Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning- thinking, remembering, and reasoning- to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities (AD fact sheet, 2010). AD is a progressive disease of the brain, which is characterized by a gradual loss of memory and other mental functions (Medina xi, pg. 2). As we age our risk of becoming victim to this degenerative disease becomes greater. One out of two Americans
basics of alzheimer’s disease What it is and what you can do Basics of Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer’s (AHLZ-high-merz) is a disease of the brain that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time. Although symptoms can vary widely, the first problem many people notice is forgetfulness severe enough to affect their ability to function at home or at work, or to enjoy lifelong hobbies. Other symptoms include confusion, getting lost in familiar places, misplacing things and trouble with language.
Cardiac problems such as heart failure/coronary artery disease that reduces the blood flow. Amnesia can cause memory loss and can be the first symptoms of a serious illness particularly in older adults. Infections such as UTI, respiratory infection or sepsis. Underactive thyroid can lead to apathy, depression or dementia. Hypoglycemia can cause confusion and personality changes when there is not enough sugar in the
If somebody feels ill, this can also affect someone’s concentration and memory. Certain illnesses can sometimes affect the way your brain works. For instance, a thyroid that is underactive can slow down your body's functions, including the brain, and can make someone be more forgetful. Infections such as a chest infection or a urine infection can cause sudden confusion and memory problems; especially in the elderly.There are various causes of dementia. This can be caused by various diseases or disorders which affect different parts of the brain involved with the thought processes.
Nina 1 Dementia describes a group of symptoms that are caused by changes in brain function. Dementia symptoms may include asking the same questions repeatedly; becoming lost in familiar places; being unable to follow directions; getting disoriented about time, people, and places; and neglecting personal safety, hygiene, and nutrition. People with dementia lose their abilities at different rates. They are several neurologic disease for which dementia is the major symptom. They are called neurodegenerative disorder simply because they degenerate the nervous system .Alzheimer disease is by far the most common neurodegenerative disorder.The cause of AD are still very unclear.
The term dementia describes the loss of mental ability associated with gradual death of brain cells. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is also another form of dementia and also huntington's disease which is an inherited disease caused again by damaged brain cells. Creutzfeldt-jakob disease is a rare fatal condition that affects the brain and the damage worsens over time. The common signs and symptoms of dementia include the main symptom, memory loss or a decline in memory which is caused from the brain cells being killed off and the brain cells are the memory ones so once these are gone the ability to remember things is taken away. People's behaviour also changes because of their memory and being unable to remember how to behave.
Depending what part of brain this occurs in it will affect the way an individual thinks, remembers, walks and communicates. There is a range of causes of dementia here are son of them: • Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It is caused by nerves cells dying in certain parts of the brain and the connection between affected nerve cells deteriorates. As dementia progresses it spreads and affects other parts of the brain. The cause of brain cells dying and deterioration of the connectors is not fully known yet.
These diseases cause the brain cells degenerate and die more quickly than the normal ageing process. This leads to a decline in a person's mental and physical abilities. Vascular dementia is caused when the blood flow is restricted or stopped, the brain cells will begin to die, resulting in brain damage. The vessels narrow when fatty deposits build up on the blood vessel walls, restricting the flow of blood. This can be more common in people who have high blood pressure, type 1 diabetes and those who smoke.
Erin St. Esprit Professor Dr. Jesus Rivera Human Growth and Development 28 September 2011 Dementia Dementia is not a specific disease. Dementia is more of a general term that refers to a group of symptoms related to memory loss and overall cognitive impairment resulting from a change in function in the brain (Chamberlain, 265). Watching the most important person in my life, my grandmother, struggle with dementia and eventually pass away, has allowed me to personally see the significant impacts that dementia has on human growth and development. I observed many different symptoms with my grandma’s dementia. In the beginning stages she exhibited slight confusion, word finding difficulties, and was far more
Psychological Disorder: Alzheimers Disease July 6, 2011 Abstract Alzheimer’s disease is a slow degenerative condition that makes up over half of the dementia condition, affecting older adults particularly those ages 65 and onward. The disease can start years before the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s occur as military bodies (plaque) and fibril bundles (tangles) conjugate inside cerebral cortex of the brain, impairing one’s memory, speech, cognition, and affecting mood. There is no specific cause of Alzheimer’s, but there is a plethora of factors that put one at risk. Stress, diet, smoking, lack of exercise, heredity, and stagnant mental activity are all issues related to Alzheimer’s disease.