Final answer:
Perceptual changes in Alzheimer's disease include the inability to differentiate left from right, loss of sense of smell, and deterioration of vision. The correct answer to the student's question is D) all of the above, representing the broad range of cognitive and perceptual deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease progression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Perceptual changes that occur in Alzheimer's disease include various deficits in cognitive functioning, resulting from neurodegeneration and changes within the brain. Among the sensory changes, the loss of the sense of smell, known as anosmia, is noted and has been identified as a possible early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, cognitive dysfunctions such as the inability to differentiate left from right and deterioration of vision can also occur due to the widespread damage in the brain observed in severe cases of Alzheimer's. The brain undergoes significant structural changes, including the development of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, which lead to synaptic loss and neuron death, particularly within the ventricles and hippocampus.
Answering the student's question directly, the perceptual changes that occur in Alzheimer's disease include A) an inability to differentiate left from right, B) loss of sense of smell, and C) deterioration of vision. Therefore, the answer is D) all of the above. These symptoms can become more pronounced as the condition progresses from mild to severe stages, culminating in extensive cognitive decline, problems with basic functions, and eventually death.