Final answer:
The 78-year-old female's symptoms point towards a form of dementia, with Alzheimer's disease being a likely diagnosis among the options given. Alzheimer's is characterized by memory loss, cognitive impairments, and changes in brain structure, as studied by Alois Alzheimer. However, a professional diagnosis requires comprehensive medical assessment including brain imaging and cognitive tests.
Step-by-step explanation:
A 78-year-old female who presents with memory loss, incontinence, gait disturbance, frequent falls, and rapidly developing dementia is showing symptoms that may correspond to several types of dementia. Still, one particular diagnosis needs to be seriously considered. With the rapid progression of dementia, coupled with the other symptoms, a potential diagnosis could be normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), which is characterized by the classic triad of symptoms including cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence, and gait disturbance. However, this is not one of the options provided. Among the given choices, option a) Alzheimer's disease could be a likely diagnosis, given the presence of disruptive memory loss, difficulty with planning and executing tasks, and personality changes. It's important for a medical professional to conduct comprehensive assessments, including brain scans and cognitive tests, to differentiate between possible causes, such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, or simply the normal effects of aging.
Alzheimer's disease, named after Alois Alzheimer, is characterized by amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and a shrinking of brain volume. The neurological degeneration that occurs in Alzheimer's can be seen in contrast to a normal brain, especially in the hippocampus region, as shown in Figure 26.30 from the given reference material.
It is crucial to differentiate between these conditions because the management and prognosis for each can be quite different. Even though all options given are forms of dementia, the specific diagnosis in a clinical setting would be determined based on a complete evaluation by a healthcare provider.