Most people who suffer with it are over 65 but there are 150,000 people under 65 who also suffer with it. There are 55 types of dementia however 10 of these are the most progressive, 3 of which are the most common and severe. There is currently no cure. Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common case of dementia affecting around 465,000 people in the UK. It is a physical condition affecting the brain.
It is caused by nerve cells dying in certain areas of the brain and the connections between the affected nerve cells deteriorate. As the conditions affecting only or primarily the neurons of the brain, causes gradual but irreversible loss of functions of these cells, Memory loss is one of the earliest symptoms of this disease. Vascular dementia is caused by damage to the brain through deprivation of oxygenated blood causing part or all of the affected area to die. (Series of strokes) Conditions that can cause
Vascular dementia is caused when there is a reduction in the blood flow to the brain. Over time, this can damage the parts of the brain which play a large part of a person memory, speech and attention. A stroke can play a part in this type of dementia when it narrows the blood vessels to the brain. Dementia with Lewy Bodies is caused by lumps of protein which builds up inside nerve cells inside the brain, the proteins damage the nerve cells and how they work, these nerves are responsible for thinking, memory and movement of a person. Dementia with Lewy Bodies can be closely related to Parkinsons Disease and there is a theory that Dementia with Lewy Bodies interferes with two neurotransmitters called dopamine and acetylcholine which assist in the brains functions.
alzheimers.org.uk Rarer causes of dementia Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but there are many rarer diseases and syndromes that can lead to dementia, dementia-like symptoms or mild cognitive impairment. Rarer forms of dementia account for around only 5 per cent of all dementia cases in the UK. This factsheet outlines some of these rarer causes and gives some ideas about where to go for more specialist advice and information. This factsheet covers the following rarer causes of dementia: • Corticobasal degeneration • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease • HIV-related cognitive impairment • Huntington’s disease • multiple sclerosis • Niemann-Pick disease type C • normal pressure hydrocephalus • Parkinson’s disease • posterior cortical atrophy • progressive supranuclear palsy. For information about other types of dementia, please see the following factsheets: • What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer's disease affects the brain through exponentially greater cell death and tissue loss, resulting in a decreased brain size. As a result, behavior, memory and thinking are affected. Vascular dementia is caused by blockages and breaches in the brain's blood supply that damage the brain and can be caused by any condition which results in an interruption to the blood flow to the brain, and as well as strokes, this could include diseased arteries, heart attacks, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, diabetes, furred arteries and irregular heart rhythms. Any condition causing damage to the circulation of blood to the brain carries a risk to mental functioning. People experiencing vascular dementia will, like those with Alzheimer’s disease, have problems with learning, remembering, recognition, planning and problem solving.
Understand the process and experience of dementia Definition of dementia is a syndrome usually of a chronic or progressive nature in which there is deterioration in cognitive function, thinking, orientation, comprehension, and calculation, learning capacity, language and judgement. Dementia is caused by damage in brain. The most common cause of dementia is called neurodegenerative diseases that include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Huntington disease, Front temporal dementia and dementia with lewy bodies. With this disease the brain cell degenerate and die more quickly than normal ageing process, these decline a persons mental and some times physical abilities. The gradual changes and damage to the brain cells are caused by a build up of abnormal proteins in the brain.
The affect of strokes on the body can range between mild dizziness or slight numbness to impaired speech and loss of motor control. Major strokes can block blood flow to the brain to the point where the brain becomes impaired. Once the brain shuts down, it is no longer sending signals to the parts of the body that require brain operation to function. This can impair heart function, which can lead to death in the matter of a few minutes. According the American Heart Association’s posted statistics in Chapter 12 of this week’s reading, out of more than 6.5 million Americans suffer from strokes each year, roughly 150,000 die as a result from the damage.
It is important to encourage to maintain independence. Know the most common types of dementia and their causes. 3.1) The most common causes of dementia are neurodegenerative disease where the brain cells die more quickly than normal which leads to a decline in the persons mental and physical abilities. Dementia can be caused by strokes, brain damage, old age, or it can be hereditary. 3.2) Symptoms of Alzheimer’s; Becoming more confused and forgetful, Mood swings, Becoming withdrawn due to loss of confidence, Having difficulty completing every
Dementia is the term used to describe the condition which results in brain cells dying more quickly than the normal aging process, therefore commonly causing memory loss and a decline in the individuals mental and physical abilities. A build up of abnormal proteins on the brain is the most common cause however other heath factors can contribute to whether an individual is likely to be affected by dementia. Depending on the type of dementia the symptoms can differ. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, this currently affects 62% of people diagnosed with dementia. Alzheimer's is caused by a gradual loss of brain cells.
For example, a victim in an accident resulting in head injury may have difficulty remembering anything new. Concussions are a leading cause to anterograde amnesia. It is also a very common type amongst elderly people battling for of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s. In cases of anterograde amnesia, the damage resides in areas of the hippocampus,