Auditory Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease

2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sridhar Krishnamurti
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Clinical Protocols ◽  
Speech Language Pathologist ◽  
Auditory Dysfunction

Alzheimer's disease is neurodegenerative disorder which affects a growing number of older adults every year. With an understanding of auditory dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease, the speech-language pathologist working in the health care setting can provide better service to these individuals. The pathophysiology of the disease process in Alzheimer's disease increases the likelihood of specific types of auditory deficits as opposed to others. This article will discuss the auditory deficits in Alzheimer's disease, their implications, and the value of clinical protocols for individuals with this disease.

scholarly journals Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Other Dementias in the Lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Older Adults and Their Caregivers: Needs and Competencies

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 545-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen I. Fredriksen-Goldsen ◽  
Sarah Jen ◽  
Amanda E. B. Bryan ◽  
Jayn Goldsen
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Health Care Access ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Bisexual And Transgender

Cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias are important health concerns for older adults. As a marginalized and growing segment of the older adult population, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults face distinct risk factors related to cognitive impairment and dementias, including social isolation, discrimination, barriers to health care access, limited availability of and support for caregivers, and higher rates of certain chronic illnesses. We examine cognitive impairment and dementias among LGBT older adults, describe their unique risk factors, and outline key competencies for health care and human service providers to ensure culturally relevant care for LGBT older adults experiencing cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, or other dementias, as well as their caregivers, families, and communities. Implications include developing an awareness of the context of LGBT older adults’ lives and relationships, the importance of early detection and support, and the development of policies and practices that promote community-level advocacy and education.

scholarly journals The Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2: “TREM-ming” the Inflammatory Component Associated with Alzheimer's Disease

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Troy T. Rohn
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neurofibrillary Tangles ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Late Onset ◽  
Senile Plaques ◽  
Myeloid Cells ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Age Related

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of memory and cognitive skills. Although much attention has been devoted concerning the contribution of the microscopic lesions, senile plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles to the disease process, inflammation has long been suspected to play a major role in the etiology of AD. Recently, a novel variant in the gene encoding the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) has been identified that has refocused the spotlight back onto inflammation as a major contributing factor in AD. Variants in TREM2 triple one's risk of developing late-onset AD. TREM2 is expressed on microglial cells, the resident macrophages in the CNS, and functions to stimulate phagocytosis on one hand and to suppress cytokine production and inflammation on the other hand. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these recent developments including the potential role that TREM2 normally plays and how loss of function may contribute to AD pathogenesis by enhancing oxidative stress and inflammation within the CNS. In this context, an overview of the pathways linking beta-amyloid, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), oxidative stress, and inflammation will be discussed.

Taking the Next Steps in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Disease-Modifying Agents

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (S3) ◽  
pp. 11-14
Author(s):  
Stephen Salloway
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
The United States ◽  
Disease Modification ◽  
Disease Modifying ◽  
New Treatment ◽  
Disease Modifying Agents ◽  
Disease Modifying Treatment

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in the United States and the number of AD patients is increasing at an alarming rate. There is no cure for AD and the currently available treatments are symptomatic, providing only limited effects on disease pathophysiology and progression. An overwhelming need exists for therapies that can slow or halt this debilitating disease process. Disease modification in AD has been defined from patient-focused, regulatory, and neurobiological perspectives. The latter two of these perspectives rely largely on an interruption of the disease process and a clear demonstration of this interruption. As defined by Cummings, a disease-modifying treatment is a “pharmacologic treatment that retards the underlying process of AD by intervening in the neurobiological processes that constitute the pathology and pathophysiology of the disease and lead to cell death or dysfunction.” By this definition, the burden of confirmatory study is placed on any new treatment for which the claim of “disease modification” is to be made (Slide 1).

scholarly journals Patients With Dementia Are Easy Victims to Predators

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 233372141773468 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Hamdy ◽  
J. V. Lewis ◽  
R. Copeland ◽  
A. Depelteau ◽  
A. Kinser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Early Stages

Patients with dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease and particularly those in early stages, are susceptible to become victims of predators: Their agnosia (see Case 1) prevents them from detecting and accurately interpreting subtle signals that otherwise would have alerted them that they are about to fall for a scam. Furthermore, their judgment is impaired very early in the disease process, often before other symptoms manifest themselves and usually before a diagnosis is made. Patients with early stages of dementia are therefore prime targets for unscrupulous predators, and it behooves caregivers and health care professionals to ensure the integrity of these patients. In this case study, we discuss how a man with mild Alzheimer’s disease was about to fall for a scam were it not for his vigilant wife. We discuss what went wrong in the patient/caregiver interaction and how the catastrophic ending could have been avoided or averted.

scholarly journals AN ASSESSMENT OF GERIATRIC TTRAINING AND SUPPORT NEEDS FOR CAREGIVERS AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN RURAL TEXAS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S931-S932
Author(s):  
Susanna Luk-Jones ◽  
Jennifer J Severance ◽  
Doni Green ◽  
Donald Smith ◽  
Roslin Jose
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Memory Loss ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Rural Counties ◽  
Evidence Based Programs ◽  
With Memory

Abstract Of the 254 counties in Texas, 69% are rural, and three out of every four counties are designated as whole or partial Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas. Rural counties in Texas have a higher proportion of older adults compared to metropolitan counties, and rural older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and their caregivers face unique challenges of limited access to healthcare and lower earnings, resulting in more health-related problems. As part of a HRSA Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, an academic medical center, two Area Agencies on Aging in North Texas, and an Alzheimer’s Association Chapter partnered to expand access to evidence-based programs into surrounding rural counties for older adults and caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s Disease. An interdisciplinary workgroup developed focus group questionnaires for older adults, caregivers, and health care providers in rural areas to identify perceived needs, barriers to accessing services, and strategic partnerships. The North Central Texas Council of Governments conducted 11 focus groups in late 2018 and early 2019. Of these, seven consisted of family members caring for persons with memory loss. Four consisted of professionals who treat persons with memory loss. Transcription and thematic analysis identified key themes of training needs (both providers’ and laypersons’), resource needs, providers’ best practices, barriers to quality care, and other support needs. Practice implications of the findings include cross-sector partners and integrating telehealth platforms for program delivery. Collaboration between academic and community partners can expand access to evidence-based programs for rural and other underserved communities and address areas of need.

Cognitive control constrains memory attributions

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen M. Kelley ◽  
Larry L. Jacoby
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Cognitive Control

Abstract Cognitive control constrains retrieval processing and so restricts what comes to mind as input to the attribution system. We review evidence that older adults, patients with Alzheimer's disease, and people with traumatic brain injury exert less cognitive control during retrieval, and so are susceptible to memory misattributions in the form of dramatic levels of false remembering.

Partner-Specific Communication Deficits in Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Eun Jin Paek ◽  
Si On Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Referential Communication ◽  
Sorting Task ◽  
Audience Design ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Communication Task ◽  
Design Skills ◽  
Referential Expressions

Purpose Speakers adjust referential expressions to the listeners' knowledge while communicating, a phenomenon called “audience design.” While individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) show difficulties in discourse production, it is unclear whether they exhibit preserved partner-specific audience design. The current study examined if individuals with AD demonstrate partner-specific audience design skills. Method Ten adults with mild-to-moderate AD and 12 healthy older adults performed a referential communication task with two experimenters (E1 and E2). At first, E1 and participants completed an image-sorting task, allowing them to establish shared labels. Then, during testing, both experimenters were present in the room, and participants described images to either E1 or E2 (randomly alternating). Analyses focused on the number of words participants used to describe each image and whether they reused shared labels. Results During testing, participants in both groups produced shorter descriptions when describing familiar images versus new images, demonstrating their ability to learn novel knowledge. When they described familiar images, healthy older adults modified their expressions depending on the current partner's knowledge, producing shorter expressions and more established labels for the knowledgeable partner (E1) versus the naïve partner (E2), but individuals with AD were less likely to do so. Conclusions The current study revealed that both individuals with AD and the control participants were able to acquire novel knowledge, but individuals with AD tended not to flexibly adjust expressions depending on the partner's knowledge state. Conversational inefficiency and difficulties observed in AD may, in part, stem from disrupted audience design skills.

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