NR507 Week 2: Open Forum Discussion

This is a required, but not graded open forum. Please feel free to post questions related to content or assignments.

As you are completing Part I of your disease process presentation, tell us about the etiology and risk factors of your assigned disease and what you feel is the role of the family nurse practitioner in preventing the occurrence of this disease.

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Example Approach

The cause of Alzheimer’s disease has not been directly identified, but there is a conclusion that the disease develops from a combination of multiple risk factors such as age, genetics, lifestyle, and environment (Alzheimer’s Association, n.d.). The disease is pathologically characterized by accumulations of neuritic beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles within and in between neurons (Crous-Bou, Minguillón, Gramunt, & Molinuevo, 2017; National Institutes of Health, n.d.). These accumulations of beta amyloid and tau proteins disrupt normal nerve transmission and trigger an immune response that causes inflammation, decreased oxygen and glucose transport, and reduced energy production in the mitochondria from production of free radicals (McCance & Huether, 2019; National Institutes of Health, n.d.). . Inflammation from insufficient clearance of damaged neurons and high levels of inflammatory cytokines from overworked microglia cells eventually cause neurons to die and the brain to atrophy (National Institutes of Health, n.d.).

Nurse practitioners (NPs), as primary care providers, are in a position to promote measures that support brain health and the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. With many risk factors of Alzheimer’s being related to controllable lifestyle factors, such as diet, exercise, and behaviors, the overall goal in prevention is to not only educate patients about risk factors and healthy lifestyle habits, but to motivate and partner with them to form strategies to do so (Bane & Cole, 2015). Health coaching involves collaboration with a patient to create awareness of prevention strategies and to develop a plan of action to implement them (Bane & Cole, 2015). By thoroughly educating and partnering with patients to come up with a plan, patients feel more empowered to participate in strategies that promote their well-being. It is important for primary care providers to offer continual support at all times, even with non-adherence (Bane & Cole, 2015). It is also important for providers to lead by example, so personal examples can be provided as encouragement and patients have someone to look up to when establishing health behaviors (Bane & Cole, 2015).

Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.). Causes and risk factors. Retrieved from https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers/causes-and-risk-factors

Bane, T. J., & Cole, C. (2015). Prevention of Alzheimer disease. Nurse Practitioner, 40(5), 30-35. Retrieved from www.tnpj.com