Most of the time, dementia is caused by the specific brain disease, AD. However, some uncommon degenerative causes of dementia include vascular dementia (also referred to as multi-infarct dementia), frontotemporal dementia, Lewy Body disease, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Contrary to what some people may think, dementia is not a less severe problem, with AD being a more severe problem. There is not a continuum with dementia on one side and AD at the extreme. Rather, there can be early or mild stages of AD, which then progress to moderate and severe stages of the disease.
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.
1.1 Dementia is a term used to describe a broad range of between 100-150 diseases which affect the brain. Some of the conditions are better than others, while some show more symptoms then others. You can get symptoms of the disease to slow its progress; however dementia is not currently reversible. There are many types of dementia such as; Alzheimer’s- which is the most common type of dementia. Lewy body dementia Picks disease Multi-infarct Dementia Huntington’s Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease 1.2 The brain consists of three main sections: the hindbrain, the midbrain and the forebrain.
Alzheimer's disease the most common accounts for 60 to 80 percent of cases. Vascular dementia which happens after a stroke, is the second most common dementia type. There are several conditions that can cause the symptoms of dementia, some that are for instance a thyroid problem and vitamin deficiencies. Certain causes of dementia can be reversed with treatment, but most cannot. Common causes of dementia that cannot be reversed are Parkinson disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Picks Disease, Vascular Dementia and severe head injuries that caused unconsciousness.
Memory loss about recent events may obscure the presence of intact long-term memory, personality and values that can inform decision making. Health care professionals need to be mindful of their legal, moral and ethical responsibilities towards the person with dementia, and To work collaboratively towards maintaining dignity and quality of life through effective clinical decision making. Negative Positioning … Similar to malignant social psychology (Kitwood 1998; Kitwood & Bredin 1992). Actions such as depersonalising, ignoring, treating them as infants and labelling are examples of malignant social psychology. Such positions result in the person with dementia having a reduced sense of personal worth and can compound his or her feelings of loss, cause embarrassment and humiliation.
Unit 533 - Understand the process and experience of dementia Learning outcome 1 - Understand the neurology of dementia 1. Describe a range of causes of dementia syndrome There are many different forms of dementia and each has its own causes. Dementia may also be a symptom that develops in the later stages of some illnesses. Some of the most common forms or causes of dementia include: • Alzheimer’s disease • Vascular dementia • Parkinson’s disease • Dementia with Lewy bodies • Huntington’s disease • Alcohol related dementia – Korsakoff’s syndrome • AIDS related dementia • Fronto Temporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD) • Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and accounts for between 50 and 70 per cent of all cases.
Dementia is an umbrella term for number of diseases; "over 130 are known today" that affect the memory, behaviour, and motor skills. This causes vary depending on the disease, but largely the presence of "plaques and triangles" on the neurons of the brain are found with people with Alzheimer’s. Plaques are proteins that the body no longer breaks down and allows to build up, those get between the neurons that disrupt message transmission. The tangles are tau proteins within the neurons becoming abnormal. Types of Dementia Alzheimer's disease: This is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for about half of all cases.
There is also the social exclusion side of the illness as well. They may feel like they no longer want to participate in their usual hobbies or going out socially with friends. They may also feel like they are a burden on people and chose to withdraw even more from society. “Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms gradually get worse over time. How quickly dementia progresses vary greatly from person to person.” (Alzheimer`s Society, 2013 p.2.b.)
However, most types of dementia cannot be cured, but medication can be prescribed to slow the symptoms down, such as ➢ Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors ( Donepezil, Galantamine, and Rivastigmine) used to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. Side effects include nausea and vomiting ➢ Memantine hydrochloride. This blocks a chemical in the brain. Used mainly for severe Alzheimers, it is also occasionally used for moderate cases if the patient does not respond well with Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors ➢ Antipsychotics. These are used to try and control challenging and aggressive behaviour.
With Alzheimer patient, atrophy (shrinking) of the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain, generalized atrophy, and or other "signal" changes in the white matter may appear on any of the above tests. An EEG may show non-specific changes. The types of treatment for Alzheimer patients: At this time there is no known definitive cure for Alzheimer. Treatment is aimed at relief of symptons and protection from the affects of the deteriorating condition. Tacrine and/or cognex may be used, and the results vary.