December 27, 2016
Written by Rachel Nall RN, BSN, CCRN
Dementia refers to a range of disorders that affect the brain. People with dementia typically have problems with thinking, reasoning, and problem solving.
Forgetfulness is one sign of some kinds of dementia.
Dementia can have a severe effect on memory, and some of its varieties can also lead to physical disabilities such as Parkinson's disease.
Metabolic conditions, endocrine issues, nutritional deficiencies, and infections are some of the causes of different types of dementia.
While older people are more likely to experience dementia, it is not part of the ageing process and can affect younger people too.
Contents of this article:
Main symptoms associated with each dementia type
Different types of dementia will share some symptoms, but other symptoms will be specific to the disease. These are some of the main types of dementia
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Alzheimer's disease
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According to the Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's disease is the most common
dementia type, affecting between 60 and 80 percent of all people with
dementia.
A doctor cannot officially diagnose a dementia type as
Alzheimer's, because they must view specific nerve cell damage in the brain
that can only be examined after a person dies.
In the early stages, people with Alzheimer's typically
have difficulty remembering recent events or conversations, as well as names of
people. They may also experience depression.
In time, people find it increasingly difficult to
communicate, and their judgment may become impaired. They may feel disoriented
and confusion. Their behavior could change, and physical activities such as
swallowing and walking might become harder.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
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This condition represents a number of brain diseases
that are believed to be triggered by prion proteins, which cause problems
throughout the body. Although a prion is neither a virus nor a bacterium, it
can cause a disease.
Types of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease include
"mad cow disease." The condition causes rapid memory, behavior, and
movement changes. It is a rare and fatal condition.
The symptoms can be similar to those of Alzheimer's disease, but
people who have dementia with Lewy bodies may also experience sleep
disturbances, visual hallucinations, and an unsteady walking pattern.
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Dementia
with Lewy bodies
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The symptoms can be
similar to those of Alzheimer's disease, but people who have dementia with Lewy
bodies may also experience sleep disturbances, visual hallucinations, and an
unsteady walking pattern.
Frontotemporal
dementia
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This condition can
trigger changes in how people behave and how they relate to others. It can also
cause problems with language and movement.
Frontotemporal
dementia typically tends to appear in an individual at around 60 years of age, but it can appear
as early as the 20s. It involves a loss of nerve cells.
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Parkinson's disease
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Parkinson's is
a motor system disorder. The hallmark signs include trembling, especially
tremor in the hands. It can also involve depression and behavioral changes.
In the later
stages, the individual may have difficulty speaking. Sleep disturbances might also
occur.
Huntington's disease
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Huntington's is
a genetic disorder that results from a defect on chromosome 4. It can lead to
mood changes, abnormal movements, and depression.
The person may
experience an ongoing decline in thinking and reasoning skills. There could be
slurred speech and problems with coordination. It tends to appear in
individuals aged between 30 and 50 years old.
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Mixed dementia
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Mixed dementia occurs when a person has
dementia due to more than one cause, such as Lewy body dementia and vascular
dementia, or Alzheimer's disease.
Normal pressure hydrocephalus
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This condition results when
cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain, therefore causing pressure.
Symptoms can include memory loss,
problems with movement, and the inability to control urination. It can happen
at any age, but it is more common among older people.
Vascular dementia
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Also known as post-stroke
dementia, this condition occurs after a person experiences bleeding or vessel
blockage in the brain, known as a stroke. It affects a person's thinking and
physical movements.
According to the Alzheimer's
Association, early symptoms may include an inability to
organize, plan, or make decisions.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
This condition occurs due
to a chronic deficiency of vitamin B1 or thiamine. It is most common in
those who chronically abuse alcohol. The effects of alcohol and a poor diet are
likely to contribute to the development of the condition.
The chief symptom is severely impaired
memory, including long-term memory gaps, which the person may try to fill in
with incorrect versions of what they think happened. This unintentional lying
is known as confabulation.
Amyloid plaques in the brain are a hallmark feature of Alzheimer's.
Causes associated with dementia
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Various
factors can lead to different kinds of dementia, but they invariably involve
some form of damage to the nerve cells. How dementia affects people also
depends on where in the brain the damage occurs.
The
exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is not known, but a person with the
condition will have amyloid plaques and tangles in their brain.
Lewy
bodies are clumps of protein that develop in people with Lewy body dementia,
Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease.
Vascular
dementia is the result of damage to blood vessels in the brain.
Metabolic
or endocrine issues, such as thyroid problems, can lead to dementia if the body
is not able to absorb certain nutrients. Nutritional factors, such as a low
intake of vitamin B12, can also play a role.
Infections
can lead to some kinds of dementia. Multiple sclerosis is an immune condition in
which the body attacks its own nerve cells.
Traumatic brain injury has been linked to
dementia in footballers.
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Risk factors for dementia
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While the cause of Alzheimer's disease,
the most common type of dementia, remains unknown, a number of lifestyle
choices can help to prevent other forms of the condition.
The following factors could all reduce
the risk of developing the disease:
Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption
and smoking
Maintaining a healthy blood pressure level
Controlling diabetes
Seeking medical help for depression,
infections, and traumatic brain injury can also reduce the chance of developing
some types of dementia.
At some point, a person with dementia is likely to need someone to look after them.
Lifestyle tips for people with dementia
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Complications of dementia can include a deterioration
of physical health, as the individual becomes less able to take care of
themselves or to eat properly.
Although the symptoms of dementia gradually get worse,
a person can continue to live independently for some time following a
diagnosis.
The United Kingdom's National Health Service note that
it is important to remain in contact with others, continue to see friends and
family, and possibly join a support group.
Sleep has also been known to pose a problem. Good
sleep hygiene tips include keeping to regular bedtimes, not napping during the
day, and avoiding alcohol or caffeine at night.
Many people with dementia can keep active by doing the
things they have always enjoyed, such as walking or gardening.
In time, the person may need help at home, and they
might need to move into a residential home when it becomes too difficult to
live independently.
Family or friends who care for the person with
dementia may wish to consider discussing future plans with them while they are
still able to think clearly and to make decisions.
Written by Rachel Nall RN, BSN, CCRN
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314850.php
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