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Abstract Objective This case report study shows the concept of functional resilience in individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (ad) despite the presence of neurodegenerative pathologies and impaired neuropsychological performance. Current literature addresses the disjunction between ad pathologies and their clinical manifestations, suggesting that delays in ad clinical manifestations may be attributed to lifestyle factors such as cognitive and social activities, as well as an increased cognitive reserve. Method A 58-year-old White Hispanic female with 14 years of education presents a five-year history of gradual and progressive cognitive changes. Cognitive symptoms include forgetting conversations, past facts, and appointments, repetitiveness, and misplacing items. She presents with tandem gait disturbances, dysmetria, and dysdiadochokinesia. She is semi-independent in activities of daily living (ADLs) and serves as a caregiver for her mother with ad. She underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation as part of a research battery and completed an amyloid PET scan. Results The results indicated moderate-to-severe impairments across various cognitive domains, including memory, language, attention, executive function, and visuospatial constructional ability. PET Scan results are suggestive of the presence of ad pathology (BAPL score of 3). Conclusion The patient’s ability to manage ADLs while serving as a primary caregiver, despite facing considerable challenges related to cognitive performance, highlights her adaptability and independence. Identifying factors like implicit memory and psychosocial elements that support compensatory functional skills sheds light on enhancing independence and possibly the quality of life in individuals with ad. It emphasizes holistic dementia care, acknowledging and utilizing patients’ inherent resilience to navigate ad challenges.
Ramirez et al. (Thu,) studied this question.