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Abstract
Alzheimers disease is a debilitating progressive neurodegenerative condition that causes a decline in cognitive skills. While the condition is not yet fully understood, scientists believe that it is caused by age-related neurological changes and genetic factors. Its symptoms include the impairment of memory, learning, social, and motion skills, and changes in behavior and personality. Although the typical patient is over 65, an early-onset variation accounts for 5% of the cases. Alzheimers disease is the cause of the majority of dementia cases, afflicting tens of millions of patients. Its global prevalence and costs vary between regions and increase rapidly. Recent research focuses on such areas as regional epidemiological variation, the influence of other diseases, and the efficacy of different management options. In the absence of a cure, nursing interventions offer a way to manage the diseases symptoms and improve patients quality of life.
Scope of the Problem
Alzheimers disease is a serious international health problem resulting in high social and financial costs. Approximately 46.8 million people worldwide live with dementia (Sahyouni et al., 2016, p. xxii). In somewhere between 50 and 70% of those cases, the cause of dementia is Alzheimers disease (Sahyouni et al., 2016, p. 86). Current estimates state that over 30 million people suffer from this condition (Sahyouni et al., 2016, p. 106). Projections suggest that the incidence of dementia patients will double every two decades from now, with a proportionate increase in the prevalence of Alzheimers disease (Klimova et al., 2018). In addition to its debilitating effects on the patients, the condition also represents an economic, psychological, and social burden on their support networks, including family and friends (Sahyouni et al., 2016). As of 2015, the average annual treatment costs per person range from $872 in South Asia to $56,218 in North America (Sahyouni et al., 2016, p. 106). The financial costs of dementia in the same year may come up to $818 billion (Sahyouni et al., 2016, p. 106). Those costs will continue to climb until a cure becomes available.
Research Studies
Research into Alzheimers disease continues, touching such areas as its etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, and promising courses of treatment. Prince and others employed a statistical analysis of existing literature to assess the prevalence of dementia in various regions (as cited in Sahyouni et al., 2016). According to their findings, the global age-standardized rate of dementia ranges between 5 and 7% (as cited in Sahyouni et al., 2016, p. 107). Prevalence is notably higher in Latin America and lowers in sub-Saharan Africa. Liu et al. (2019) have examined the effects of comprehensive nursing on Alzheimers patients. Their results show that this systemic intervention can lead to notable improvements in cognitive function and the quality of life. Klimova et al. (2018) conducted a systematic review of several research studies into the coincidence of diabetes mellitus and Alzheimers disease. This review demonstrated a clear link between the two conditions and diabetes role as a risk factor for Alzheimers disease. Similar pathophysiological mechanisms were identified for both diseases, including insulin deficiency. Such research may prove useful for ongoing efforts to identify a more effective treatment course for Alzheimers disease.
Nursing Interventions
Nursing interventions are among the most impactful ways to manage Alzheimers disease in the absence of a cure. As shown by the abovementioned research, comprehensive nursing constitutes a particularly effective response (Liu et al., 2019). It combines psychological interventions based on family therapy, life care, safety care, and rehabilitation training. Life and safety care interventions entail putting patients in quiet, safe, stress-free environments and providing them with a specialized diet tailored to avoid high blood pressure and hyperlipidemia. Daily activities and supportive interactions with family members were arranged to encourage cognitive stimulation and psychological reinforcement. Music therapy presents another simple and non-invasive nursing intervention. Exposure to music matching the patients tastes and preferences has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression while also offering cognitive stimulation through memory encoding and recall (Sahyouni et al., 2016). Although such interventions cannot entirely remove Alzheimers disease, they can control its effects and appreciably improve the patients wellbeing.
Conclusion
Alzheimers disease is a neurodegenerative condition causing the steady deterioration of a persons cognitive function. It appears to be caused by age-related changes in the brain and genetic factors. Multiple risk factors have been identified for the disease, including old age, susceptibility genes, low education, and underlying medical conditions. Both early-onset and late-onset versions of the disease are known, though the latter is much more common. The disease progresses in stages from minor memory lapses to the deterioration of all cognitive skills leading to the inability to live independently. The problem is global in scope, afflicting over 30 million people worldwide. It is expected to continue to expand, inflicting increased personal, social, and economic costs for patients and their families and friends. Despite extensive continuing research into the disease, no cure has been found so far. Nursing interventions, including environmental and dietary adjustments and alternative therapies, can control symptoms through cognitive stimulation and psychological reinforcement.
References
Klimova, B., Kuca, K., & Maresova, P. (2018). Global view on Alzheimers disease and Diabetes mellitus: Threats, risks and treatment Alzheimers disease and Diabetes mellitus. Current Alzheimer Research, 15(14), 1277-1282.
Liu, S., Shen, Y., & Zheng, G. (2019). Application of comprehensive nursing intervention for Alzheimers patients and its effects on recovery of cognitive function. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 12(4), 4012-4019.
Sahyouni, R., Chen, J. W., & Verma, A. (2016). Alzheimers disease decoded: The history, present, and future of Alzheimers disease and dementia. World Scientific.
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