UNDERSTANDING DEMENTIA
There have been a huge misunderstanding of how dementia is formed. From Clinical Care to Local Political Leaders, there have been various misconcept on the subject of dementia.
Working in the elderly care center for eight (8) month(s) where I was told to take charge as operations manager and than to take charge of its finance and HR, I have been able to see and analyse many of the issues we in the hospital face. One of them are patient or resident s with dementia.
Leaders of caregivers
It had become an issue because many of the leaders of caregivers (Nursing Managers) assume that residence of dementia patient have the inability to THINK. That is really not the case. They can think but they seem to forget but it is more than forgetfulness, in the process they lose confidence and become confused. That brings in the fear of their surroundings and the failure of calmness to recollect what they have to remember.
Political Leaders
These set of group which are a group of elitist who are Political Leaders have misunderstood ideas that these are subjective to old people not working and being idle that they would have dementia.
It has not proven in the medical or scientific world. Its purely a myth. For their own interest in having the aging population to work over the age of the normal retirement age of fifty-five (55) and to go on beyond that of the age of sixty seven(67).
To date very little has been research about this silent disease. In fact research to this disease has been minimal compared that to AIDS or CANCER. Lately though there are some nations who have invested in the research to this disease namely the UK and France.
What is dementia?
Dementia is an illness that effects the brain and its ability to function. Dementia is not a normal part of aging, but is an illness that leads to the decline of the brain and its ability in judgement, language, planning and behaviour. It can affect adults of any age, although it is more likely to occur in those above sixty (60) years old.
There are several types of dementia :
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common. It affects up to 70% of all people with dementia.
- Alzheimer’s disease damages the brain, resulting in impaired memory thinking and behaviour
- three (3) in ten people over eighty five (85) having dementia
- This disease can affect anyone of any age
- Familial Alzheimer’s disease is a very rare genetic condition, that can affect those less than the age of sixty five (65) years.
It is not known why individuals get Alzheimer’s disease late in life. Scientists are still investigating what triggers the formation of these plaques and tangles and other chemical changes that damage brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease.
It is suspected that a variety of causes that are being investigated. Including factors in the environment, biochemical disturbances and immune process. It varies from person to person and it may be due to one factor or a number of factors.
The factors in the environment study have been done in France, Paris, researching have linked air pollution mostly from vehicles is associated with an increased risk of dementia.
The link remained even after heavy drinking, smoking and other well-established risk factors for dementia were ruled out. This research was published in medical journal BMJ Open.
The Straits Times dated 20th Sept 2018 Page A20 Below
Vascular dementia
This disease are mostly associated with stroke patient.
- untreated high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Other heart risk such as clots and atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in blood vessels)
Who gets vascular dementia?
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- High Cholesterol
- History of mild warning strokes
This disease are mostly associated with stroke patient.
- untreated high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Other heart risk such as clots and atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in blood vessels)
Who gets vascular dementia?
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- High Cholesterol
- History of mild warning strokes
From The Straits Times dated 20th September 2018
Lewy Body disease
This disease is a common form of dementia. Sharing many similarities with Alzheimer’s disease. It caused by the degeneration of death of nerve cells in the brain.
What is the cause?
At present there is no known cause of Lewy body disease, and no known risk factors have been identified. There is no known evidence that it is an inherited disease. However rare familial cases have occasionally been reported.
This disease overlap with Alzheimer’s disease in many ways, which typically includes memory impairment, poor judgement and confusion. It also includes hallucinations, Parkinsonian symptoms such as a shuffling gait (walk) and flexed posture.
Frontotemporal dementia
FTD is a progressive damage to the frontal amd /or temporal lobes of the brain.
Who gets frontotemporal dementia?
Who gets frontotemporal dementia?
- It affects anybody
- Typically people at younger age than Alzheimer’s disease. Between the age of fifty’s (50s) to sixty’s (60s) and sometimes younger
- The genetic base of FTD is not fully understood and is actively being researched.
Alcohol related dementia
As the name suggest it is a form of dementia related to the excessive drinking of alcohol. This affects memory, learning and other mental functions.
What is the cause?
Currently it is unclear as to whether alcohol has a direct toxic effect on the brain cells.
Currently it is unclear as to whether alcohol has a direct toxic effect on the brain cells.
Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease
Picture by Getty
What is Down Syndromes?
It is a genetic disorder caused when due to biological error at the time of conception, a person has three (3) copies of chromosome 21 in every cell body instead of the usual pair, so upsetting the gene balance
HIV associated dementia
Picture from Healthline
When some has the HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) they may develop a complication to the disease which is known as HIV associated dementia or as AIDS Dementia Complex (ADC)
WHAT CAUSES DEMENTIA?
Picture, The Straits Times 20th September 2018
- Degenerative neurological disease.
This include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and some types of multiple sclerosis.
- Vascular disorders. This disorders affect the blood circulation in your brain
- Traumatic brain injuries caused by car accidents, falls and concussion etc.
- Infections of the central nervous system. Which includes meningitis, HIV and Creutzfeldt-jakob disease
- Long term alcohol or drug use
- Certain types of hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT IT
Not as what most people think. That as people get old being idle and not working will get dementia. NO!!. That is not proven.
Working that is not giving lots of stress related emotions may be a good way to start. This can be doing VOLUNTEERING WORK. Doing Community activities.Getting friends to go walking. Join MEETUPS in PHILOSOPHY or PSYCHOLOGY. Join Book Reading Groups or some form of activity.
The Straits Times dated 20th September 2018
Early Diagnosis
In any subjective matter, prevention is better than cure. Having said that, many a times is just luck. Life is like football. Your team is leading by a goal. In the 90th minute the opposition scores and it goes to extra time. As you least expect it the opposition opponent scores and win the game.
Life is like that. In any case we can try to prevent it. Train harder. Plan better. Stay positive and stronger. And if you do not get dementia, Thank the Lord and empathize those who have been unlucky.
The Straits Times dated 20th September 2018
The Straits Times dated 20th September 2018
REFERENCE
The Straits Times dated 20th September 2018
When Someone you love has dementia - by Susan Elliot-Wright / February 18 2016
