Dementia Research Paper

Introduction
Dementia is a public health problem currently affecting 24.3 million people worldwide and it is estimated that there will be about 81.1 million people diagnosed with dementia by 2040 as the number of older people increase globally (Ferri et al. 2005). This paper discusses the types, symptoms and causes of dementia, it also includes the methods of diagnosing and treating dementia with respect to their rights as individuals. Methods of easing burden of caregivers through drug therapy are also covered. Lastly, some non-pharmacological therapies are discussed as well.
Definition
Dementia is a syndrome of cognitive deterioration characterised by a range of neuropsychiatric and behavioural symptoms, such as negative emotions, memory
2009, p.14). VaD represents a heterogeneous group of conditions that includes all dementia syndromes that result from ischaemic, anoxic or hypoxic brain damage. Similar to AD, onset is progressive and life expectancy poor although for VaD the disease course can be highly variable and it is characterised by poor concentration and communication and physical symptoms such as paralysis or weakness in limbs (Dawns & Bowers 2008, p.12).

Dementia with lewy body (DLB) is another progressive dementia that is sometimes difficult to distinguish from AD, VaD and/or Parkinson’s disease (De Bellis et al. 2009, p.14). Presence of lewy body refers to abnormal structure within nerve cells of the brain and it is characterised by hallucinations, spatial disorientation, impaired recent memory and fluctuations in mental performances (Dawns & Bowers 2008, p.12).

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system affecting motor functioning. Approximately 30% of people with Parkinson’s disease may develop dementia in the later stages of the illness through the accumulation of Lewy Bodies deep inside the nerve cells of the brain. Parkinson’s disease is characterised by tremors, stiffness, slowness and often speech impediments (De Bellis et al. 2009,
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