Unit 4222-237 Dementia Awareness Outcome 1 Understand what dementia is: 1.1 What is meant by the term ‘dementia’: The term 'dementia' is used to describe the symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by specific diseases and conditions. These include Alzheimer's disease and sometimes as a result of a stroke. 1.2 The key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia : Dementia is a condition of the brain which causes a gradual loss of mental ability, including problems with memory, understanding, judgement, thinking and language. In addition, other problems commonly develop such as changes in personality and changes in the way someone interacts with others in social situations. As dementia progresses, the ability of someone to look after themselves from day to day may also become affected.
A Critical Evaluation of Current Practices, Interventions and Treatments In Relation to Dementia Introduction ‘Dementia’ in its broad sense, is defined as a set of symptoms including mood changes, memory loss, and problems with communicating and reasoning. These symptoms are likely to occur as a result of brain damage by diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or a series of strokes. Dementia is a progressive disease, meaning that the symptoms would get worse as time progresses (Alzheimer’s Society, 2012). In other words, the term Dementia is used to describe symptoms of a wide range of illnesses, which cause a gradual, progressive decline in the cognition of a person, and his ability to function. The changes that occur affect the social,
1. Explain what is meant by the term ‘dementia’ Dementia is the term used to describe a group of symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by certain diseases and conditions. Symptoms are progressive and degenerative and as more brain cell get damaged or die, a gradual loss of memory and decline in other intellectual functions which affects a person’s ability to remember, make rational judgments or communicate and is serious enough to interfere with performing the tasks of daily life. There are many different types of dementia, both inherited and non-inherited forms, with Alzheimer’s disease and Vascular dementia the most commonly diagnosed type. Dementia can occur to anyone at any age from damage to the cardiovascular system or a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, although it is most commonly associated with aging.
This can be caused by a stroke or hardening or thickening of the artery walls which impedes the flow of blood. The vascular system can also be damaged by heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. The brain cells eventually die and this leads to the onset of vascular dementia. If these conditions are treated early enough the onset of dementia may be delayed or even halted. There are different types of vascular dementia and they are dependent on which part of the brain has been damaged and how the damage was caused, as different parts of the brain control different functions of the mind and body.
The cells eventually die and this means that information cannot be recalled or assimilated. As Alzheimer’s disease progressively affects different areas of the brain, certain functions or abilities are lost. Vascular dementia Vascular dementia is the broad term for dementia associated with problems of circulation of blood to the brain. It is the second most common form of dementia. There are a number of different types of vascular dementia.
Less commonly noticed causes include apparently unrelated problems like celiac disease, which some studies show as a possible cause for dementia-like symptoms. It is also possible that some disease with symptoms similar to neurodegenerative diseases gets misdiagnosed as dementia e.g., Lyme’s disease. In most dementia cases, the underlying disease can not be cured. Also, most irreversible dementias are also progressive, the disease progresses and the patient’s brain function declines until the patient is bed-ridden and fully dependent. Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common cause of
DEMENTIA AWARENESS OUTCOME 1. UNDERSTAND WHAT DEMENTIA IS: 1. The word Dementia is an umbrella word for several symptoms that occur when the brain is affected by different conditions and diseases. Dementia is a chronic progressive disease that stops the cognitive parts of the brain from working. Causing depending on the severity of the condition minor to major memory loss.
UNIT 4222-365 UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND EXPERIENCE OF DEMENTIA Outcome 1. Understand the neurology of dementia 1. Describe a range of causes of dementia syndrome Alzheimer’s disease; Vascular dementia; Pick’s disease; Dementia with Lewy bodies (Fronto-Temporal); Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD); Huntington’s disease Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia is a word for a group of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain. It is not a specific disease.
The term dementia is used to describe a group of symptoms, a person with dementia is a person with a range of disabilities which can be more difficult to recognise than physical disabilities dementia is more of a generic term and includes a vast range of conditioms and there causes this is because dementia is more tham just memory loss it is also effects the cognitive function so things like remembering, comprehension, awareness, judgement etc this is due to damage or disease in the body more than what is expected from normal ageing. The key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia include the cerebrum, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) affects the cerebrum. In DLB small, round lumps of proteins build up in the grey matter. These spheres harm nerve cells,
2 How dementia affects decision-making Dementia is the umbrella term for a number of conditions which cause damage to the brain cells. The most common form is Alzheimer’s disease which has a gradual progression. The next most common type is vascular dementia which has a step-like progression. About one in four people with Parkinson’s disease also develop dementia. Short-term memory loss, disorientation and loss of concentration are common symptoms.