Dementia

What is Dementia?

According to Alzheimer (nd), dementia is not a wide range of symptoms associated with
a decline in memory or other cognitive skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to
perform everyday activities. There are many types of dementia, however, Alzheimers accounts
for vast majority of cases of dementia. According to Alzheimer (nd), reports that 60 to 80
percent of dementia cases is Alzheimers. Other types of dementia include Vascular Dementia,
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Mixed dementia, Parkinson's disease, Frontotemporal
dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Normal pressure hydrocephalus, Huntington's Disease, and
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Each type of dementia has a variation in symptoms. However
all of the symptoms are related to a change in the brain.

Cause of Dementia

According to Dementia Care Central (nd) In most cases, dementia is not caused by a
persons behaviors or actions. Instead, most dementia develops as a result of either a biological
cause or a physical event in the body. There are five leading origins of the development of
dementia according to Dementia Care Central (nd). Cerebrovascular causes of dementia are
things such as having a stroke or narrowing of blood vessels, which supply blood to the brain.
Vascular Dementia is the result of cerebrovascular issues. Neurodegenerative Causes of
Dementia are the most common as reported by Dementia Care Central (nd). This type of
dementia happens when brain cells (neurons) break down and die. When this happens a senior
could develop Alzheimers disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Frontotemporal Dementia,
Parkinsons disease, or Huntingtons disease. Some senior will develop Dementia as the result of
toxics. Toxic dementia could be caused by drug use, malnutrition, or a metabolic disorder as
reported by Dementia Care Central (nd), Toxic Dementias include Wernicke-Korsakoff
syndrome and Leukodystrophy. Last but not lease, Dementia can develop after a serious head
injury, which would cause traumatic brain injury.

Symptoms of Dementia

Higuear & Ellis (2016) reports, A person needs to have at least two types of impairment
that significantly interfere with everyday life to receive a dementia diagnosis. The types of
impairments that need to be considered are subtle short-term memory changes, difficulty finding
the right words, changes in mood, apathy, difficulty completing normal tasks, confusion,
difficulty following storylines, failing sense of direction, repetitiveness, and struggling to adapt
to change. It is important to keep in mind that loss of memory alone may not represent the onset
of dementia. However, if your loved one has two or more of these symptoms it is important to
get them in to see a neurologist, who can determine if they have dementia. Early detection and
treatment is key to the best results.
Living with Dementia

According to Stevenson (2016), Mid-to-late stage dementia and Alzheimers disease

often presents challenging behavior problems. According to Stevenson (2016), The anger,
sadness, paranoia, confusion and fear that people with the disease are experiencing can result in
oppositional, aggressive and sometimes violent speech or actions. Individuals who have
dementia may have aggressive speech, which should not be misunderstood. They may have
confusion about place and time, which poses a risk of them getting lost, and not remembering
times and what date it is. Poor judgement such as delusions or untrue beliefs may be present.

How to communicate with a person who has Dementia

Family Caregiver Alliance (nd), reports presents some basic steps to effectively dealing with a
loved one who has dementia. The list is as follows

Positive mood for interaction

Limit distractions and noise when communicating

Use simple words and sentences when communicating

Ask one question at a time, typically closed ended questions

Be patient in waiting for your loved ones reply

Break down activities into a series of steps.

When the going gets tough, distract and redirect.

Avoid asking questions that rely on short-term memory,

Respond with affection and reassurance.

 Bibliography

Alzheimer Association (nd) Types of Dementia

Retrieved from http://www.alz.org/dementia/types-of-dementia.asp#alzheimers

Dementia Care Central (nd) What Causes Dementia? The 5 Leading Origins

Retrieved from https://www.dementiacarecentral.com/aboutdementia/facts/causes/

Family CareGiver Allience (nd), Caregivers Guide to Understanding Dementia Behaviors

Retrieved from

https://www.caregiver.org/caregivers-guide-understanding-dementia-behaviors

Sarah Stevenson (2016), Dementia Care Dos & Donts: Dealing with Dementia Behavior

Problems Retrieved from

http://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/2013-02-08-dealing-with-dementia-behavior/

Valencia Higuera and Mary Ellen Ellis (2016), 10 Early Symptoms of Dementia

Retrieved from

http://www.healthline.com/health/dementia/early-warning-signs#Overview1