Potential Risk Factors for S.R.
The case of S.R., the patient with a rapidly declining condition and the confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is conditional upon the past and present risk factors affecting the outcome of possible interventions. The most critical consideration in this regard is genetics since the man’s siblings confirmed the similarity of his issues to those of their father, which, in the latter’s situation, led to his death. Therefore, the described type of the present cognitive dysfunction followed by severe behavior impairment reflected by occasional outbursts when communicating with relatives regarding his health can be attributed to hereditary reasons. This stance is confirmed by the study’s results, which prove the gene-based association of the same cases with AD, which, in turn, leads to further complications in one’s health status (Zhu et al., 2017). This circumstance is complemented by high blood pressure, which was detected during the previous visits to the hospital. Even though this symptom can be ascribed to many other problems typical for the elderly population, it is also attributed to AD (Zhu et al., 2017). Hence, alongside the family’s medical history, it can be viewed as a risk factor.
Another challenge for the patient is the continuous exposure to chemicals in the workplace in the past. The correlation between this issue and the probability of the emergence of AD in elderly citizens is proved by the scholars who examined the impact of the quality of air on a person’s health (Kilian & Kitazawa, 2018). According to their findings, the people who regularly spend time in places polluted by “nitrogen dioxide, nitrous oxide, black carbon, and particulate matter,” are reported to face serious problems with cognition over time (Kilian & Kitazawa, 2018, p. 142). This fact allows concluding on the possibility of their impact in the past, which is still observed in S.R.
The Decline Through the Levels of Consciousness and Functioning
As follows from the progression of AD in S.R., his condition can be characterized by a rapid decline in cognitive abilities over a short period of time. In this case, the levels of consciousness and functioning are constantly deteriorating, and further complications are well-studied by scholars. They confirm the multifactorial nature of AD, which means that the ongoing processes positively correlate with the presence of several factors in S.R., namely, previous exposure to chemicals, genetic reasons, and high blood pressure (Veitch et al., 2019). In addition, the researchers claim that the subsequent events include “disconnection of functional and anatomical networks” alongside a number of other changes (Veitch et al., 2019, p. 106). They include impairments in functional connectivity, volumetric measures, regional hypometabolism, and cognition followed by cortical atrophy and vascular pathology (Veitch et al., 2019). The mentioned consequences of the current condition of S.R. imply the necessity to carefully develop measures for care provision and plan medication consumption to address the alarming symptoms. In this way, it will be possible to cope with manifestations of AD as a result of the described decline through the levels of consciousness and functioning.
The Prognosis for S.R.
The prognosis for S.R. can be made on the basis of the above considerations and essential factors alongside the typical course of development of the disease in patients with AD. Thus, the recent events, which are the man’s inability to remember the names of his family members and wandering in the neighborhood in a panic, correspond to a fast pace of progression of his issues. In other words, the confirmed AD is likely to turn into rapidly progressive dementia, which is the condition caused by AD among a variety of other factors (“Rapidly progressive dementias,” 2017). This problem should be diagnosed as early as possible in order to ensure the effective treatment to prevent worsening of the situation for S.R. (“Rapidly progressive dementias,” 2017). At present, all the symptoms confirmed by healthcare specialists serve as evidence of the beginning of dementia. Hence, the subsequent interventions planned by the hospital’s employees should be based on this fact rather than simply managing the manifestations of AD in the patient. In other words, early measures are an optimal method for addressing the needs of S.R.
Possible Interventions for S.R.
The interventions for S.R. should be based on the above considerations alongside the recommendations for healthcare specialists working with people with rapidly progressive dementia and other similar symptoms. Therefore, the principal need of the patient is to regularly visit the doctor to trace the development of his condition while being provided with assistance in performing daily tasks (Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center, 2017). The hospital employees will have to carefully examine the shifts in order to provide timely treatment for infections and other health issues typical for people with AD and dementia (WINMAC, 2017). Consequently, the selection of medications for S.R. should be readjusted accordingly, and they should target the underlying processes and provide symptom relief (WINMAC, 2017). In the end, the combination of measures, including scheduling health checks, daily assistance, examination of changes, and medications corresponding to them, will be sufficient for providing care for S.R and maintaining his functioning.
References
Kilian, J., & Kitazawa, M. (2018). The emerging risk of exposure to air pollution on cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease – Evidence from epidemiological and animal studies. Biomedical Journal, 41(3), 141-162.
Rapidly progressive dementias. (2017). Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center. Web.
Veitch, D. P., Weiner, M. W., Aisen, P. S., Beckett, L. A., Cairns, N. J., Green, R. C., Harvey, D., Jack, C. R. Jr., Jagust, W., Morris, J. C., Petersen, R. C., Saykin, A. J., Shaw, L. M., Toga, A. W., Trojanowski, J. K., & Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. (2019). Understanding disease progression and improving Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials: Recent highlights from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 15(1), 106-152.
Weill Institute for Neurosciences, Memory and Aging Center. (2017). A healthcare provider’s guide to rapidly progressive dementia (RPD): Diagnosis, pharmacologic management, non-pharmacologic management, and other considerations. Web.
Zhu, J. B., Tan, C. C., Tan, L., & Yu, J. T. (2017). State of play in Alzheimer’s disease genetics. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 58(3), 631-659.