Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Worksheets

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Dementia, a term for memory loss and other cognitive impairments severe enough to interfere with daily life, is most frequently caused by Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease causes 60 to 80 percent of instances of dementia. It bears the name of Dr. Alois Alzheimer, who initially identified the disorder in 1906.

See the fact file below for more information on Alzheimer’s Disease, or you can download our 25-page Alzheimer’s Disease worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Cognitive and functional deterioration progression is often defined as occurring in three stages during Alzheimer’s. Early or mild, middle or moderate, and late or severe are terms used to determine the three stages. 
• The early signs of memory loss are caused by the disease’s recognized targeting of the hippocampus, which is connected to memory. The severity of memory loss increases as the illness worsens.

FIRST SYMPTOMS

• Thorough neuropsychological testing can reveal moderate cognitive impairments up to eight years before a person meets the clinical criteria for diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. The initial symptoms are sometimes wrongly attributed to stress or aging.
• The most apparent memory impairment is short-term memory loss, which manifests as difficulties recalling previously learned material and failing to learn new knowledge.
• The early stages of Alzheimer’s disease can also be characterized by subtle deficits in the executive functions of attention, planning, flexibility, and abstract thinking, as well as impairments in semantic memory.

EARLY STAGE

• The progressive loss of learning and memory in those with Alzheimer’s disease eventually results in a conclusive diagnosis.
• Memory issues are less common than challenges with language, executive functioning, perception (agnosia), or movement execution (apraxia) in a tiny number of people. 
• Not all memory functions are adversely affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Episodic, semantic, and implicit memory—the body’s recall of performing actions, such as eating with a fork or drinking from a glass—are all impacted less than new information or memories.

MIDDLE STAGE

• When independence is eventually compromised, subjects cannot carry out most basic daily tasks. Speech problems result from a poor memory for vocabulary, which frequently results in inappropriate word substitutions (paraphasias).
• As time goes on and Alzheimer’s disease worsens, complex motor sequences become less coordinated, which raises the chance of falling. 
• Memory issues deteriorate throughout this stage, and the person cannot recognize close family. Before this, one’s long-term memory was unimpaired.

LATE STAGE

• The ultimate stage, late or severe, is characterized by total reliance on caregivers.
• People can frequently understand and respond to emotional messages even when verbal language skills are lost. While aggression is still possible, excessive apathy and fatigue are more frequent signs. 
• The muscular mass and mobility of people with Alzheimer’s disease eventually degrade to the point that they are bedridden and unable to feed themselves, rendering them incapable of carrying out even the most fundamental duties.

CAUSES OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

• Amyloid beta is thought to build up abnormally in the brain, either extracellularly as amyloid plaques and tau proteins or intracellularly as neurofibrillary tangles, disrupting the functioning and connections of neurons and leading to a progressive loss of brain function. 
• Age-related, controlled by brain cholesterol, and linked to other neurodegenerative illnesses, this reduced protein clearance capacity.
• Researchers can now observe changes in brain structure and function and the growth and spread of aberrant tau and amyloid proteins in the living brain thanks to advancements in brain imaging technology. 
• The beta-amyloid protein is a piece of a more considerable protein. When these fragments group together, neurons experience a toxic impact that impairs cell-to-cell communication. Hence, more extensive deposits known as amyloid plaques continue to develop.
• Except for 1-2% of cases where deterministic genetic variations are detected, the cause of most Alzheimer’s cases is still largely unknown. 
• The two most popular theories are the cholinergic theory and the amyloid beta hypothesis, which attempt to explain the fundamental reason.

GENETIC

• Less than 2% of cases of Alzheimer’s are inherited (autosomal dominant). Certain varieties of Alzheimer’s disease, also called early-onset familial Alzheimer’s, can start early and progress more quickly.
• Three genes—those encoding the presenilins PSEN1 and PSEN2 and the amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP)—can be mutated to cause early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease.
• Most cases of Alzheimer’s are sporadic (not hereditary), although environmental and genetic variables may play a role in risk. 
• In contrast to familial Alzheimer’s disease, the majority of cases with sporadic Alzheimer’s disease are late-onset (LOAD), appearing after the age of 65.

TAU HYPOTHESIS

• According to the tau hypothesis, defects in the tau protein start the disease-cause chain. According to this concept, hyperphosphorylated tau forms paired helical filaments with other tau threads. 
• They eventually develop inside nerve cell bodies as neurofibrillary tangles.
• Many studies link oxidative stress, which causes chronic inflammation, to the misfolded amyloid beta and tau proteins related to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Reactive oxygen species may be the leading cause of the DNA damage that builds up in AD brains.

DIAGNOSIS

• Alzheimer’s disease that manifests before age 65 is known as early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD), sometimes known as younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease (YOAD).
• This unusual disease variant causes just 5–10% of instances of Alzheimer’s. 60% of people with Alzheimer’s have a good family history, and autosomal dominant inheritance accounts for 13% of these cases.
• The symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease are often very similar to those of other types.
• Alzheimer’s disease is often diagnosed clinically based on the patient’s medical history, family history, and behavioral observations. 
• Distinctive neurological and cognitive characteristics and the absence of other diagnoses support the diagnosis.
• To assist rule out other cerebral pathology or dementia subtypes, advanced medical imaging techniques, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and positron emission tomography (PET), can be used.

PREVENTION

• Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research has concentrated on strategies to stop the onset and progression of the disease because no disease-modifying therapies are available to treat the condition.
• Epidemiology research has suggested links between a person’s risk of getting AD and alterable elements, including medicine, way of life, and nutrition. 
• Determining whether Alzheimer’s disease interventions serve as a primary prevention technique, preventing the disease itself, or a secondary prevention method, recognizing the early stages of the disease, presents some complications.

MEDICATION

• An increased chance of AD onset and a worsening course is linked to cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemi.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) have historically been believed to lessen the risk of Alzheimer’s disease development by reducing inflammation; however, NSAIDs do not seem to be effective as a treatment.
• Also, it was long believed that estrogen insufficiency after menopause was a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease because women have a higher incidence of the condition than men. 
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal women does not appear to reduce the incidence of cognitive impairment, nevertheless.

LIFESTYLE

• The risk of Alzheimer’s disease may be influenced by certain lifestyle factors, including 
• physical and mental activity, higher levels of education and vocational accomplishment, smoking, stress, and sleep deprivation, as well as the control of other comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension.
• Exercise has been shown to reduce the severity of symptoms in AD patients and is linked to a lower incidence of dementia. Exercises like brisk walking for forty minutes three times a week can help with memory and cognitive abilities.

PSYCHOSOCIAL

• Psychosocial interventions fall under behavior-, emotion-, cognition-, or stimulation-oriented techniques and are used with medicinal treatments.
• Behavioral treatments try to pinpoint and lessen the causes and effects of troublesome behaviors. Although this strategy hasn’t been effective in raising overall functioning, it can help to reduce some particular issue behaviors, including incontinence.
• Simulated presence treatment (SPT) based on attachment theories entails listening to a recording featuring the voices of the patient’s nearest relatives. Some research suggests that SPT may lessen challenging behaviors.
• Treatments on stimulation include exercise, recreational activity, art, music, and pet therapies. There is some evidence that stimulation can enhance mood, behavior, and to a lesser extent, function. 
• Despite the significance of these outcomes, the primary argument in favor of using stimulation therapy is the shift in the patient’s daily routine.

Alzheimer’s Disease Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Alzheimer’s Disease across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Alzheimer’s Disease. Dementia, a term for memory loss and other cognitive impairments severe enough to interfere with daily life, is most frequently caused by Alzheimer’s Disease.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Alzheimer’s Disease Facts
2. All About Alzheimer’s
3. Alzheimer’s
4. Alzheimer’s? Dementia?
5. My Toolkit
6. Looking Back
7. Sunset
8. World Alzheimer’s Day
9. Lowering your Risks
10. The Aging Brain
11. The Life Story Of…

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain, leading to cognitive decline and memory loss. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles in the brain, which disrupts communication between brain cells and leads to the death of neurons.

What are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease?

There are several risk factors associated with Alzheimer’s disease, including age, family history, genetics, head injuries, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise may also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

What are the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease typically begin with mild memory loss and difficulty with language, reasoning, and problem-solving. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience confusion, disorientation, mood and behavior changes, difficulty with basic tasks, and loss of mobility and coordination.

Is there a cure for Alzheimer’s disease?

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are treatments available that may help to slow the progression of the disease and improve symptoms. Medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine may be prescribed to help manage cognitive symptoms, while lifestyle changes such as regular exercise and a healthy diet may also be beneficial.

How can Alzheimer’s disease be prevented?

While there is no guaranteed way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, there are several lifestyle changes that may help to reduce the risk of developing the disease. These include maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, staying mentally and socially active, managing chronic health conditions, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Additionally, some studies suggest that engaging in activities that promote brain health, such as learning a new skill or language, may also help to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

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Link will appear as Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 30, 2023