Examining Dementia
Abstract
This paper examines the health issue of dementia. It focuses on its impact on the human nervous system and identifies symptoms, causes, and prevalence both in the United States and globally. Management and treatment strategies are also discussed. The methodology used in this paper consisted of reviewing internet sources, primary literature, and real-life case studies. The results show that dementia has a significant global impact, and that there are varying management techniques. The paper concludes by highlights the need for additional research to give patients more effective management strategies. The purpose of this paper is to give a comprehensive overview of dementia so as to yield a better understanding of its implications.
Introduction
Dementia is a health term for conditions characterized by the impairment of brain functions (Mendez & Cummings, 2003). It is often associated with the aging population, due to the prevalence of cognitive decline in that population. But dementia can also occur in children (Elvidge et al., 2023). This paper looks at the illness of dementia, examines its effects on the human nervous system, the symptoms and causes, its prevalence, and current management strategies. The interest in this topic stems from the fact that every year millions are affected worldwide. Thus, as dementia is a significant problem in healthcare, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of what that problem consists.
Materials and Methods
To investigate dementia, a review of existing literature was conducted using online databases, scientific journals, and real-life case studies. The focus was on identifying reliable and recent sources to ensure the accuracy of the information. Ethical considerations, particularly in the use of real-life examples, were followed at all times in the retrieval of information and the gathering of data.
Results
Organ System Affected
Dementia impacts the nervous system, with the brain being the primary site of degeneration and dysfunction. The brain's structure and chemistry change as dementia progresses, and these changes can include the development of plaques and tangles in the case of Alzheimer's disease, reduced blood flow in vascular dementia, and abnormal protein deposits in Lewy body dementia (Gmez-Isla, T., & Frosch, 2022; Outeiro et al., 2019). Each type of dementia affects the brain in a unique way, but all lead to a decline in cognitive function and the ability to perform everyday activities. Thus, what characterizes dementia no matter the population affected by it is the loss of cognitive ability.
Symptoms and Causes
The symptoms of dementia can vary wifely and depend largely on the disease's progression and the brain areas affected. Because there are different types, symptoms tend to differ as well (CDC, 2023). Common symptoms can, however, include memory loss, particularly short-term memory; difficulty in thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving; challenges with language, such as struggling to follow a conversation or find the right words; and sometimes changes in mood and behavior. As dementia progresses, symptoms can include confusion, difficulty in recognizing family and friends, and significant personality changes. This can inevitably lead to problems for caretakers as well as they struggle with the effects and strain that dementia can place on family and friends (Elvidge et al., 2023)....
…and caregivers. The effectiveness of such a multifaceted approach has been supported by various studies, which have shown that combining different management strategies can lead to better outcomes for dementia patients.However, this study also brings to light certain unexpected variations in the incidence rates of dementia, both across different geographical regions and among various genetic populations. These variations suggest that there are underlying factors influencing the prevalence and manifestation of dementia that are not yet fully understood. For instance, the higher incidence of dementia in certain regions could be attributed to genetic predispositions, environmental factors, differences in lifestyle, or a combination of these elements (CDC, 2023). Researchers are also looking at the role of genetics in dementia, as this is a rapidly evolving area of research, with studies suggesting that certain genetic mutations can significantly increase the risk of developing types of dementia like Alzheimer's disease. Overall, this is a disease that is still not entirely understood, especially as it has so many different expressions, due to variations in its onset (Mendez & Cummings, 2003).
Conclusion
Dementia is a serious health issue, because it affects the nervous system and causes a host of cognitive impairments. Current management strategies provide some relief, but there is no cure. Thus, research into this illness tends to focus on finding more effective treatments and obtaining a deeper understanding of why and how the disease starts. This paper has shown what dementia is, broadly speaking, and why more research is needed for the development of management strategies that can improve the qality of…
References
CDC. (2023). What is dementia? Retrieved from What is Alzheimer's Disease? | CDC Elvidge, K. L., Christodoulou, J., Farrar, M. A., Tilden, D., Maack, M., Valeri, M., ... &Childhood Dementia Working Group Thorburn David R Hilton Gail Van Velsen Ellie Cini Danielle Davis Briana Webster Richard Ellaway Carolyn J Inwood Anita. (2023). The collective burden of childhood dementia: a scoping review. Brain, awad242.
Gómez-Isla, T., & Frosch, M. P. (2022). Lesions without symptoms: understanding resilience toAlzheimer disease neuropathological changes. Nature Reviews Neurology, 18(6), 323-332.
Mendez, M. F., & Cummings, J. L. (2003). Dementia: a clinical approach. Butterworth-Heinemann.
Outeiro, T. F., Koss, D. J., Erskine, D., Walker, L., Kurzawa-Akanbi, M., Burn, D., ... &McKeith, I. (2019). Dementia with Lewy bodies: an update and outlook. Molecular neurodegeneration, 14(1), 1-18.
Dementia and Normal Ageing Old age comes with quite a number of complications and change of behavior as well as physical changes. On the other hand, dementia also comes in with several symptoms that are closely related or similar to those displayed by people in old age. This makes it quite tricky for the family members of an ageing individual to tell whether the person is undergoing normal ageing or has
Since individuals who are included in those demographics normally will have less in resources that can be used to seek out treatments, the burden will fall on society. If an efficient and cost-effective treatment can be found then society, as well as the individuals affected would benefit greatly. Works Cited Akamine, D., Filho, M.K., Peres, C.M. (2007) Drug-nutrient Interactions in Elderly People, Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, Vol.
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(Alzheimer's Society, 2007). As affirmed that fifty five staff members were presented at all four sittings of the certificate training. Members who focused on all four sessions were alike to those who did not, in age, sum of years finished in school, employee's position and other individuality. As predictable, those who worked most to all of their time on the individual care unit were more probable to complete all four
Dementia Five important issues caregivers should be aware of when working with dementia patients. dementia is a "progressive and terminal" disease that "you can die from," according to a peer-reviewed article in BMC Medicine (van der Steen, 2013, p. 1). Van der Steen conducted a survey using 372 nursing home patients from 28 nursing facilities in the Netherlands. The initial survey reflected that just 43% of the families understood that "you can
Dementia Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia, of which there are many types. Dementia is a term that describes a number of conditions that lead to a loss of intellectual capacities but initially occurring with clear consciousness. The area most often first affected is memory; however, with some types of dementia this may not be the case. The DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for dementia consist of memory loss and the loss
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