A Battleground of Facts
Jonathan C. Beazley, Stephanie Field in Cannabis on Campus, 2018
This chapter examines some major issues in the point and counterpoint existing between those who believe that marijuana should remain illegal, if decriminalized, and those that want it made legal to adults, regulated like alcohol. In 2005, researchers at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts began to explore cognitive and brain differences in persons with chronic marijuana use versus non-marijuana users. The short-term effects of cannabis on memory and other cognitive functions is well-known, so much so that it has become a source of humor. That marijuana can cause psychotic symptoms, an effect documented well over a century and a half ago, may have been forgotten throughout the latter part of the twentieth century. Marijuana has been promoted to alleviate symptoms associated with a variety of medical ailments including cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, the Alzheimer's disease, PTSD, epilepsy, Crohn's disease, and glaucoma.
Ageing, Dementia, and Palliative Care
Susie Wilkinson in Palliative Care Nursing, 2018
This chapter describes that during the terminal stages of the common illnesses associated with ageing such as chronic cardiac disease, long-standing emphysema, and Alzheimer's disease, the care provided needs to be informed by sound palliative practice. It argues that the extension of palliative care to these groups will raise distinctive and often novel issues, especially in the case of the frail aged with dementia. The chapter discusses: communication and planning; the nurse's role as story-teller; whose voice will be heard? Problems with communication; and when 'enough is enough'. It discusses that effective, efficient, and timely communication is the keystone of all good nursing care and is also true in the kinds of cases. The pain relief received can be dependent on a particular nurse's interpretation of the language of the patient, especially if that person has dementia. Communication and explanation with family and friends is vital to ensure that the planned approach can be implemented smoothly.
Common time-dependent disease in humans
Roger B. McDonald in Biology of Aging, 2019
This chapter begins with a brief discussion of environmental factors that affect the cardiovascular system and focuses on clearly defined diseases that are limited, for the most part, to the postreproductive period. It discusses five common diseases of the elderly: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. The chapter presents how normal time-dependent changes in a particular organ or physiological system progress to an overt dise. It also focuses exclusively on the two most common time-dependent diseases that affect the central nervous system: Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The chapter also presents an overview of the human nervous system and examines the nature of neural signals in the normally functioning system. It explores three common time-dependent diseases of the cardiovascular system: coronary artery disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. The chapter describes the importance of serum calcium and calcium regulation and also examines time-dependent bone loss.
Electronic organiser and Alzheimer's disease: Fact or fiction?
Published in Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 2014
Hélène Imbeault, Nathalie Bier, Hélène Pigot, Lise Gagnon, Nicolas Marcotte, Tamas Fulop, Sylvain Giroux
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease characterised by a progressive loss of cognitive functions and impairment of activities of daily living severe enough to interfere with normal functioning. To help persons with this disease perform a variety of activities, our research team developed AP@LZ, an electronic organiser specifically designed for them. Two participants with Alzheimer's disease learned how to use AP@LZ in their daily lives by following a structured learning method. After the learning phase, the participants were able to use AP@LZ efficiently and facilitate their day-to-day activities for several months, despite the steady progression of the disease. These results suggest that persons with Alzheimer's disease can learn to use new technologies to compensate for their everyday memory problems, which opens up new rehabilitation possibilities in dementia care.
Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver Burden: Does Resilience Matter?
Published in Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 2013
Caring for an individual with Alzheimer's disease is at times challenging and can lead to caregiver burden. Resilience is a personality characteristic that has emerged as a protective factor among aging individuals. This study was conducted to examine the moderating effect of resilience between caregiver stressors and caregiver burden. The results indicate that resilience was not identified as a moderator between stressors and caregiver burden; however, a relationship exists between resilience and caregiver burden. Specifically, as resilience in Alzheimer's disease caregivers increases, their caregiver burden decreases. These findings highlight the importance of supportive interventions that will increase resilience in Alzheimer's disease caregivers.
Experiences of supporting people with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease in aged care and family environments
Published in Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 2012
Rachel Carling-Jenkins, Jennifer Torr, Teresa Iacono, Christine Bigby
Background Research addressing the experiences of families of adults with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease in seeking diagnosis and gaining support is limited. The aim of this study was to gain a greater understanding of these processes by exploring the experiences of families and carers in supporting people with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease who had lived most or all of their lives with family. Method Three detailed case studies were created from multiple data sources, and then analysed thematically. Results Families of adults with Down syndrome experienced stress and confusion as they negotiated a service system poorly equipped to meet their needs and professionals more focused on longstanding disability than the recent diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Such overshadowing led to mismanagement by services. Conclusions This research advances understandings of the support needs of people with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease and their families. It exposes gaps in the service system.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
- Dementia
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Epilepsy
- Brain Cancer
- Seizure Disorders