Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that
affect a person’s memory, thinking and reasoning skills, and social skills in a
manner that is serious enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia is not a
specific disease, but rather a term that describes a variety of symptoms of
impaired cognitive function.
What Causes Dementia?
Dementia is caused when some form of damage occurs to the brain,
impairing its function.
The most common types of dementia are irreversible, meaning once a
patient has been diagnosed, the dementia will never go away. Alzheimer's
disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for over 60% of
dementia cases. The second most common form of dementia is referred to as
vascular dementia, which occurs after a person has a stroke.
Some causes of dementia are potentially reversible, such as
infections, certain illnesses, nutritional deficits, poisoning, brain tumors,
impaired oxygen levels, and reactions to medications. These causes of dementia
are more rare than the irreversible causes.
Some studies have shown that heavy alcohol consumption, diabetes,
high blood pressure, high estrogen levels, obesity, smoking, and high
cholesterol levels may contribute to the development of dementia.
Signs and symptoms of dementia include:
- Memory Loss
- Difficulty Completing Daily
Activities (Eating, Getting Dressed, Bathing)
- Difficulty With Communication
& Language
- Problems With Vision
- Difficulty Focusing & Paying
Attention
- Difficulty Planning &
Organizing
- Problems with Disorientation
- Impaired Reasoning & Judgement
Skills
- Personality Changes
- Inappropriate Behavior
- Inability to Reason
- Paranoia
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
Dementia is degenerative, meaning it gets worse as time passes.
Symptoms usually start out very slowly and are not significant enough to impair
a person’s function. As time passes, the signs and symptoms of the disease get dramatic
enough to severely impair a person’s ability to function independently.
Early diagnosis of dementia is key to getting the best results
from treatment options. If you or a loved one are suffering from any of the
above symptoms, please make an appointment with a physician.
How Common Is Dementia?
In the United States, dementia affects people ages 65 and older.
It is estimated that more than 5 million Americans are currently living with
some form of dementia. It is estimated that 1 in 9 citizens over the age of 65 in
the United States have dementia. These staggering numbers indicated that
dementia is extremely common, especially in people over the age of 65.
What Impact Does Dementia Have on the Lives of the Patient &
Their Family?
Because the signs and symptoms of dementia come on slowly, the
impact the disease will have on a patient and their family will not be extreme
at first. As the disease progresses, the degenerative nature of dementia causes
the person to rely more and more on the assistance of others to help them
function on a daily basis. Personality changes can be difficult to handle for the loved ones of dementia sufferers, as well as the loved one's loss of memory about their family members.
Often, people with moderate to severe dementia require constant care be provided to them by a caregiver. Family members of dementia suffers will frequently consider putting their loved ones in a professional care facility due to the immense amount of care that they require. These difficult decisions can be stressful on the family members of patients affected by dementia. A dementia diagnosis is life changing for the patient and their family members.
Often, people with moderate to severe dementia require constant care be provided to them by a caregiver. Family members of dementia suffers will frequently consider putting their loved ones in a professional care facility due to the immense amount of care that they require. These difficult decisions can be stressful on the family members of patients affected by dementia. A dementia diagnosis is life changing for the patient and their family members.
Why Should You Pay Attention to Dementia?
It is estimated that between the years 2000 and 2030, the world's
population of persons aged 65 years and older will increase from 420 million to
almost 1 billion. Because dementia is associated with increased age,
this massive increase in the population of elderly citizens will likely result
in a drastic increase in the number of citizens living with dementia. This means that it is likely that you or a
family member will be affected by dementia either directly or indirectly during
your lifetime.
References
1. Alzheimer's Association. What is dementia? Retrieved
from http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp
2. Dementia Society of America. Retrieved
from http://www.dementiasociety.org/
3. U.S. National Library of Medicine (2015). Dementia.
Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dementia.html
4. Qiu, C., Kivipelto, M., & von Strauss, E. (2009).
Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s disease: occurrence, determinants, and strategies
toward intervention. Dialogues in
Clinical Neuroscience, 11(2), 111–128.
5. Mayo Clinic (2014). Diseases
and Conditions: Dementia. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seo/basics/definition/CON-20034399?p=1
6. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(2015). NINDS Dementia Information Page.
Retrieved from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dementias/dementia.htm
