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
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,
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. In Frontotemporal dementia – Picks Disease, the brain shrinks in the frontal and temporal lobes and a build of specific protein’s occur in these areas. Once the proteins come together, they become toxic and cause brain cells to die. It is not understood why these proteins build up. There are other dementia types too, namely Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) caused by an abnormal infectious protein call Prion which cause nerve damage to
Dementia Awareness Unit 237 Dementia is a condition which is the gradual loss of brain function, this also makes it degenerative. It can include symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, problems with speech and understanding. Dementia at the moment has no cure, as it has a number of diseases that coincide with it. Alzheimer’s is part of dementia. Functions that are affected by dementia are; Short term Memory loss, Language skills, the ability to interpret information, spatial skills, judgement and attention.
UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND EXPERIENCE OF DEMENTIA Task A 1. For each of the following forms of dementia, describe: • How is the brain affected • The symptoms an individual might experience. Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain disease. Most patients start exhibiting symptoms after they reach the age of 60. Alzheimer's disease affects the brain through exponentially greater cell death and tissue loss, resulting in a decreased brain size.
Discuss the deficits Mr Lusk has presented with. Mr Lusk has presented with many of the signs of Dementia. Mr Lusk’ inability to perform everyday tasks and reported progressive memory loss are both factors in Dementia. Mr Lusk’ is also wandering and getting lost in familiar setting this is a sign that Mr Lusk is disorientated with time and place which is an early warning sign of Dementia. Other early warning signs that Mr Lusk has presented with are deficits in language often people with Dementia forget how to speak simple words which can impact on the ability to have a conversation with the person, judgement, insight and thinking are also signs of Dementia people with Dementia have a hard time with abstract thinking and can’t problem solve as well as they use to.
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
In addition to this, the connections between affected nerve cells deteriorate. As the disease progresses, it spreads and affects cells in other parts of the brain. Day to day memory problems are first noticed but other symptoms include not knowing the right words anymore, problem solving, decision making or 3 dimensional perception. * Vascular dementia is caused when the brain is deprived of oxygen. This happens when the arteries which carry oxygenated blood to the brain can't get there and the brain, or part of it, dies.
Unit: Dementia Awareness This unit must be assessed in accordance with Skills for Care and Development’s Assessment Principles. Learning Outcome 1: Understand what dementia is Assessment Criteria 1.1. Explain what is meant by the term ‘dementia’ Dementia is a term used to describe a range of signs and symptoms that occur when the brain is affected. Chemical and structural changes in the brain damage and kill brain cells, dementia is a progressive disease and this simply means that the symptoms will gradually get worse. Neurons and synapses become damaged by dementia they may be unable to carry messages that tell a section of the brain what to do.
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.