Alzheimers Disease Unraveling the Mystery (6 Credit Hours)

Program Summary: This article explores the healthy brain and how it works and then looks at what happens in the brain during Alzheimer’s dementia.  It includes current research as well as issues affecting caregivers and families.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.

Publisher: National Institute on Aging

National Institutes of Health

Find the article at: https://www.freestatesocialwork.com/articles/alzheimers_disease_unraveling_the_mystery_0.pdf

Program Objectives: To enhance professional values, skills, and knowledge by identifying key issues for understanding Alzheimer’s dementia.

Learning Objectives:  Describe the healthy brain.  Identify what happens to the brain in Alzheimer’s dementia.  Identify current research efforts.  Identify important issues for families and caregivers.

Review our pre-reading study guide.

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1: In most people with AD, symptoms first appear after age
 
 
 
 
2: When did Dr. Alois Alzheimer describe the case of a 51 year old woman with a cluster of unusual symptoms, including problems with comprehension and memory, an inability to speak, disorientation, behavioral problems, and hallucinations?
 
 
 
 
3: When is AD recognized as a distinct disease and not a normal part of aging?
 
 
 
 
4: The left hemisphere of the brain appears to focus on
 
 
5: Which lobe controls "executive function" activities like thinking, organizing, planning, and problem solving, as well as memory, attention, and movement?
 
 
 
 
6: Which part of the brain is thought to be the site where short-term memories are converted into long-term memories for storage in other brain areas?
 
 
 
 
7: Which kind of scan involves attaching a small amount of radioactive substance to a compound, such as glucose, and injecting it into the bloodstream?
 
 
 
8: Groups of neurons in  the brain
 
 
 
 
9: Neurons in the brain can live
 
 
 
10: In an adult, when neurons die because of disease or injury, they are usually replaced.
 
 
11: Which of the following could be a sign of normal/healthy aging?
 
 
 
 
 
 
12: Which is not a main feature of AD?
 
 
 
13: The chief component of neurofibrillary tangles is a protein called
 
 
 
14: Scientists believe that pre-clinical brain changes begin ________ years before any clinically detectable signs or symptoms of forgetfulness appear.
 
 
 
 
15: In the Religious Orders Study, researchers found that those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who had lots of trouble moving their legs and feet were more than twice as likely to develop AD as those with good lower body function.
 
 
16: The clinical diagnosis of AD is usually made during the
 
 
 
17: The most frequent cause of death for people with AD is
 
 
 
 
18: Early-onset Alzheimer's disease usually affects people aged
 
 
 
19: Late-onset Alzheimer's disease occurs in those
 
 
 
 
20: Scientists have studied the role of  ________ in early-onset AD.
 
 
 
 
21: Scientists have studied a gene on chromosome __________ that they were able to link to late-onset AD.
 
 
 
 
22: Which neurodegenerative disease is characterized by 'protein misfolding'?
 
 
 
 
 
23: Free radicals can
 
 
 
24: A very large epidemiologic study of nurses found an association between participants who ate the most _____________ and a slower rate of cognitive decline compared with nurses who ate the least amount of these foods.
 
 
 
25: We have improved our ability to diagnose AD correctly, and doctors experienced in AD can diagnose the disease with up to ____________ accuracy.
 
 
 
 
26: Which of the following is a possible cause of dementia?
 
 
 
 
 
27: Under an NIA grant, the Oregon Center for Aging and Technology uses ___________ to build on research that motor-function changes may arise before memory changes become apparent.
 
 
 
28: Today, NIA, other NIH institutes, and private industry are conducting many clinical trials of AD interventions.  These studies focus on several key areas including all of the following except:
 
 
 
 
29: Which cholinesterase inhibitor was recently approved to treat severe AD?
 
 
 
30: The newest approved AD medication is _______________, which is prescribed to treat moderate to severe AD symptoms.
 
 
 
 
31: Between _______________ of people with AD eventually develop one or more behavioral symptoms such as sleeplessness, wandering and pacing, aggression, agitation, anger, depression, and hallucinations and delusions.
 
 
 
32: Which phase of a clinical trial involves large studies that compare experimental treatment with a placebo or standard treatment to determine safety and efficacy?
 
 
 
33: When a study participant is not able to provide informed consent because of problems with memory and thinking, it may be possible for an authorized representative to give permission.
 
 
34: AD caregivers can experience
 
 
 
 

In order to purchase or take this course, you will need to log in. If you do not have an account, you will need to register for a free account.

After you log in, a link will appear here that will allow you to purchase this course.

 

Free State Social Work, LLC, provider #1235, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Free State Social Work, LLC maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 9/6/2021 - 9/6/2024. Social workers completing this course receive 6 continuing education credits.

Free State Social Work has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP NO. 6605. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Free State Social Work is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Read more:  
Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease: What Do We Know?
https://d29n9v6ua7uzh5.cloudfront.net/preventing_alzheimers_disease_0_1.pdf
NIA Alzheimer’s Fact Sheet
https://d29n9v6ua7uzh5.cloudfront.net/ad_fact_sheet-2015_update-final.pdf

 

 

Course Created: June 9, 2011
Filed under: Retired