Peer Responses:
Length: A minimum of 275 words per post, not including references
Citations: At least one high-level scholarly reference in APA per post from within the last 5 years
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a common disease among the elderly population, and it can be stressful and emotionally draining both for the patient and their families. Currently, Alzheimer’s disease has no cure; hence, the point of difference is brought about by the support that individuals receive from those close to them. According to research, the most affected parts of the brain control language, memory, and thought, affecting an individual’s ability to undertake daily activities (Schachter & Davis, 2022).
1. Depression Screen
As a PCP, I will assess the patient’s well-being since this will assist in detecting any form of depression or mood alteration. These changes are likely to cause a loss of interest in various things, memory problems, and other symptoms that could resemble dementia (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020).
2. Medical History
I will examine the patient’s medical history, including behavioral and cognitive changes and psychiatry. I intend to know more about the patient’s past and present medical concerns, including any medication she may be taking. Also, I will assess the patient’s family history, specifically on whether any member had dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020).
3. Physical Exams and Diagnostic Tests
I will inquire about the patient’s diet and previous medication, check her vitals and collect blood and urine samples for further tests. The results from the lab will assist in identifying underlying factors that can lead to dementia (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020).
4. Neurological Exam
The neurological examination will include evaluating the patient for various problems that may lead to brain disorders excluding Alzheimer’s. Some of the signals that will be assessed include signs of stroke, brain tumors or other conditions that may lead to memory loss (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020).
5. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Tests
I will conduct a lumbar puncture to determine whether there have been any changes in the CFS. During the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, changes in CFS may be noted (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020).
6. Congnitive, Functional and Behavioral Tests (MoCA test, Memory Test)
I will assess the patient’s cognitive function, language, judgement and attention. I will incorporate the MoCA test to identify whether the patient has a mild cognitive impairment (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020).
7. Blood Tests (BD-Tau, Beta-amyloid)
I will conduct a blood test on the patient to assess for any changes in blood levels. Through the blood tests, an avenue to interpret and understand the progression of Alzheimer’s, if any, will be created based on the tau and beta-amyloid markers (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020).
8. Computerized Cognitive Tests and Devices
Computerized cognitive tests and devices will measure the patient’s performance on various functional or cognitive tasks (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020).
9. Brain Imaging
An MRI and CT scan will be used to assess whether the patient exhibits abnormal levels of beta-amyloid, a component of Alzheimer’s. If the levels are normal, this would suggest that the patient’s dementia is not caused by Alzheimer’s (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020).
Differential Diagnoses
Dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease
Depression
Initial Treatment Plan
While treating Alzheimer’s disease, several medicines may be prescribed aimed at assisting the patient in improving the symptoms temporarily. Acetylcholinesterase (AChe) inhibitors are medicines used to supplement the levels of acetylcholine in the brain. Donepezil falls under AChe inhibitors, usually prescribed to patients whose Alzheimer’s disease is in its early to mid stages (Marucci et al., 2021).
Alzheimer’s disease has no cure; therefore, healthcare practitioners must design and implement strategies to improve the overall well-being of the patient. Ideally, through conducting various tests and the use of AChe inhibitors on a patient with early-to-mid Alzheimer’s disease, their condition can be improved despite the side effects that they may face while taking the medication.
References
Alzheimer’s Association. (2020). Medical tests. Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/diagnosis/medical_tests#depression\
Marucci, G., Buccioni, M., Dal Ben, D., Lambertucci, C., Volpini, R., & Amenta, F. (2021). Efficacy of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuropharmacology, 190, 108352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108352.
Schachter, A. S., & Davis, K. L. (2022). Alzheimer’s disease. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2000.2.2/asschachter
Peer Responses: Length: A minimum of 275 words per post, not including reference
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