CaptainAtomMosquito13
In-Class Assignment: Group Work on Cognition FEATURED…
In-Class Assignment: Group Work on Cognition
FEATURED EXEMPLARS:
Delirium
Delirium is a state of disturbed consciousness and altered cognition. Three categories of delirium exist: hyperactive delirium, hypoactive delirium, and mixed. Delirium is caused by a number of variables. Some of the most common causes include pharmacologic agents (particularly when four or more pharmacologic agents are given in combination), metabolic dysfunction, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, hypoglycemia, renal impairment, urinary retention, fecal impaction, hypoxia, acute illness, infection, and trauma.
Alzheimer Disease
AD is the most common form of dementia among individuals older than age 65 years, and it is the sixth leading cause of death among adults aged 18 years or older. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that up to 5 million Americans aged 65 years or older have AD, and this number is expected to double by 2050.34 It is thought that AD is caused by a combination of tau protein clumps that form inside neurons and amyloid plaques that form in spaces between brain cells, leading to neuronal dysfunction and death. Symptoms include a combination of deficits, including loss of memory, language skills, visual perception, focus, attention, reasoning skills, and functional ability.
Lewy Body Dementia
The third most common form of dementia, Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), is a type of synucleinopathy characterized by the formation of balloon-like protein structures inside the neurons. Early symptoms, which can appear as long as a decade before dementia occurs, include loss of smell, visual hallucinations, and difficulty sleeping; these symptoms are often attributed to other causes. Once dementia occurs, symptoms of DLB are similar to those of AD, and parkinsonian signs and symptoms are often noted.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia, also known as vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), is the second most common type of neurocognitive impairment. VCI results from damage to cerebral blood vessels; thus it represents a number of underlying conditions. Vessel damage can be associated with stroke or other conditions affecting the vasculature, such as diabetes, hypertension, and plaque formation from hyperlipidemia. Reduced or loss of perfusion leads to death of neurons affected. The risk for VCI parallels risk for strokein fact, stroke is the greatest risk factor. VCI has a higher mortality rate compared with AD because of the coexistence of underlying vascular disease; VCI is also associated with greater limitations in activities of daily living compared with AD.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FAS is a disorder that leads to intellectual disability and is estimated to affect 0.2 to 1.5 infants for every 1000 live births.36 FAS is caused by maternal alcohol intake; because alcohol crosses the placenta, the fetus is exposed to alcohol and this can lead to disruption of fetal development. Children with FAS have growth deficits, distinctive facial features, and central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities. Because alcohol affects CNS development, individuals with FAS often have problems with one or more of the following: learning, memory, attention, communication, vision, and hearing.
Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is the most common type of chromosomal abnormality. Down syndrome is usually caused by an extra chromosome 21 (referred to as trisomy 21), although in a few cases it may be caused by translocation of chromosomes 15, 21, or 22. The distinctive features of Down syndrome lead to identification and diagnosis at birth. This condition is associated with intellectual disability (ranging in severity from mild to profound) and many other physical conditions, especially congenital heart malformations. The prevalence of Down syndrome is approximately 1 in 700 births; with a sharp rise as the mother’s age increases, particularly after age 35 years.
Your group will be assigned one of the above Featured Exemplars to answer the following questions:
Risk Factors:
Diagnostic Tests:
Assessment (Signs/Symptoms):
Related Priority Problem (Nursing Process):
SMART Goal
Interventions:
Education/Teaching:
