High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay

Misperception and confusion is often found with the terms dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but there is a distinctive difference. Dementia is a symptom that can be caused by many disorders and Alzheimer’s disease is the type and cause of dementia. When someone has dementia, it means that there will be significant memory problems and other mental troubles. These problems are severe enough to affect the everyday living.

Dementia may be caused by any of the followings: high fever, AIDS, dehydration, systemic lupus erythematosus, hydrocephalus, Lyme disease, vitamin deficiencies, long-term drug or alcohol abuse, poor nutrition, hypercalcemia, hypothyroidism, brain tumor and multiple sclerosis. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay. Dementia can also result from a reaction to medication or a head injury that causes bleeding in the brain. Dementia includes deterioration in memory, and intellectual incapability such as inability to generate comprehensible speech and understand written or spoken language; inability to recognize objects; inability to think conceptually, plan, make sound judgments and carry out complex tasks. The deterioration in intellectual abilities must be severe enough to restrict with daily life. Different types of dementia are related with different symptom, patterns and microscopic brain abnormalities.

Alzheimer’s disease causes drastic changes in the brain. As healthy brain substance degenerate people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease experience a decline in memory and the capability to use their brain to do tasks. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder. It destroys brain cells, causing problems with behavior, memory and thinking severe enough to affect work, or social life. Alzheimer’s disease is fatal and gets worse over time. Alzheimer’s disease is predominantly common in elder persons. Since Alzheimer’s disease is the common cause of dementia, it is frequently associated with the general term dementia. Though, there are many other reasons of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia and that is the fundamental difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Even though Alzheimer’s disease is responsible for 60-70 percent cases of dementia, other conditions that cause dementia include: Parkinson’s disease, vascular dementia, Frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy Bodies. In the early phases of a disease, there may be some differences between the diseases. For instance, in dementia with Lewy Bodies early symptoms may not be forgetfulness, but recurrent visual hallucinations, lowered attention span and variability between phases of lucidity followed by phases of confusion. Nevertheless, as the specific disease progresses, more portions of the brain become involved, and the difference between the various causes of dementia becomes vague and delicate.

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Physicians at times prefer the word “dementia”, perchance because Alzheimer’s has become a heavy and complicated word. “Dementia” someway sounds less terrifying to many people, and now even the specialists have started using this word. Differentiating among other kinds of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is not simple and direct as defining these terms. In reality, people and their disordered behaviors are more complicated than the simple definitions of the disorders.  High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.Remember, the chief difference among dementia and Alzheimer’s is that Alzheimer’s is a definite disease and dementia is an indication of Alzheimer’s.

Link to websites

http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2009/09/dementia-and-eight-types-of-dementia.html

http://www.dementiaguide.com/community/dementia-articles/Difference_Alzheimer’s_and_Dementia

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alzheimers-disease-and-dementia/AZ00053

Causes of Dementia

In a fit and healthy brain, bulk and speed may deteriorate in adulthood, but the brain continues to form vital functions throughout the life. However, when the brain connections are lost due to inflammation, injury or disease, brain cells ultimately die and dementia may possibly result. Understanding cause of the dementia is the first step. In the preceding twenty years, scientists have explained the origins of dementia. Genetics might increase the risks, but scientists believe that a combination of hereditary, lifestyle and environmental factors are the most likely causes. Dementia has several different causes, some of which are hard to tell apart. Causes of dementia may be divided into reversible and irreversible dementias. Some of the conditions that cause dementia may be reversible, even though unluckily most types of dementia do not recover with medical treatment. So, it is very important to assess dementia symptoms carefully, so as not to miss possibly treatable conditions.

Irreversible causes

The main irreversible causes of dementia are given below. Treatment emphases on slowing progress of the underlying disorder and to get rid of the symptoms.

Alzheimer disease: This is the commonly occurring cause of dementia. Alzheimer tends to run in families. In this disease, atypical protein deposits in the brain and destroy brain cells in the areas that control memory and intellectual functions. Alzheimer disease is irreversible, and no known treatment exists. Though, certain medicines can slow its progress.

Parkinson disease: Patients with this disease characteristically have limb stiffness, speech problems, and tremor at rest. Dementia might develop late in this disease, but not everybody with Parkinson disease has dementia. Speech, reasoning, memory, and decision making are likely to be affected.

Vascular dementia: This is another most common cause of dementia. This dementia is caused by hardening of brain arteries. Deposits of dead cells, fat and other debris inside the wall of arteries, partially or completely block the blood flow. This blockage causes disruptions of blood flow, to the brain. Vascular dementia is related high cholesterol, to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and related disorders. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.Treating those disorders can slow the development of vascular dementia.

Lewy body dementia: This dementia is caused by abnormal deposits of protein that is called Lewy bodies, which destroy brain cells. The deposits can cause symptoms like tremor and muscle rigidity. Lewy body dementia affects concentration thinking and attention more than language and memory. Lewy body dementia has no known cure.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: This occurs most frequently in young and middle-aged individuals. Infectious agents which are called prions kill brain cells, causing memory loss and behavior changes. The disease progresses quickly and is fatal.

Huntington disease: This is an inherited disease and causes degeneration of particular type of brain cells that regulate movement and thinking. Dementia occurs in the late phases of this disease. Behavioral changes are characteristic feature. Reasoning, judgment memory and speech may also be affected.

Frontotemporal dementia: This is a rare disorder that harms cells in the front area of the brain. It causes memory loss, language problems and personality changes.

Treatable/reversible Causes

The dementia in these disorders may be reversible or partially reversible.

Head injury: This mentions to brain damage from accidents, for example from road traffic accidents; gunshot wounds; or from activities such as boxing. The resultant damage of brain cells can cause dementia.

Infections: Infections such as meningitis and encephalitis are main causes of dementia. Other infections, like syphilis and HIV, can also affect the brain in advanced stages. In all such cases, inflammation in the brain harms the cells.

Hydrocephalus: The brain fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid. If too much fluid accumulates outside the brain substance, it causes hydrocephalus. This condition raises the pressure on the brain and compresses it. It might cause severe damage and death. Hydrocephalus may cause dementia symptoms or coma. Patients have trouble walking and they start to lose memory.

Brain tumors: A tumor can press on brain structures which control secretions of hormone. They can also press the brain cells, causing damage. Treating the tumor can reverse the symptoms.

Toxic exposure: People who work around heavy metal dust and fumes especially lead without protective equipment may develop dementia because these substances can damage brain cells.

Metabolic disorders: Diseases of pancreas, liver or kidneys can lead to dementia by disturbing the amount of salts and chemicals in the blood. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay. These alterations occur rapidly and affect the patients’ level of consciousness. Treatment of the underlying illness may fully reverse the disorder. If the underlying disease continues, brain cells may die, and the patient will have dementia.

Hormone disorders: Diseases of organs such as thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, pituitary gland, or adrenal glands can cause hormone imbalances, which results in dementia if not treated.

Poor oxygenation: People who do not have sufficient oxygen in their blood may possibly develop dementia because the blood transports oxygen to the brain cells, and the cells require oxygen to live. The common causes of poor oxygenation are lung diseases such as pneumonia or emphysema. Heart disease causing congestive heart failure may reduce the quantity of oxygen in blood. Rapid, severe hypoxia may possibly also cause brain impairment and dementia.

Drug reactions or drug abuse: Certain drugs can cause temporary problems with memory as side effects in aged people. Misuse of drugs, whether deliberate or unintentional, can cause dementia. The common culprits are tranquilizers and sleeping pills. Illegal drugs, especially cocaine and heroin may also cause dementia, particularly in high doses and if taken for long periods.

Nutritional deficiencies: Lack of certain nutrients, particularly B vitamins, can cause dementia if not improved.

Chronic alcoholism: Prolong use of alcohol can causes dementia due to complications of alcohol misuse such as liver disease and nutritional deficiencies.

Link to websites

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/dementia_overview/page3_em.htm#dementia_treatable_causes

http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-dementia

http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_dementias_types.htm

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/dementia/hic_types_of_dementia.aspx

Types of dementia

Dementia develops when the areas of the brain that are involved with memory, learning, language and decision-making are affected by infections or diseases. When life’s encounters include dementia or memory loss, perceptions, priorities and relationships inevitably change. But the good news is that some types of dementia can be reversed or treated if caught in time. With dementia, there will be noticeable decline in learning, communication, problem solving and remembering. These changes may happen quickly or very slowly over time. The development and outcome of dementia differ, but are mostly determined by which area of the brain is affected and the type of dementia and.

It is appropriate to categorize most dementias as Alzheimer type and non-Alzheimer type. The Alzheimer type are characterized primarily by memory loss, supplemented by impairment in other intellectual functions such as language function, skilled motor functions or perception, visual or other. Non-Alzheimer dementias comprise the frontotemporal lobar degenerations, which usually are of two types.High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.  One mainly affects speech and the other is characterized mainly by changes in behavior, and personality change. In both types, memory loss is comparatively mild, if present. Other types of dementia, comprising vascular disorders, normal pressure hydrocephalus, Parkinson’s dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies would be categorized under the non-Alzheimer disorders.

Dementias can be categorized in a variety of ways and are frequently grouped by common similarities, such as the brain is affected, or deterioration over time which is termed as progressive dementias. According to most professionals, there are two main types of dementia, depending upon the area of brain affected, that are called cortical and subcortical dementias. Brain disorders causing dementia are situated either in the cortical area or within subcortical regions of brain.

Cortical Dementia – In cortical dementia, the cerebral cortex of the brain is affected. This is the outer region of the brain. The cerebral cortex is important for intellectual processes, such as memory and language. The distinctive convolutions of the cortex play an important role in processing information. Patients with cortical dementia are unable to recall words and understand language. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Pick’s disease, Binswanger’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease are included in cortical dementia.

Subcortical Dementia – In subcortical dementia, the region of the brain below the cortex becomes impaired or damaged. Memory and language are not typically affected. A person with subcortical dementia will experience changes in his behavior, his thinking might slow down, and his concentration span may be shortened. Dementias which result from Parkinson’s disease, AIDS and Huntington’s disease are subcortical dementias.

In multi-infarct dementia, both the cortical and subcortical areas of the brain are affected or damaged. Multi-infarct dementia is caused by a sequence of small strokes. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.A stroke is a disruption in or obstruction of the blood supply to any portion of the brain. When the strokes affect a small area, there may be no signs of a stroke. Over time, when more areas of the brain are involved, the symptoms of multi-infarct dementia begin to appear.

Link to websites

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/dementia/hic_types_of_dementia.aspx

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142214.php

Signs & symptoms of dementia

Symptoms of dementia differ considerably by the patients, the primary cause of the dementia and the part of brain that is affected. Most patients affected by dementia have some of these symptoms. The symptoms may be evident, or they may possibly be very subtle and remain unrecognized for some time. The first indication of dementia is generally loss of short-term memory. Additional symptoms and signs are as follows:

Early dementia

The earliest and most obvious symptom is memory loss

Trouble in identifying people and places

Word-finding trouble – this can be compensated by defining the word or using alternative word

Fail to recall names, recent events, or losing things

Trouble in performing familiar activities – household tasks, driving, cooking a meal

Personality changes – such as a sociable person becomes quiet or a quiet person is silly

Unusual behavior

Poor decision making

Behavior disorders – Distrust and suspiciousness

Mood swings, often with momentary periods of anger

Decline in level of functioning but able to follow conventional routines at home

Confusion, disorientation in strange surroundings

Depression is common, and anxiety or violence may occur. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.

Intermediate dementia

Deterioration of symptoms that are seen in early dementia

Incapable to carry out daily activities e.g. bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding etc

Disturbed sleep

Increasing confusion and disorientation even in familiar environments

Incapable to learn new information

Hallucinations

Risk of accidents and falls due to confusion and poor judgment

Behavior disorders – aggressiveness, misunderstandings, suspicious, nervousness and inappropriate sexual behavior

Believing the person has completed or experienced things that never occurred

Distraction, poor concentration

Lack of interest in the world

Abnormal moods; depression, anxiety

Severe dementia

Worsening of symptoms that are seen in early and intermediate dementia

Complete dependency on others for daily activities

Unable to walk or move from one place to other place independently

Weakening of other movements such as swallowing

Complete loss of both short- and long-term memory – unable to recognize even friends and close relatives

Increases risk of undernourishment, choking, and inhaling foods and drinks into lungs

Complications – malnutrition, dehydration, infections, problems with bladder control, aspiration, pressure sores, seizures, injuries from falls or accidents

The person may not be conscious of these problems, particularly the behavior problems which become apparent in the advanced stages of dementia.

In elderly people, depression may cause dementia like symptoms. Approximately 40% of patients with dementia are also sad and depressed. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay. Common signs and symptoms of depression are depressed mood, sleep disturbances, weight gain or loss, withdrawal from others, loss of interest, suicidal thoughts, loss of capability to focus or think clearly and feelings of worthlessness.

People with untreated dementia present a gradual decline in intellectual functions and movements. Complete dependence and death are the last stages.

Some types of dementia cause certain symptoms: Patients who have dementia with Lewy bodies have visual hallucinations. And they might fall frequently. In frontotemporal dementia the first symptom may be unusual behavior or personality changes. Patients with this disease may not express any concern for others, or they may say impolite things, make sexually explicit remarks or expose themselves. In vascular dementia there is abrupt onset of symptoms.

It is essential to know that memory loss may be caused by disorders other than dementia, like depression, and those disorders may be treated. Moreover, occasional problems with memory such as forgetting somebody’s name can be a usual part of getting old.

Link to websites

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/dementia_overview/page4_em.htm#dementia_symptoms

http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/tc/dementia-symptoms

Caring for dementia patients

When an individual with dementia finds that their intellectual abilities are deteriorating, they often feel helpless and in need of encouragement, support and assurance. The persons closest to them, including their family members and friends, must do everything to help the individuals to retain their feelings of self-worth and sense of identity. A person with dementia may follow these steps to improve quality of life.

Quiet, peaceful and steady surroundings

A quiet, peaceful and even surrounding reduces problems such as anxiety, nervousness and confusion.  High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.Unfamiliar situations or people, disturbed routines, feeling rushed, loud noises, or being asked to finish multistep tasks can cause frustration. When a patient has dementia, becoming distressed reduces the capability to think clearly even more.

Sleeping pattern

Dementia behaviors may become worse at night when the patient is more tired, stressed by the demands of the day or maybe confused because of darkness. Try to establish calming sleeping routine. It can be helpful to avoid the noise of television or family members. Leaving lights on helps prevent confusion. Exercising during the day, avoiding daytime napping and lim iting caffeine during the day may help prevent nighttime agitation. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.

Reminder

A patient can use a reminder for upcoming events and tasks that needed to be completed on daily basis. The patient may check off those tasks when done.

Make a plan

A patient should make a comprehensive plan that identifies objectives for care. Various support agencies, legal advisers, primary and specialty doctors, care centers, and family members can help achieve these objectives. The families should consider about the followings:

The plan for treatment

Primary caregiver

Caretaking at a family home or a nursing home

Support in daily routine such as meal preparation, taking medications and daily hygiene

Put labels on everything to help them with the forgetfulness

Treat them with affection and respect

Plan activities that are stress free such as music therapy and walks to the garden or park

Legal issues such as power of attorney for health care issues and a living will

The disease will progress over time, and the care needs to be adjusted with symptoms. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay. Patients with dementia should be encouraged to carry on their daily activities as long as the activities don’t cause confusion or frustration. Mental, physical and social activities help maintain a individual’s health and well-being.

Lifestyle modification

Leading a healthy lifestyle is vital to lowering your risk of dementia and other diseases. Recent research proposes that good mental stimulation and health habits may delay the onset of dementia. Plans to improve mental clearness are:

Regular exercise: Exercising regularly will make the heart and circulatory system more effective. It will also help lower the cholesterol and blood pressure, decreasing the risk of developing dementia.

Challenge your mind

Eat a healthy diet: A low-fat, high-fiber diet is recommended, comprising fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains. Limit the amount of salt in the diet. Too much salt will increase the blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing dementia. Avoid eating foods that are rich in the cholesterol, which also increases the risk of developing dementia.

Minimize stress

Get regular and peaceful sleep

Avoid smoking and reduce drinking: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption increases blood pressure and blood cholesterol level. Both are major risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases and dementia.

Maintain a healthy weight: Overweight may increase the blood pressure, which increases the risk of dementia.

Keep the blood pressure at a healthy level.

Link to websites

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dementia/DS01131/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Dementia/Pages/Prevention.aspx

How is dementia treated?

Because dementia can be caused by any number of disorders, obtaining a precise diagnosis is important for the management and treatment. However dealing with dementia is a challenge, the doctor can assess the personal risk factors, evaluate symptoms, offer tips on healthy lifestyle, and help to obtain suitable care. For most of the dementias, treatments to reverse or stop disease development are not available. However, treatment with available medicines and other methods, such as cognitive training can benefit the patients to some extent.

Drugs to specially treat Alzheimer’s disease as well as other progressive dementias are available and are prescribed for several patients. Though these drugs do not stop the disease or reverse the brain damage, they can improve sign and symptoms and slow the advancement of the disease. This may possibly improve the person’s quality of life, ease the liability on caregivers, and delay the admission to a nursing home. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay. The researchers are also evaluating whether these drugs are useful for the management of other kinds of dementia.

Many individuals with dementia, mostly those in the early stages of the disease, may possibly benefit from practicing tasks intended to improve performance in particular aspects of intellectual functioning. For instance, individuals can sometimes be educated to use memory supports, such as reminders, note taking or computerized recall devices.

Behavior amendment – rewarding suitable or positive behavior and disregarding inappropriate behavior may help control intolerable or dangerous behaviors.

Treatment of dementia possibly will help slow or reduce the development of symptoms.

Cholinesterase inhibitors: These medicines work by increasing levels of chemical messengers involved in judgment and memory. Side effects can comprise diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. Though mostly used in Alzheimer’s disease, they’re also used to treat Parkinson’s, Lewy body and vascular dementias.

Memantine: This drug is widely used for the treatment of dementia. It works by regulating the action of glutamate, which is a chemical messenger involved in almost all brain functions, such as memory and learning. Its common side effect is lightheadedness or dizziness. Some studies have shown that combining cholinesterase inhibitor with a memantine may have even improved results. However, it is primarily used to cure Alzheimer’s disease, but it may also be helpful in improving signs and symptoms in other dementias.

Additional medications: However, no standard treatment for dementia is available, but some symptoms can be treated. Other treatments aim to decrease the risk factors for advanced brain damage and impairment.

Management of the underlying causes of dementia may also slow or at times stop its progression. For example, to prevent a stroke, the clinician may prescribe medicines to control raised cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and heart disease. Clinicians may also prescribe medicine to treat disorders such as blood clots, sleeplessness and anxiety for individuals with vascular dementia. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.

In addition, some particular symptoms and behavioral issues can be managed with antidepressants, sedatives and other medications, but certain drugs may possibly worsen other symptoms.

There is no treatment available for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Care should be focused on making sure that the person is contented and relaxed.

Link to websites

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dementia/DS01131/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

http://www.medicinenet.com/dementia/page16.htm#is_there_any_treatment_for_dementia

http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_dementias_types.htm

TESTS USED IN DIAGNOSING DEMENTIA

Memory impairment and other dementia symptoms have numerous causes, so diagnosis may be challenging and it involves a number of tests.

Medical history

The doctor will ask about the onset of symptoms and any other health problems that might help in diagnose, for example diabetes mellitus, hypertension or a family history of dementia. The doctor may also request information from the family member.

Physical examination

A physical examination helps to rule out causes of dementia and other disorders that may cause similar symptoms. This examination can also help recognize signs of other diseases, such as vitamin deficiency, heart disease, hormonal diseases, infection and any side effects of medication, which can overlap with dementia. These other causes are easily treated. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.

Cognitive tests

Intellectual functions should be evaluated to diagnose dementia. A number of tests measure general intellectual skills, coordination, academic skills, spatial skills, language skills, attention, memory, judgment and reasoning. The objective is to determine presence of dementia is present, its severity and affected part of the brain. Some of the commonly applied cognitive tests comprise:

Mini-Mental Status Examination

This test is conducted by a doctor and takes around 5 minutes to complete. The Mini-Mental Status Examination is the most common test for detecting dementia. It evaluates skills such as writing, reading, coordination and short-term memory.

Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive

This test can be used for individuals with mild symptoms. It is the best brief examination for language and memory.High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.  It takes approximately 30 minutes and is conducted by a specialist or a psychologist.

Neuropsychological evaluation

This involves very sensitive tests conducted by a neuropsychologist. The usual testing session will take approximately 2 hours and may be performed over more than one visit. A number of tests will be used and may comprise tests of memory, reasoning, comprehension and writing.

Radiological tests

X-rays may be taken. Chronic smokers will commonly need a chest X-ray to detect lung tumor, which may cause a secondary brain tumor.

Brain imaging techniques

Brain imaging techniques are necessary to identify tumors, strokes or other conditions that can cause dementia. Alzheimer’s disease alters brain structure and can be seen with a brain scan. Several kinds of scans are in use.

CT and MRI scans. The best imaging techniques for detecting dementia are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT). Magnetic resonance imaging is a technique that uses a radio waves and magnetic field to create thorough images of the tissues and organs. Computerized tomography is an X-ray technique that creates images of body and shows internal structures in cross section. These scans help to identify strokes, brain-size changes and other problems such as hydrocephalus.

Electroencephalogram (EEG). This device can detect and record outlines of electrical activity and abnormalities. These abnormalities can indicate intellectual dysfunction, which is common in individuals with moderate and severe Alzheimer’s disease.High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.  An EEG can also identify Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, seizures and other conditions associated with dementia.

Positron Emission Tomography and Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography

In these tests, a radioactive substance is injected into the person and emissions from the brain are detected through the detectors in the scanner. Positron Emission Tomography gives visual images of brain activity. Single-Photon Emission Computerized Tomography is used to see the blood flow to different regions of the brain.

Laboratory tests

Different types of lab tests can help rule out dementia and other illnesses, such as kidney failure, which can cause similar symptoms. Treatable medical diseases are often associated with dementia. Tests that can help in detecting treatable medical diseases include:

Complete blood count to rule out anemia and infection

Blood glucose test to rule out diabetes

Blood or urine test to detect drugs or alcohol

Renal function test

Serum electrolytes

Liver function test

Tests for Vitamin B12 deficiency

Thyroid hormone levels to rule out hypothyroidism

Cerebrospinal fluid examination to rule out brain infections

Psychiatric evaluation

This test may be performed to rule out depression or other psychiatric disorder.

Link to websites

http://www.fightdementia.org.au/understanding-dementia/tests-used-in-diagnosing-dementia.aspxhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dementia/DS01131/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis

Understanding the Various Dementia Stages

Dementia is a disorder that is characterized by a group of signs and symptoms that results in weakening of the function of brain. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay. There are distinct dementia stages and each has its characteristic symptoms. Several symptoms may possibly be experienced by nearly all patients affected with this condition but it must be noted that sign and symptoms of dementia stages may also differ from person to person. It will be appropriate to look at various stages of dementia along with the proper dementia care that is required.

Main Stages of Dementia

There are three main stages of dementia which categorizes the disorder into general signs and symptoms.

Mild: In this stage, affected persons still have the ability to live independently and they can still perform day-to-day hygiene activities such as taking a bath. They can also make sensible judgment but their ability to socialize and work is impaired.

Moderate: In this stage, working somewhere is not possible any longer. In this stage, the independent living begins to diminish. Therefore, supervision may be beneficial.

Severe: In this, affected persons needs total observation since their independent functions and everyday activities are severely damaged.

Dementia can also be classified into different stages by concentrating on the intellectual function of the patients experiencing dementia. This classification consists of seven stages and comprises a wide-ranging list of signs and symptoms.

The Seven Stages of Dementia

Stage 1/No Cognitive Decline

In stage 1, there are no clinical and personal complaints of memory loss.

Stage 2/Very Mild Cognitive Decline

Stage 2 is characterized by memory weakening related to aging, for example, individuals forget where they placed things and even names. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.

Stage 3/Mild Cognitive Decline:

In this stage clear cut impairments occur. Patient may perform poorly at work and may be lost when going to familiar places. They may also forget names and items as well as forget valuable things.

Stage 4/Moderate Cognitive Decline:

This stage is manifested by reduced knowledge of recent happenings, familiar persons, personal history and even reduced concentration.

Stage 5/Moderate Dementia:

Individuals are totally dependent on others. They can’t remember names such as their family member names and phone numbers.

Stage 6/Moderately Severe Dementia:

The patients may retain some awareness of their past but may at times forget name of family members and latest experiences. They might also slow delusional behavior along with preoccupied and anxiety symptoms.

Stage 7/Very Severe Cognitive Decline:

In this stage, verbal skills, urine control and motor skills such as walking are totally lost.

Link to websites

http://www.dementiacarecentral.com/node/540

http://www.dementiastages.net/

What is the definition of dementia?

Dementia is a broad-spectrum term that defines a group of symptoms-like loss of memory, language, judgment, and intellectual function. The word dementia comes from the Latin word meaning “apart from mind”. Dementia is a group of disorders that cause a permanent deterioration of individual’s ability to reason, think and manage his own life. Dementia is triggered by biological processes inside the brain that cause the permanent destruction or death of the brain’s cells.

The number of patients with dementia is progressively increasing. Dementia is considerably more common among aged people. Though, dementia can affect people of any age but it is comparatively infrequent in people under the age of 65. In the world there are approximately 36 million people with dementia. Almost 28 million individuals living with dementia do not have a diagnosis. It is predicted that numbers of patients living with dementia worldwide double every 20 years.

Dementia causes an individual to have weakened memory, absent-mindedness, an inability to remember new information, to lose the capability to speak and the capability to understand spoken or written language. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay. The patient also loses the aptitude to plan, make good decisions and perform multi-step jobs. This means that the patient cannot manage his daily routine. With this diagnosis, the consequences for the patient and his family can be shocking.

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Dementia is the continuous decline in intellectual functions that is the ability to process thought or intelligence. Continuous decline means the symptoms will progressively become worse. The worsening is more than might be predictable from normal aging and is due to the disease or damage. Dementia isn’t a particular disease. Instead, dementia refers to a set of symptoms affecting intellectual and social capabilities severely enough to effect daily functioning. Generally, memory loss occurs in dementia; however only memory loss doesn’t mean you have dementia. Dementia specifies problems with at least two brain functions, for example memory loss and impaired language or judgment. Dementia can make the patient confused and incapable to remember individuals and names. Patient may experience alterations in personality and social conduct. Though, some causes of dementia are curable.

Many reasons of dementia symptoms are present. Diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Vacular dementia or Lewy body disease that are categorized as dementias have some factors in common. Alzheimer’s disease represents about 60 percent of all dementias and in individuals over the age of 65, it is the common cause of dementia. The other common causes of dementia are Lewy bodies and vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is caused by blockage of blood supply. Other forms include alcohol dementia which is caused by continuous use of alcohol; trauma dementia which is caused by head injury; and an infrequent form of dementia that is fronto-temporal dementia.

Dementia, contrasting Alzheimer’s, is not an ailment in itself. In dementia, the higher intellectual functions of the patient are involved in the beginning. In the later stages, the patient might not know what day of the week it is, and might not be able to recognize the people around him. The clinical signs, symptoms and the course of dementia differ, depending on the type of illness causing it, and the site and number of impaired brain cells. Some types progress gradually over years, whereas others may result in abrupt loss of intellectual function. All types of dementia are characterized by different structural or pathologic alterations in the brain, such as collection of atypical plaques and tangles in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and accumulation of abnormal tau protein in patients with fronto-temporal dementia.

When a patient is diagnosed with dementia, the patient or the family members have no information regarding the type of dementia. Each type disease related to dementia has a different sequence of illness, different signs and different encounters. The managements and mediations may be different as well. High Fever Aids Dehydration Health Essay.