An anthropological perspective of alzheimer disease

This article deals with Alzheimer disease (AD) from an anthropological perspective. It describes the basis of my research: social representations and practices with regard to Alzheimer dementia. An analysis of the sociocultural construction of the AD process and the practices of caring for people who have it can improve nursing practice in this field. This approach helps us achieve a better understanding of this condition and provides a framework for providing care in a more appropriate and contextualized way. To achieve this aim, my research is based on three points of analysis derived from the main axes: the domestic and family context of Alzheimer dementia, the biomedical discourse and social construction of the condition, and the loss of self and social death of the person with AD. (Geriatr Nurs 2003;24:26-31)