What is Dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe different brain disorders that affect a person’s memory, thinking, emotions and behaviour. It is caused by different diseases that damage the brain, resulting in the loss of memory, language, problem-solving and cognitive skills. These symptoms interfere with an individual’s daily life and will progressively get worse. Dementia is the leading cause of disability and dependency among the elderly.
There are a number of diseases that cause dementia, the most common being explained below.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss which interferes with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50-75% of dementia cases.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer who first encountered it in 1901 and later documented it in his medical literature. In 1910, Emil Kraepelin, a psychiatrist noted for his work in naming and classifying brain disorders, proposed that the disease be named after Alzheimer.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive and fatal brain disease which destroys brain cells, causing memory loss and problems with thinking and behavior. These symptoms affect an individual’s work, hobbies and social life. The disease gets worse over time and it is ultimately fatal. Today it is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and there are over 50 millions people living with Alzheimer’s worldwide. This number will almost double every 20 years, reaching 82 million in 2030 and 152 million in 2050. The typical life span of someone living with Alzheimer’s is 8-10 years after diagnosis.
Alzheimer’s disease has no current cure but there are treatments for symptoms which combined with supportive services can lead to a good quality of life for those living with Alzheimer’s.
Two abnormal structures called plaques and tangles are prime suspects in damaging and killing nerve cells. Plaques build up between nerve cells. They contain deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid (BAY-tuh AM-uh-loyd). Tangles are twisted fibers of another protein called tau (rhymes with “wow”). Tangles form inside dying cells. Though most people develop some plaques and tangles as they age, those with Alzheimer’s tend to develop far more. The plaques and tangles tend to form in a predictable pattern, beginning in areas important in learning and memory and then spreading to other regions [such as language and mobility]. Scientists are not absolutely sure what role plaques and tangles play in Alzheimer’s disease. Most experts believe they somehow block communication among nerve cells and disrupt activities that cells need to survive.
Vascular Dementia – accounts for 17-30% of all cases of dementia and occurs when small blood clots prevent oxygen from reaching the brain tissue, causing a stroke or mini-stroke, sometimes known as Transient Ischaemic Attack or TIA. Damage to the blood supply can also be caused by blocked arteries or busting of blood vessels in the brain (haemorrhage) ...Read more
Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease – the term younger-onset refers to Alzheimer’s that occurs in a person under age 65. Younger-onset individuals may be employed or have children still living at home. Issues facing families include ensuring financial security, obtaining benefits and helping children cope with the disease. People who have younger-onset dementia may be in any stage of dementia – early, middle or late. Experts estimate that some 500,000 people in their 30s, 40s and 50s have Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. Read more.
Mixed Dementia – a condition in which the brain changes of more than one cause of dementia occur simultaneously, for example the abnormal protein deposits associated with Alzheimer’s disease coexist with blood vessel problems linked to vascular dementia.
Frontol-temporal dementia (rare) – is a rare cause of dementia, which typically develops at an earlier age than Alzheimer’s, sometimes referred to as Pick’s disease. Read more.
Stages of Dementia
Early or mild stage is the early part of the disease when problems with memory, thinking and concentration may begin to appear in a doctor’s interview or medical tests. Individuals in this stage typically need minimal assistance with simple daily routines. At the time of a diagnosis, an individual is not necessarily in the early stage of the disease; he or she may have already progressed beyond the early stage.
Middle or moderate stage can typically last for many years. As this stage progresses symptoms become more pronounced, leading to greater levels of care required to assist the person with dementia as damage to nerve cells in the brain make it harder to express themselves and continue with their daily routine. Confusion with words, acting in unexpected ways and feelings of frustration and anger associated with lack of independence and inability to communicate are often experienced. During the moderate stage of dementia, it’s crucial to continue engaging in meaningful activities, which may need to be simplified over time. A dementia diagnosis does not mean life ends; maintaining an active role in daily life is essential. Encouraging routines that promote physical and social activity helps individuals express themselves, stay connected, and retain a sense of purpose. By focusing on activities that align with their interests, people living with dementia can continue to experience fulfillment and maintain their quality of life.
As dementia symptoms become more severe individuals lose their ability to respond to their environment, to communicate and to control movement. Extensive care is required, and personality changes may take place. Persons living with dementia in this advance stage do benefit from interaction – particularly gentle touch, reassurances and listening to relaxing music. Support services and hospice care can benefit people in the final stages of dementia, their families and caregivers to provide comfort and dignity at the end of life.
