer 's Disease: The Biggest Culprit Alzheimer 's disease is a progressive deterioration of cognitive function sufficient to cause functional disability (Hannaman, Mitchell, Cross, 2011). It is the most common cause of dementia after age 60 with initial signs reflective of hippocampal dysfunction, with poor immediate recall and short-term memory. "As the disease progresses, visuospatial dysfunction (including with directions and geographic disorientation), due to parietal lobe involvement, and executive dysfunction (including difficulty initiating and completing tasks, reduced spontaneity, and apathy). due to frontal dysfunction typically appear" (Hannaman, Mitchell, Cross, 2011, p. 11-6). Median survival rate is 3 years because of…show more content…
347). Additionally, as the disease progresses, other commonly associated disorders begin to appear called frontal release signs. "Frontal release signs are the reemergence of primitive reflexes (i.e., signs that are normally present in infants, but resurface in adults only as a result of diffuse frontal lobe disease). Release signs include snouting, rooting, sucking, and grasping" (Mangione, 2008, p. 537). Interdisciplinary Team Members and their Roles The interdisciplinary team at the facility consists of the nurse, physician, social worker, speech therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, registered dietician, and unlicensed assistive personnel which are the certified nurse assistants. Each member has their unique supportive role and provide the patient with a different agenda. The nurse advocate the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of the sick, disabled, and dying. They perform services in collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary team. The physician is primarily responsible for the diagnosis of illness and the medical or surgical treatment of that illness. The social worker counsels patients and family members and also informs them of and refers them to various community resources. The speech therapist diagnose and treat swallowing problems in patients who have had a stroke or otherwise are affected by their severity of dementia. The physical therapist helps restore function or to prevent
Get Access