Chapter 5: Confusion, dementia, and Alzheimers disease

Delirium- a state of severe confusion that occurs suddenly and is usually temporary. 

Cognition- the ability to think clearly and logically.

Cognitive impairment- the loss of the ability to think clearly and logically. 

Dementia- the serious loss of mental abilities (thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating)

• Causes: Alzheimer's disease, multi-infarct or vascular dementia, Lewy Body disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease. 

Alzheimer's disease- a progressive, incurable disease that causes tangled nerve fibers and protein deposits to form in the brain. (Usually causes dementia)

Perseveration- the repeating of words, phrases, questions, or actions.

Sundowning- becoming restless/ agitated in the late afternoon, evening, or night.

Catastrophic reaction- reacting in a way that is unreasonable or exaggerated. 

Elope- when a person with Alzheimers wanders away from a protected area does not return. 

Hallucinations- false or disoriented sensory perceptions. 

Delusions- persistent false beliefs.