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Assignment: Dementia

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Assignment – Dementia

Definition

Dementia is a universal medical terminology that is used to designate a progressive decline in memory or brain function that impacts a person's everyday life. Dementia should not be confused with the common decrease in short-term memory that most individuals will probably experience as they advance in age. Dementia is triggered by alterations in the brain which impairs cerebral function. The common types of dementia include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease (Dementia.org, 2020).

Causes

Dementia is most regularly triggered by neurodegenerative illness or the death and impairment of cells and neurons in the brain. Dementia indicators are susceptible to variations because different parts of the brain can be impacted by neurodegenerative illness. Dementia can also result from stroke, recurring traumatic cranium injuries, or brain cancers. A small percentage (5%) of dementia cases, usually in younger people is a result of other diseases, for example, HIV infection, progressive supra-nuclear palsy, or alcohol-related brain injury (Dementia.org, 2020).

Symptoms

Dementia symptoms do not follow a regular pattern. Individuals are impacted by dementia in different ways. This is because there are numerous variables related to dementia symptoms. Dementia affects individuals in dissimilar ways at each stage of its manifestation. For dementia to be accurately diagnosed, the patient is taken through neurological assessments and cognitive tests to discover what type of dementia they are suffering from. Through this extensive screening, mechanism physicians can determine the rate of cognitive decline and probable treatment for the individual (Dementia.org, 2020).

The common symptoms linked with dementia include: patients have a difficult time finishing daily tasks such as food preparation or housework; patients are unable to find effects that they have misplaced; patients experience the reduced capability to concentrate and focus’ patients are usually confused or disorientated, particularly about the time and dates; some patients show temperament and mood fluctuations; patients struggle to converse verbally or in writing; patients have diminished decision-making and reasoning; patients are unable to adapt to change; patients have difficulties with optical perception i.e., correctly judging distances; some patients also experience loss of motivation, lethargy, and withdrawal from society (Dementia.org, 2020).

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition has created benchmarks for the identification of common dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular, and other uncommon types linked with trauma, Parkinson's disease, and other medical illnesses. The multifaceted nature of each type of dementia requires that physicians’ conduct an extensive variety of analyses before an accurate diagnosis can be determined (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Types of Dementia

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most widespread type of dementia, with more than 1 out of 10 Americans aged above 65 suffering from the disorder. This ratio rises to over 3 out of 10 Americans for individuals aged above 85, signifying the cumulative risk of developing dementia linked to aging. Alzheimer's disease is expected to account for 60% to 80% of all patients diagnosed with dementia. Alzheimer's is a progressive condition that kills brain cells, resulting in memory loss and diminished cognitive capabilities, such as rational thinking, decision-making, and perceptiveness. Even though researchers have not yet discovered a treatment for the condition, several treatments have been revealed to slow the deterioration process and help improve the quality of life for both the individual and family members (Feldman et.al, 2008).

Vascular Dementia is a type of dementia that develops from diminished blood flow to the brain which denies the brain the necessary nutrition and oxygen, triggering a deterioration in rational thinking and cognitive abilities. Like the majority of dementia, there is presently no treatment for vascular dementia. However, research studies have indicated that a healthy lifestyle is beneficial in slowing the progression of its symptoms (Feldman et.al, 2008).

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) is triggered by an accumulation of proteins, identified as Lewy bodies, in parts of the brain that upset both rational thinking and motor control (movement of limbs). LBD is a brain condition that destructively damages cognitive functions along with the movement. There is no recognized treatment to heal or stop the development of Lewy body dementia. However, certain kinds of therapy and other treatments have been revealed to positively manage LBD’s symptoms (Feldman et.al, 2008).

Parkinson's disease is a nervous system disorder triggered by the destruction of brain neurons. Parkinson's increasingly weakens locomotion and communication/speech capabilities. Parkinson's disease does not have any known treatment, but the majority of identified symptoms linked with the condition can be cured. It is estimated that more than half of patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease will progressively develop mild dementia, while nearly 20% will progress to severe dementia (Feldman et.al, 2008).

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is a collection of rare conditions that are categorized by their effects on the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These conditions may affect a patient’s character, actions, mobility, and speech. Patients diagnosed with FTD disorders are frequently younger than those with other types of dementia, and they can be as young as 40. This disorder is often misdiagnosed as a psychological disorder because of the drastic changes in behavior and personality associated with the degeneration of the frontal lobes (Feldman et.al, 2008).

Huntington's disease is a hereditary condition categorized by the progressive disintegration of nerve cells which control temperament, mobility, and cognitive abilities. Huntington's disease is most frequently linked with uncontrolled movements, which are habitually one of the primary indications that individuals with the condition will experience. Huntington's may also have a psychosomatic effect. This is demonstrated by mood swings, melancholy, and augmented anxiety. Approximately 30,000 people in the United States have are currently diagnosed with Huntington's disease. Up till now, there is no recognized treatment, so the controlling of symptoms is the key emphasis of treatment (Feldman et.al, 2008).

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is an uncommon brain condition categorized by the infiltration and dissemination of imperfectly folded proteins all over the body. Once these irregular proteins have reached the brain, they cause deterioration of brain capability, which eventually results in death. Researchers are still conducting studies to understand more about the condition and are searching for treatment options for those that are diagnosed, but the quick spread of irregular proteins and the uncommonness of the illness has hindered their progress (Feldman et.al, 2008).

Normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a category of dementia that is triggered by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain. This fluid accumulation forces the ventricles to expand, ultimately damaging the adjacent brain tissue, resulting in cognitive deficiencies such as loss of bladder control and walking difficulties (Feldman et.al, 2008).

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome happens because of severe thiamine (vitamin B1) deficits triggered by excessive consumption of alcohol. Deprived of thiamine, the brain is unable to sufficiently generate adequate energy to sustain itself, resulting in extreme brain damage and memory loss. The Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a brain condition that occurs in two stages; where Karsakoff syndrome progresses due to long-lasting brain impairment because of Wernicke encephalopathy (Feldman et.al, 2008).

Treatments

Unluckily, a majority of dementia-associated conditions have no known cures. There is no means of slowing or reversing cognitive impairment. However, there are prescriptions and substitute cures that are utilized to manage and lessen symptoms. Treatments and prescriptions will be contingent on the precise dementia condition that the patient is suffering from. Present-day investigations put forward unhealthy habits such as lack of regular exercise, non-balanced diet, smoking, and medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and mild cognitive impairment may all have contributed to the development of dementia (Feldman et.al, 2008).

Recommended preventative measures include: reduce smoking, alcohol abuse, and recreational drug abuse, participate in intellectually stimulating, memory-training undertakings, exercise regularly, socialize, eat a balanced diet, get satisfactory, quality sleep, sufficiently manage stress, manage health problems such as high cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure through strict adherence to appropriate treatments (Feldman et.al, 2008).

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). American Psychiatric Pub.

Dementia.org. (2020). What is dementia? Retrieved from Dementia.org: https://www.dementia.org/what-is-dementia

Feldman, H. H., Jacova, C., Robillard, A., Garcia, A., Chow, T., Borrie, M., & Chertkow, H. (2008). Diagnosis and treatment of dementia: 2. Diagnosis. Cmaj, 178(7), 825-836.

Dementia Corrections

On page 3, please change the reference to the DSM to 5th edition.  This is in keeping with your citation.

Please see yellow highlighted changes to your reference page.

Your reference 2008 could be more current.  This would be my suggestion, but you may have to wait for the chance to find something more up-to-date.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). American Psychiatric Association Publishing.

Dementia.org. (2020). What is dementia? Retrieved from Dementia.org:

https://www.dementia.org/what-is-dementia

Feldman, H. H., Jacova, C., Robillard, A., Garcia, A., Chow, T., Borrie, M., & Chertkow, H. (2008). Diagnosis and treatment of dementia: 2. Diagnosis. CMAJ, 178(7), 825-836. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.070798