Republic of the Philippines CAMARINES SUR POLYTECHNIC COLLEGES Nabua, Camarines Sur COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE (MILD)

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: Increase age Genetic factors

PREDISPOSING CAUSES: Increase hemocysteine level Inflammation Stroke Oxidative damage from radicals

ORGANS AFFECTED: Disruption in three neuronal processes: Communication Metabolism Repair Plaque develops in the hippocampus Tau changed chemically, becomes tangled and degenerate Gross brain changes such as leptomeninges, shrunken gyri, widened sulci, enlarged ventricles, hippocampal shrinkage, and generalized atrophy and neurotransmitter changes In mild AD, the cerebral cortex begins to shrink

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Memory disturbance Poor judgment and problem-solving skills Becomes careless in work habits and household chores Confusion of place and time

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Routine activities takes longer Lacks the ability to adapt to new challenges Irritable, suspicious, or indifferent Agitation, apathy, dysphoria, and aberrant motor behavior