Functions that are affected by dementia are; Short term Memory loss, Language skills, the ability to interpret information, spatial skills, judgement and attention. These are all affected with the different types of dementia due to which part of the brain is affected. Depression, Delirium and age related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia as the individual may present with similar signs and symptoms to dementia. To ensure weather these conditions are dementia or not a full assessment needs to be carried out by a qualified doctor. The medical model of dementia sees dementia as being degenerative with no cure.
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.
Dementia Awareness Understand what dementia is. 1) Dementia is where there is a decline of the brain and its abilities, it is caused when the brain is damaged by disease, for example, Alzheimer’s disease, damage to the brain or a series of strokes. There are several types of dementia these include, vascular, Alzheimer’s, lewy bodies, fronto-temporal. 2) Areas affected by dementia are memory loss, speed of thinking, mental agility, language, understanding and judgement. 3) Other conditions such as depression and delirium both have similar symptoms as dementia.
2.2 Describe the key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia. Key functions of the brain are affected by dementia, conditions will deteriorate as dementia is a progressive brain disease. The main areas of the brain that are affected by dementia in terms of causing difficulties with their functions are: 1) Frontal Lobe – this is the part of the brain that controls behaviour, movement, personality and the interpretation of what is around us 2) Parietal Lobe – this is the part of the brain that controls the language we use, spacial awareness and recognition of places, objects and people. 3) Occipital Lobe – this is the part of the brain that controls eyesight and our ability to see 4) Temporal Lobe – this is the part of the brain that controls our speech, hearing and memory Below are the normal and affected conditions of the brain; Key functions of the brain affected by dementia | Normal Brain Function | Effects of dementia on Brain Function | * The brain is made up of billions of cells. Each cell sends messages to many other cells that send messages to our body * Most cells in the brain are called neurons * Neurons communicate with each other by passing an electrical signal down their arms (axons) * This leads to a release of chemical at the ‘fingertips’ * At the end of the axon (at the fingertips) there is a gap, known as a synapse – message passes on by shooting out a special chemical across the synapse and in to the
UNIT 013 - UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND EXPERIENCE OF DEMENTIA UNDERSTAND THE NEUROLOGY OF DEMENTIA 1.1 DESCRIBE A RANGE OF CAUSES OF DEMENTIA SYNDROME 1.2 DESCRIBE THE TYPES OF MEMORY IMPAIRMENT COMMONLY EXPERIENCED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA 1.3 EXPLAIN THE WAY THAT INDIVIDUALS PROCESS INFORMATION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA 1.4 EXPLAIN HOW OTHER FACTORS CAN CAUSE CHANGES IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S CONDITION THAT MAY NOT BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO DEMENTIA 1.5 EXPLAIN WHY THE ABILITIES AND NEEDS OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH DEMENTIA MAY FLUCTUATE There are various forms of dementia which are caused when some of the cells in the brain which control different functions in the body stop working properly and mental functions deteriorate. Depending on which part of the brain this occurs, dementia affects how that person thinks, concentrates, remembers and communicates. * Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s is caused by nerve cells dying in certain areas of the brain. In addition to this, the connections between affected nerve cells deteriorate.
The medical model of dementia the medical model refers to what the clinical approach to dementia is for example how the changes in the brain happen, when the occur and how the condition is managed and what medication is used to manage it. Dementia as a clinical syndrome is characterised by global cognitive impairment,which represents a decline from previous level of functioning, and is associated withimpairment in functional abilities and, in many cases, behavioural and psychiatricdisturbances. a syndrome due to disease of the brain, usually of a chronic or progressive nature, in which there is disturbance of multiple higher cortical functions, including memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capability, language, and judgement. Consciousness is not impaired. Impairments of cognitive function are commonly accompanied, occasionally preceded, by deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour, or motivation.
NVQ Level 2 Adult Social Care Understand what dementia is 1.1 -Explain what is meant by the term ‘dementia’ The word dementia describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease or a series of strokes. 1.2 -Describe the key functions of the brain that are – affected by dementia The key functions that are affected by dementia are as follows: temporal lobe which is responsible for vision, memory, language, hearing and learning. Frontal lobe which is responsible for decision making, problem solving, control behaviour and emotions. Parietal lobe which is responsible for sensory information from the body, also where letters are formed, putting things in order and spatial awareness.
Dementia Awareness 1.1 Explain what is meant by the term Dementia Dementia are the signs and symptoms caused as a result of specific diseases such as Alzheimer’s or a stroke that involve the damaging of brain cells; as the brain cells die the person with a dementia will lose their ability to do things they are used to doing as different parts of the brain are damaged. Dementia affects both older and younger people and the decline in the person will get worse as more brain cells are damaged or die. 1.2 Describe the key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia The main areas of the brain that are affected by dementia in terms of causing difficulties with their functions are: 1) Frontal Lobe – this is the part of the brain that controls behaviour, movement, personality and the interpretation of what is around us 2) Parietal Lobe – this is the part of the brain that controls the language we use, spacial awareness and recognition of places, objects and people. 3) Occipital Lobe – this is the part of the brain that controls eyesight and our ability to see 4) Temporal Lobe – this is the part of the brain that controls our speech, hearing and memory 1.3 Explain why depression, delirium and age related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia Depression can sometimes be mistaken for dementia because with dementia a person’s behaviour and feeling of well-being can change and cause the person to appear withdrawn and this for example might be mistaken for depression. However, if the person is depressed then it could be the depression not the dementia causing them ill-being.
Dementia can affect the following key functions of the brain: - Temporal lobe - Parietal lobe - Frontal lobe - Occipital lobe - Hippocampus - Cerebrum lobe These all affect the function of: -Memory -Emotion -Cognitive skills -Perception -Behaviour -Communication -Senses and movement 1.3 Explain why depression, delirium and age related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia. Delirium, age related memory and depression often affect the memory and cognitive impairment, which can be mistaken for dementia. If someone is clinically depressed, their symptoms may be very similar to someone who has got dementia. Delirium, like dementia, is more common in older adults. Depression, delirium and age related memory impairment are all symptoms of dementia.
People experiencing vascular dementia will, like those with Alzheimer’s disease, have problems with learning, remembering, recognition, planning and problem solving. However, there is a major difference in the two diseases. Alzheimer’s disease tends to affect the whole of the brain and to progress gradually and steadily. Vascular dementia tends to affect only certain areas of the brain, and this means someone may retain more of their abilities – and also more awareness of their condition. Dementia syndrome or ‘mixed dementia’are terms for a condition in which abnormalities characteristic of more than one type of dementia occur simultaneously in the brain.