MDC4 Concept Guide
Staging of Alzheimer's Disease
● Mild - Last 2-4 years
● Minor memory loss, difficulty learning and remembering new information
● Long term and reasoning are typically intact
● Patients may be aware of decline and try to hide or cover up.
● Moderate - Last 2-10 years
● Withdrawal, confusion, decrease in self care, poor judgement, and difficulty in
communications
● Behavioral changes- anger, frustration, restlessness, wandering, visuospatial deficits,
difficulty sleeping
● Dependence on others for care increases
● Most patients are diagnosed in this stage
● Severe - Typically lasts 1-3 years
● Completely incapacitated, will not eat unless fed
● May become non verbal, family members become unrecognizable
● Loss of bodily functions/control
● Violent episodes are common
Parkinson's Patient Education
● Surgery to help relieve symptoms
● Exercise and ROM to maximize function
● Nutrition and safety as patient begins to lose ability to independently feed or perform
other ADLs
Parkinson's Assessment
● 4 cardinal signs: Tremor, Muscle rigidity, Bradykinesia, Postural instability
● Initial: Minimal weakness with trembling typically in one arm
● Mild: Both arms affected, shuffling gait and mask like face
● Moderate: Postural instability, increased gait problems
● Severe: Akinesia and muscle rigidity
● Complete ADL Dependence
● May also have temperature intolerances, excessive head and neck sweating but
absence of sweating on trunk and extremities, constipation, anxiety, depression and
sleep disturbances.
Parkinson’s Medications
● Dopamine agonists, dopamine receptor agonists, antivirals, anticholinergics, MAOIs and
COMTIs
Types of Seizures
● Atonic- sudden loss of muscle tone, lasting for seconds, with postictal confusion- most
resistant to drug therapy
● Myoclonic- brief jerking of the extremities, lasting seconds. Can be symmetrical or
asymmetrical.
● Tonic- an abrupt increase in muscle tone, loss of LOC, and autonomic changes. Lasts 30
secs to several minutes.
Staging of Alzheimer's Disease
● Mild - Last 2-4 years
● Minor memory loss, difficulty learning and remembering new information
● Long term and reasoning are typically intact
● Patients may be aware of decline and try to hide or cover up.
● Moderate - Last 2-10 years
● Withdrawal, confusion, decrease in self care, poor judgement, and difficulty in
communications
● Behavioral changes- anger, frustration, restlessness, wandering, visuospatial deficits,
difficulty sleeping
● Dependence on others for care increases
● Most patients are diagnosed in this stage
● Severe - Typically lasts 1-3 years
● Completely incapacitated, will not eat unless fed
● May become non verbal, family members become unrecognizable
● Loss of bodily functions/control
● Violent episodes are common
Parkinson's Patient Education
● Surgery to help relieve symptoms
● Exercise and ROM to maximize function
● Nutrition and safety as patient begins to lose ability to independently feed or perform
other ADLs
Parkinson's Assessment
● 4 cardinal signs: Tremor, Muscle rigidity, Bradykinesia, Postural instability
● Initial: Minimal weakness with trembling typically in one arm
● Mild: Both arms affected, shuffling gait and mask like face
● Moderate: Postural instability, increased gait problems
● Severe: Akinesia and muscle rigidity
● Complete ADL Dependence
● May also have temperature intolerances, excessive head and neck sweating but
absence of sweating on trunk and extremities, constipation, anxiety, depression and
sleep disturbances.
Parkinson’s Medications
● Dopamine agonists, dopamine receptor agonists, antivirals, anticholinergics, MAOIs and
COMTIs
Types of Seizures
● Atonic- sudden loss of muscle tone, lasting for seconds, with postictal confusion- most
resistant to drug therapy
● Myoclonic- brief jerking of the extremities, lasting seconds. Can be symmetrical or
asymmetrical.
● Tonic- an abrupt increase in muscle tone, loss of LOC, and autonomic changes. Lasts 30
secs to several minutes.
