Neuro Note 2: Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, effecting the lives of about 5.3 million Americans. It is unique in the fact that it is a slow degenerative disease that leads to the death of nerve cells in the brain and brain tissue loss, causing the brain to literally shrink in size. Unfortunately the prognosis of Alzheimers disease is irrreversible. There are three different stages of AD: mild, moderate, and severe. 

    To highlight how AD can impair neurocognitive functioning, I chose to analyze a video called "My father's behavior in the moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease" posted via YouTube. I felt is was a very clear observation of what behaviors follow AD. As the name suggests, this video is taken from the son's point of view, following his father's actions for a brief period of time. It is apparent that his father is wandering around the house searching for things to do, but not being able to account for why he is doing it when the son asks. 

    Near the beginning of the video the father picks up the kitty litter box, shaking it, and then putting his hand in it. The son immediately stops the father and directs him into the bathroom to wash his hands. Even a task like hand-washing is difficult for him. He is able to motor plan the act of rubbing the soap into his hands but then has to be directed to rinse his hands multiple times, yet still has trouble understanding why it is needed. In addition to this act of forgetfulness, at one point of the video anomia is displayed when the father mistakes his cats name for the name of his neighbor. 

    Something I noticed particulary about the father's actions is his paying close attention to how the cloth he used to dry his hands on is folded, as well as how flat his sheet is lying on his bed. It is very interesting to me that he feels so drawn to correct these things. I suspect it could be some part of his memory recalling doing these tasks in the past and is recollecting this motor memory or possibly his want to feel as if he is doing something purposeful. 

    "I understand why, but I don't understand why." is a phrase the father uses when his son asks why he is searching for something behind the clothes hamper. I believe this statement really opened my eyes to what clearly projects the feeling of what someone battling AD experiences quite often. In that moment the individual is drawn to do something, and it makes sense to them, until the confusion takes over and the purpose is then unclear. 

If you would like to access this video to learn more about how Alzheimers effects functional performance I highly recommend using the link listed below!

volleybrad. (2015, July 5). My father's behavior in the moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdzKXhyv_tg.