Dementia Awareness
Dementia Awareness
Explain what is meant by the term 'dementia'
- Dementia is a name that best describes a collection of symptoms, which leads to a reduction in someone's abilities and skills when carrying out day to day tasks, i.e. washing, dressing and cooking.
Key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia
- Areas of the brain that are affected by dementia are the Temporal, Parietal, Occipital and Frontal lobes. These all control functions of the brain such as memory, recognition sequencing of actions, verbal communication and regular behaviour.
Explain why depression, delirium and age related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia
- Age, it does increase with age, but many younger people can also develop it. The common types, ie Alzheimer's disease & vascular dementia, are more likely to affect older people. However less common ones, such as frontal-temporal dementia & Parkinson's dementia, are likely to affect people younger than 65.
- Depression /delirium cause’s sudden or acute confusion, which is why when older people get confused as they get older, it gets mistaken for dementia.
Outline the medical model of dementia
Most types of dementia cannot be cured as they are progressive, but the dementias that cannot be cured and that are caused by vitamin and thyroid hormones can be treated with supplements. Some can be treated surgically if it's some form of brain tumour or head injury. For Neurodegenerative types, it is important to prevent any further risk factors so treating things such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 1 diabetes and stopping smokers from smoking can all help do this.
Dementias that can't be cured such as Alzheimer’s can be prescribed a medicine that may prevent symptoms getting worse. Normally people who suffer and are in the middle stages of this disease or are elderly are prescribed this.
The drugs prescribed are:
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors - Treats mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, but can also
Explain what is meant by the term 'dementia'
- Dementia is a name that best describes a collection of symptoms, which leads to a reduction in someone's abilities and skills when carrying out day to day tasks, i.e. washing, dressing and cooking.
Key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia
- Areas of the brain that are affected by dementia are the Temporal, Parietal, Occipital and Frontal lobes. These all control functions of the brain such as memory, recognition sequencing of actions, verbal communication and regular behaviour.
Explain why depression, delirium and age related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia
- Age, it does increase with age, but many younger people can also develop it. The common types, ie Alzheimer's disease & vascular dementia, are more likely to affect older people. However less common ones, such as frontal-temporal dementia & Parkinson's dementia, are likely to affect people younger than 65.
- Depression /delirium cause’s sudden or acute confusion, which is why when older people get confused as they get older, it gets mistaken for dementia.
Outline the medical model of dementia
Most types of dementia cannot be cured as they are progressive, but the dementias that cannot be cured and that are caused by vitamin and thyroid hormones can be treated with supplements. Some can be treated surgically if it's some form of brain tumour or head injury. For Neurodegenerative types, it is important to prevent any further risk factors so treating things such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 1 diabetes and stopping smokers from smoking can all help do this.
Dementias that can't be cured such as Alzheimer’s can be prescribed a medicine that may prevent symptoms getting worse. Normally people who suffer and are in the middle stages of this disease or are elderly are prescribed this.
The drugs prescribed are:
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors - Treats mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, but can also