Alzheimer's: Symptoms, Treatments, and Ethical Dilemmas

Course overview

Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia and a leading cause of death for older people. Alzheimers disease is a fatal disease sometimes lasting 10 years or more. There is new research on the causes of the disease and several factors that can delay the disease or even prevent its occurrence. Treatment centers on control of behaviors and can include medications and even some alternative and complementary treatments. Caregivers are usually family members and caregiving for Alzheimers patients can be difficult and very costly, both financially and emotionally. End of life for patients with Alzheimer's can present ethical dilemmas for healthcare professionals who can look to their Codes of Conduct for guidance.