Dementia: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Management

1. Understand dementia

Q.1.1 Define the term ‘dementia’

Dementia is not a disease that is significant or only one characteristic featured disease. This is a disease that contains a group of characters that mainly takes place as per the up growing brain issue. As with the ages, the brain got more affected, and as a result, the adverse effect of the brain is seen. There are different hazardous effects on the brain found with respect to the disruption of the works of the brain functions. This is mainly two or the multiple problems that sometimes also got affected by the arising problems of brain. The main two functional abnormalities are seen in the patients affected by the disease "Dementia" (Phillipson et al. 2019). The effects such as the patient forgetting frequently about all things either belonging to the present or the past time-sequenced and another one under observation is the loss of memory. Known skills of the patient become exsiccated with time and the result of the problem is unable to experience the daily basis function correctly. Some medication makes a positive impact but there are no ways to lessen the problem and the effectiveness of this disease.

Q.1.2 Describe key functions of the brain that are affected by dementia

The effects of disease of dementia affect thinking and recognition problems, hamper normal life and increase the chances of anxiety. Anxiety is the problem that is also a reason for the growing insecurity. As this disease affected the brain, hence the problems like weakness break of immunity power and depression are taking place. Medication that need the use of some medicines also have significant effects that also cannot work properly along with their efficacy as they also have the chance to impact the body and the inner system of the body (Darlington et al. 2021). Brain functions are affected by dementia only the executive functions like the proper planning ability with the correctness of a maintained pathway that is needed to make a clear perspective of the flowchart that will help the process and will influence the speed of the thought that will help to understand and execute the problem with effectiveness. If the understanding process got hampered due to impaired memory then it also affects the adverse effects of the brain.

Q.1.3 Explain why depression, delirium and age-related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia

Depression may take place due to the breakdown of self-esteem, power of confidence, lack of appetite, not having proper concentration, and memory problems. The loss of neurons and nerve cells fails to produce proper senses and according to reflections prevents the problem. The destruction of immunity is the cause of less production of antibodies by identifying some foreign particles and preventing them to come across the body. The interest in food intake loss as a result of the lack of appetite happens which also affects brain programming. Loss of memory and frequent forgiveness is also are the two main reasons that are seen and due to the abnormal work culture of the brain. As the brain cannot process the work properly hence, as a result, it is seen that the basic physical function of the brain is also get affected by the disability.

2. Understand models of dementia

Q.2.1 Outline the medical model of dementia

The outline of dementia's medical modelling happens by some reflective index or stages. The medical modelling of dementia focuses on the changing power of the chemical factors of the brain as well as the effect of the factors on the function of the brain. The heavy deposit of protein stuck in the microtubules resist the blood flow to the brain and the oxygen flow to the brain. Due to the presence of a lack of oxygen in the brain, cell death occurs. The alignment of the cell death and loss of neurons, which is the unit of the nervous system, increases the chances of dementia. This gradually increases along with the age and the speed is become high according to the duration. Medical modeling of dementia is mainly focusing on the different issues that are the reasons behind the effectiveness of the brain that is not functioning a properly on regular basis. There should be a problem due to neurological and chemical factors that are affecting the brain's general properties. Understanding the process like the drug development process can only become the way out as the key factor to helping people or cure the people following the proper steps that need to be followed for an effective review.

Q.2.2 Outline the social model of dementia

The social model and the outline of the model for the disease dementia are mainly having the symptoms of weakness with the contrast time of gradual age and the increased rate of dementia causing key factors. As in dementia, the severe death of nerve cells occurs according to the problem of cell death in the brain failing to send the proper signals to the other part of the body. Therefore, that causes the decreasing rate of the working efficiency of the body's immune system. Due to the failure of the body's immunity, the weakness grows up gradually and destroys the power of the body, which helps in the prevention of disease in the body. Social modeling indicates towards the disease dementia is a problem that reflects on the various social behavioral outcomes. This disease affected social behavior as people forgot to recognize the problems and the situational behavior according to the problem hence as a result social behavior also got impaired (Spittel et al. 2019). Social life faces severe problems with loss of memory as well.

Q.2.3 Explain why dementia should be viewed as a disability

Disability means the process in which the body's organs are not at all able to make sensible works to be done properly. There will be not enough energy in response to any unexpected cause that can be resisted by the body if all organs are properly functioning method. A disability is something where there with being incapability according to time and age. In dementia there are the same possibilities are found there the patient's body fails to respond according to the appropriate body behaviour. The death of nerve cells here causes the failure in sending the responses to the other body parts and decreases the body's proper ability. The body becomes weak and as a result body's organs are also unable to make the proper work done with efficacy. Hence the disease of dementia has also been termed a disability. All the quality of the disability is seen in dementia with effective reflection. Disability referees to the various problems that are seen in people when they are not having the ability to be connected with other people (Zheng et al. 2020). The characteristic features such as working ability, proper ways of thinking, or the, abolishment of the memory that helps in person and problem recognition and according to which the social life is suffering in a negative way.

3. Know types of dementia and their causes

Q 3.1 List causes of dementia

Causes of Alzheimer's dementia are done by the proteins that are growing abnormally. The two main proteins involved in Alzheimer's dementia are Tau by blocking the microtubules of the brain as well as the neurons and protein amyloid an excessive deposit in the brain. The cause of Parkinson's disease during dementia is the loss of chemical messengers called dopamine in the brain due to the death of nerve cells. The abnormal growth of the protein in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain hampers the proper functioning of the brain. Korsakoff Syndrome primarily affects the memory of the brain which becomes the cause of dementia. "Vascular dementia" this kind of "dementia" is caused by injury to the "vessels" that provide blood to the brain (James and Bennett, 2019). In "Lewy body dementia" these Lewy bodies are irregular balloon-like clusters of protein substances that can be located inside the brains of individuals with dementia "Lewy body" (Taylor et al. 2020).

Q 3.2 Describe signs and symptoms of dementia

The signs and symptoms of dementia are divided into many aspects.

• Loss of memory respect with the growing age and the people who are facing the problem
• Negative effects that hamper the family and social task to complete efficiently with efficacy
• Difficulty to understand the problems and the respected solution.
• The problem with doing everyday dealings,an individual with “dementia” can encounter difficulty-finishing jobs they regularly accomplish.
• Perplexity regarding time or location, “Dementia” can create it difficult to consider the time.
• Visible data can be hard for an individual with this illness (Bessey and Walaszek, 2019).
• Lack of concentration towards the needed work.
• Impaireness of the words to maintain a healthy conversation to proceed (Hossain et al. 2020)
• Frequent mood swings that also a point to be under observation.
• Increase of anger according to the level of the disease.
• An individual with “dementia” may encounter it challenging to engage in discussions.
• Propensity to lose or misplace something
• It can be difficult for somebody with “dementia” to comprehend between unbiased and proper (Cloak and Al Khalili, 2019).
• Somebody with “dementia” may evolve detached in associating with different people in the house vitality and at their job.
• A person with “dementia” may encounter mood swings or character modifications.
• The disappearance of the ability to control daily basis work like controlling money can affect normal life with flowing smoothness to flow with.
• Unable to identify the proper places and the people around.

Q 3.3 Identify causal risk factors for types of dementia

The causal risk factors for dementia patients are of multiple types. These types of patients can be seen with poor mobility which guiding to an increase in falls. Poor judgment is another associated risk. Sometimes,the patient wanders out of his or her own home (Wanleenuwat et al. 2019). The person sometimes can be observed in a physically aggressive manner. In the “Alzheimer’s” type, family chronology is a significant risk element (Gannon et al., 2019). In the “Vascular dementia” type, risk aspects have “high blood pressure”, “high cholesterol levels” and “diabetes”. In the “Lewy body” kind, “optical hallucinations” and “misconceptions” are risk elements (Wanleenuwat et al. 2019). Lastly, in the “Front temporal” type, differences in colonial conduct, character, and loss of vocabulary skills exist as the threat elements. The main problem that can be treated as the risk factor of the disease dementia is the severe impact of the growing age every 5 years (Rice et al. 2019). The risks are heart problems, digestion problems, urinal infection, and also hypertension, loss of taste, depression diabetes, obesity, and loss or low ability to hear, difficulty in breathing.

Q 3.4 Identify prevalence rates for types of dementia

In the United Kingdom, the prevalence rate for the "Alzheimer's" type, is more than “10%” of people who age over 65, and approximately “50%” of individuals older than eighty-five hold the condition. About “60%” to “80%” of individuals with “dementia” have this kind. In the “Vascular” kind almost a rate of “15%” to “25%” of individuals suffer from “vascular dementia” (James and Bennett, 2019). For the “Lewy body” type, the prevalence rate is around “5%” to “10%”. “Frontotemporal dementia” (“FTD”) frequently appears in individuals between the years of forty-five and sixty-four. The general prevalence of “dementia” in the UK among individuals over the age of “65” is “11.8%” (Richardson et al., 2019). Black individuals included a “22%” more elevated occurrence of “dementia” registered than fair complexion people, the registered prevalence among South Asian residents existed at “17%”.

4. Understand an individual’s experience of dementia

Q 4.1 Describe how individuals may experience living with dementia

Individuals with “dementia” frequently undergo modifications in their dynamic reactions. People may keep less power over their emotions and the way to convey them (Cloak and Al Khalili, 2019). For instance, somebody may exaggerate about items, have immediate mood differences, or sense temperamental (Wanleenuwat et al. 2019). They may even seem unusually outlying or apathetic about something. These modifications are usually problematic for caregivers to deal with. It can assist to reflect that these modifications are partially generated by impairment to the individual’s brain (Bessey and Walaszek, 2019). Individuals may respond more sentimentally to a condition that may be anticipated because of a drop in their capacity to consider undoubtedly or an upset by real recollections (Taylor et al. 2020). “Dementia” may induce individuals to discern uncertainty and forfeit conviction in themselves and their capabilities.

Q 4.2 Outline the impact that the attitudes and behaviours of others may have on an individual with dementia

A person who is dealing with dementia needs more care and attention from their family member and neighbors. The caregivers of those patients also need to give a positive reaction to their fundamental needs and appeals (Bessey and Walaszek, 2019). The family members of those patients always need to be supportive of them. A favourable mindset towards individuals with this illness, and a stronger sense of executing person-centered supervision plans, indicated a more generous understanding of the capability to supply maintenance (James and Bennett, 2019). The family members as well as the healthcare professionals need to listen to the patient carefully and show them respect. The nurses need to handle these patients with adequate patience. The negative reaction toward these patients can create a difficult situation when treating them.

Reference

Bessey, L.J. and Walaszek, A., 2019. Management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Current psychiatry reports, 21(8), pp.1-11

Cloak, N. and Al Khalili, Y., 2019. Behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia.

Darlington, N., Arthur, A., Woodward, M., Buckner, S., Killett, A., Lafortune, L., Mathie, E., Mayrhofer, A., Thurman, J. and Goodman, C., 2021. A survey of the experience of living with dementia in a dementia-friendly community. Dementia, 20(5), pp.1711-1722.

Dobreva, I., Marston, L. and Mukadam, N., 2022. Which components of the Mediterranean diet are associated with dementia? A UK Biobank cohort study. GeroScience, pp.1-14.

Ford, E., Rooney, P., Oliver, S., Hoile, R., Hurley, P., Banerjee, S., van Marwijk, H. and Cassell, J., 2019. Identifying undetected dementia in UK primary care patients: a retrospective case-control study comparing machine-learning and standard epidemiological approaches. BMC medical informatics and decision making, 19(1), pp.1-9.

Gannon, O.J., Robison, L.S., Custozzo, A.J. and Zuloaga, K.L., 2019. Sex differences in risk factors for vascular contributions to cognitive impairment & dementia. Neurochemistry international, 127, pp.38-55.

Grossi, C.M., Richardson, K., Fox, C., Maidment, I., Steel, N., Loke, Y.K., Arthur, A., Myint, P.K., Campbell, N., Boustani, M. and Robinson, L., 2019. Anticholinergic and benzodiazepine medication use and risk of incident dementia: a UK cohort study. BMC geriatrics, 19(1), pp.1-10.

Hachinski, V., Einhäupl, K., Ganten, D., Alladi, S., Brayne, C., Stephan, B.C., Sweeney, M.D., Zlokovic, B., Iturria-Medina, Y., Iadecola, C. and Nishimura, N., 2019. Preventing dementia by preventing stroke: the Berlin Manifesto. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 15(7), pp.961-984.

Hendriks, S., Peetoom, K., Bakker, C., Van Der Flier, W.M., Papma, J.M., Koopmans, R., Verhey, F.R., De Vugt, M., Köhler, S., Withall, A. and Parlevliet, J.L., 2021. Global prevalence of young-onset dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA neurology, 78(9), pp.1080-1090.

Hossain, M., Crossland, J., Stores, R., Dewey, A. and Hakak, Y., 2020. Awareness and understanding of dementia in South Asians: A synthesis of qualitative evidence. Dementia, 19(5), pp.1441-1473.

James, B.D. and Bennett, D.A., 2019. Causes and patterns of dementia: an update in the era of redefining Alzheimer's disease. Annual review of public health, 40, pp.65-84.

Kramarow, E.A. and Tejada-Vera, B., 2019. Dementia mortality in the United States, 2000-2017. National Vital Statistics Reports: From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, 68(2), pp.1-29.

Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Sommerlad, A., Ames, D., Ballard, C., Banerjee, S., Brayne, C., Burns, A., Cohen-Mansfield, J., Cooper, C. and Costafreda, S.G., 2020. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet, 396(10248), pp.413-446.

Phillipson, L., Hall, D., Cridland, E., Fleming, R., Brennan-Horley, C., Guggisberg, N., Frost, D. and Hasan, H., 2019. Involvement of people with dementia in raising awareness and changing attitudes in a dementia friendly community pilot project. Dementia, 18(7-8), pp.2679-2694.

Rice, H., Howard, R. and Huntley, J., 2019. Professional caregivers’ knowledge, beliefs and attitudes about awareness in advanced dementia: a systematic review of qualitative studies. International Psychogeriatrics, 31(11), pp.1599-1609.

Richardson, C., Stephan, B.C., Robinson, L., Brayne, C., Matthews, F.E. and Cognitive Function and Ageing Study Collaboration, 2019. Two-decade change in prevalence of cognitive impairment in the UK. European journal of epidemiology, 34, pp.1085-1092.

Sabia, S., Fayosse, A., Dumurgier, J., van Hees, V.T., Paquet, C., Sommerlad, A., Kivimäki, M., Dugravot, A. and Singh-Manoux, A., 2021. Association of sleep duration in middle and old age with incidence of dementia. Nature Communications, 12(1), pp.1-10.

Spittel, S., Maier, A. and Kraus, E., 2019. Awareness challenges of mental health disorder and dementia facing stigmatisation and discrimination: a systematic literature review from Sub-Sahara Africa. Journal of Global Health, 9(2).

Taylor, J.P., McKeith, I.G., Burn, D.J., Boeve, B.F., Weintraub, D., Bamford, C., Allan, L.M., Thomas, A.J. and T O'Brien, J., 2020. New evidence on the management of Lewy body dementia. The Lancet Neurology, 19(2), pp.157-169.

Wanleenuwat, P., Iwanowski, P. and Kozubski, W., 2019. Alzheimer’s dementia: pathogenesis and impact of cardiovascular risk factors on cognitive decline. Postgraduate Medicine, 131(7), pp.415-422.

Zheng, Y.B., Shi, L., Gong, Y.M., Wang, X.X., Lu, Q.D., Que, J.Y., Khan, M.Z., Bao, Y.P. and Lu, L., 2020. Public awareness and knowledge of factors associated with dementia in China. BMC Public Health, 20, pp.1-9.