Norman has noticed some changes in his wife, Peg, over the past 6 or 8 months. She seems more forgetful
and moody and got lost driving to church twice in one month. Peg no longer wants to visit with friends and
family and is unable to explain changes in her behavior. She is prone to crying spells, and although he
tries, Norman doesnt seem to be able to comfort his wife. Norman has decided to take Peg to their family
physician to find out if her symptoms have a medical explanation.
Answer the following questions in this Db:
How should the physician go about determining if Peg has Alzheimers disease, cerebrovascular dementia,
subcortical dementia, or depression? That is, what techniques are used to diagnose each of the
disorders?
If Peg has Alzheimers, how will her physician rule out cerebrovascular dementia and depression?
Finally, create a list of recommendations that will help Norman care for Peg if her diagnosis is Alzheimers
disease
Sample Solution
