About Apraxia
Ideational Apraxia is a common symptom of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s. It involves difficulty in performing the steps of a familiar multistep activity (such as brushing, bathing, etc.) in the correct order. A person can leave out, repeat, or rearrange the steps, such as putting on their shoes before their socks.
What does living with Apraxia mean?
Living with ideational apraxia means losing the ability to plan and sequence the steps needed to use everyday objects. Seniors with this condition recognize objects and understand their purpose, but cannot organize the correct sequence of actions to use them.
Common examples of this include:
Unable to complete the Activities of Daily Living (brushing, using bathroom, etc.) in the correct manner
Folding a letter but not placing it an envelope
Placing a phone on top of their head rather than to their ear
Unable to properly use eating utensils
Common Afflicted Populations
Comorbidities: Seniors with dementia have the highest rate of ideational apraxia. It is a hallmark feature of Alzheimer’s disease from the moderate to severe stages, common in stroke survivors, individuals who have experienced a TBI, and throughout all of the dementias, from vascular to frontotemporal.
Age: It predominantly affects older adults (65+)