ALZHEIMER’S

DISEASE AND
DEMENTIA
AYANDA GABELA 22141433
 DEMENTIA
• Dementia is an acquired decline in intellectual function resulting in loss of social independence
• Dementia affects 5–20% of persons over age 65, and, although not part of normal aging, its
incidence increases with age.
• Not curable
• HIV
• Etiology
• Multiple diseases >> onset
• Degradation/degeneration
• infections, like Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome
• External factors
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cerebrovascular diseases
 Clinical Evaluation differential diagnosis
*to determine if the person has dementia

*should emphasize common potentially treatable disorders that

may cause or exacerbate cognitive impairment

The onset can progress over months or years

 ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Introduction
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive mental deterioration than is most common in middle to old-age individuals
due to degeneration of brain tissue.
This disease was founded by Dr Alois Alzheimer in a 54 year old women who had presented with progressive
dementia. During the discovery, accumulation of senile plaques and tangles were found on the women’s
postmortem examination.

Clinical presentation
Shuffling steps, flexed posture, difficulty turning, and a tendency to fall backward
Later stage
Pharmacology
 Pathophysiology
*Neuritic plaques is amyloid β-peptide (Aβ)
*APP interacts with extracellular matrix and supports the growth of neurites in neuronal cultures
 Diagnosis
*Neurologic evaluation
*Brain scan
*Laboratory tests
*Psychiatric evaluation