Personality changes in Alzheimers Dementia

Personality changes with Alzheimers Dementia

Personality Changes

-Individuals who suffer from Alzheimers Disease show broad and consistent behavioral changes which can be described as personality change.

-Common changes consist of wandering, paranoia, agitation and depression

-Studies reveal decreases in extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and intellect and an increase in neuroticism

-Results of several studies examined suggest that as cognitive impairment increases, the majority of positive aspects of personality are seen to decline

Changes in the Big 5

-Neuroticism: increase

-Extroversion: decrease

-Openness: decrease

-Conscientiousness: decrease

-Agreeableness: no significant change

-This pattern has been found repeatedly within empirical studies I have examined

Why so many Changes?

-Neurological Changes:

-Rapid cell death - occurring mostly in the hippocampus (memory), cortex (high level cognition), basal forebrain

-Neurofibrillary tangles

-Neuritic plaques

-Changes in neurotransmitter levels

-Changes in neurochemical levels

Cont'd.

Introduction

-The Five Factor Model consists of five independent dimensions of personality: neuroticism, extroversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.

-Dementia is a family of diseases defined by cognitive and behavioral deficits that involve permanent damage to the brain

-Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of progressive, degenerative, and fatal dementia, accounting for perhaps as many as 70% of all cases of dementia

-Strong genetic predisposition is believed to contribute to the development of dementia

-Possible genetic markers on chromosomes 12, 14, 19 and 21

- We cannot examine the plaques and tangles in the brains of living victims of Alzheimers, so it can only be definitively diagnosed by autopsy after death

Alzheimers Symptoms

-Changes in cognitive functioning:

-The loss of recent memory

-Difficulty learning, paying attention and making judgements

-Time/space disorientation

-Trouble communicating & finding the right words

-Lack of hygiene and self care

-With a slow, insidious progression, those who suffer lose the ability to care for themselves

-Incontinence, inability to dress themselves or eat without aid.

Treating Alzheimers Patients

-Unfortunately there is no cure

-The disease is terminal

-There are medications existing to aid some of the symptoms:

-Donepezil (confusion/dementia)

Galantamine ( may improve awareness)

Rivastigmine (memory loss)

Tacrine (confusion/memory loss).

-Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Improving the lives of those with Alzheimers

-Involves changes in living situations, financial responsibilities, and care for physical well being

-Key steps:

1. Obtain accurate information about Alzheimers

2. Involve patient as much as possible in decision making process

3. Identify primary caregiver(s)

4. Reassess patient's living and financial situation

5. Setting realistic goals

5. Establish regular/daily medical care

6. Maximize the patient's opportunity to function at his/her optimum levels

7. Establish realistic demands of the patient (self-efficacy)

8. Seek service providers that may be needed later