, PLEASE USE THIS DOCUMENT AS A GUIDE ONLY
QUESTION 1
1. Which dementia Sharon is suffering from using the core symptoms of each to justify your
response.
Sharon's symptoms align more closely with the core features of Alzheimer’s Disease than with
Parkinson’s Disease Dementia.
Core Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD): Kalat (2023, p. 390) states that AD is
characterized by a progressive loss of memory, confusion, and apathy. The text specifically
notes that "patients with Alzheimer’s learn procedural skills better than facts" and experience a
"loss of alertness or arousal" (Kalat, 2023, p. 390). Sharon’s primary issue is a severe loss of
episodic memory, including forgetting her family, which is a classic hallmark of AD. Her
apathy and lack of awareness of her difficulties directly match the "loss of alertness" and
confusion described for Alzheimer's patients. The text also mentions that memory loss in AD
worsens progressively, which is consistent with Sharon's case, as her memory impairment "has
worsened progressively."
Core Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD): In contrast, Parkinson's disease is
primarily characterized by motor symptoms. Kalat (2023, p. 249) identifies the primary results
of PDD as "rigidity, muscle tremors, slow movements, and difficulty initiating voluntary
activity." Sharon has intact motor function with no tremors or rigidity, which makes a
diagnosis of PDD very unlikely.
Apathy in Both Conditions: While apathy is mentioned as a symptom of AD (Kalat, 2023, p.
390), it is also a prominent symptom of PDD (Kalat, 2023, p. 252). Therefore, Sharon's apathy
is a symptom common to both conditions and does not help differentiate them.
Language and Hallucinations: Kalat (2023) mentions that AD can cause patients to have
trouble finding words (anomia), which aligns with Sharon's reported difficulty. The text also
notes that AD patients can experience hallucinations and delusions (p. 390), but these are not
mandatory symptoms. Crucially, the absence of visual hallucinations, which are more
commonly associated with Lewy body dementia (a form related to PDD), and the lack of
significant language impairment do not rule out Alzheimer's, as symptoms can vary (Kalat,
2023, pp. 436, 480).
In conclusion, the confluence of severe, progressive episodic memory loss, apathy, and the absence
of core motor symptoms of Parkinson's strongly indicates Alzheimer's Disease as the correct
diagnosis.
QUESTION 1
1. Which dementia Sharon is suffering from using the core symptoms of each to justify your
response.
Sharon's symptoms align more closely with the core features of Alzheimer’s Disease than with
Parkinson’s Disease Dementia.
Core Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD): Kalat (2023, p. 390) states that AD is
characterized by a progressive loss of memory, confusion, and apathy. The text specifically
notes that "patients with Alzheimer’s learn procedural skills better than facts" and experience a
"loss of alertness or arousal" (Kalat, 2023, p. 390). Sharon’s primary issue is a severe loss of
episodic memory, including forgetting her family, which is a classic hallmark of AD. Her
apathy and lack of awareness of her difficulties directly match the "loss of alertness" and
confusion described for Alzheimer's patients. The text also mentions that memory loss in AD
worsens progressively, which is consistent with Sharon's case, as her memory impairment "has
worsened progressively."
Core Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD): In contrast, Parkinson's disease is
primarily characterized by motor symptoms. Kalat (2023, p. 249) identifies the primary results
of PDD as "rigidity, muscle tremors, slow movements, and difficulty initiating voluntary
activity." Sharon has intact motor function with no tremors or rigidity, which makes a
diagnosis of PDD very unlikely.
Apathy in Both Conditions: While apathy is mentioned as a symptom of AD (Kalat, 2023, p.
390), it is also a prominent symptom of PDD (Kalat, 2023, p. 252). Therefore, Sharon's apathy
is a symptom common to both conditions and does not help differentiate them.
Language and Hallucinations: Kalat (2023) mentions that AD can cause patients to have
trouble finding words (anomia), which aligns with Sharon's reported difficulty. The text also
notes that AD patients can experience hallucinations and delusions (p. 390), but these are not
mandatory symptoms. Crucially, the absence of visual hallucinations, which are more
commonly associated with Lewy body dementia (a form related to PDD), and the lack of
significant language impairment do not rule out Alzheimer's, as symptoms can vary (Kalat,
2023, pp. 436, 480).
In conclusion, the confluence of severe, progressive episodic memory loss, apathy, and the absence
of core motor symptoms of Parkinson's strongly indicates Alzheimer's Disease as the correct
diagnosis.
