Question

An 82 year old man was admitted to the unit secondary to aggressive behaviors associated with Alzheimer's Dementia. During visiting hours, his wife and children ask the nurse when he will be getting his memory back since he's doing so well on his medication. Which of the following is the most accurate response from the nurse?

A. "Only the doctor knows how long that will take."
B. "Alzheimer's Dementia is a progressive illness. The medications can help to slow the progress."
C. "Medications take approximately four to six weeks for maximum effectiveness. You should see definite improvement by then."
D. "These types of medications will improve memory quickly."

Answer 1

The most accurate response to the family's question is that Alzheimer's Dementia is a progressive illness and the medication can only slow its progression, not restore memory.

Step-by-step explanation:

When responding to the family of an 82-year-old man with aggressive behaviors associated with Alzheimer's Dementia, the most accurate response a nurse can provide is, "Alzheimer's Dementia is a progressive illness. The medications can help to slow the progress." This acknowledges the nature of the condition and sets realistic expectations for the medication's efficacy. While treatments like cholinesterase inhibitors, exemplified by drugs such as Aricept, can potentially slow the progression of Alzheimer's by enhancing cholinergic neurotransmission, they are not capable of restoring lost memories or reversing significant cognitive decline. It's crucial to understand that Alzheimer's is a degenerative brain disease with no current cure, where treatments primarily manage symptoms and may improve quality of life but do not guarantee a return of memory function.

It's also important to note that the development of a blood test for early detection of Alzheimer's raises hopes for future therapies. Nevertheless, this is a separate aspect of ongoing research and does not change the current understanding and management of Alzheimer's Disease.