Dementia: Alzheimer’s Disease
Dementia is not a specific disease, but it is an umbrella term for a loss of memory, thinking, or decision-making that affects the ability to carry out daily activities. Dementia primarily affects older people but is not part of normal ageing.
There are currently 55 million people living with dementia worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases every year. Dementia is currently the seventh leading cause of death among all diseases and one of the significant causes of disability and dependency among older people globally. As the proportion of older people in the population is increasing in nearly every country, this number is expected to rise to 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050.
What is the Cause of Dementia?
According to the NHS, as Dementia is not a single disease, different diseases can cause dementia. Many of these diseases are associated with an abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain. This build-up causes nerve cells to function less well and ultimately die. As the nerve cells die, different areas of the brain shrink.
What Are The Symptoms?
A person’s symptoms can vary depending on the type of Dementia they have. Some of the most common symptoms may include:
Experiencing memory loss, poor judgment, and confusion
Difficulty speaking, understanding and expressing thoughts, or reading and writing
Wandering and getting lost in a familiar neighbourhood
Trouble handling money responsibly and paying bills
Repeating questions
Using unusual words to refer to everyday objects
Taking longer to complete routine daily tasks
Losing interest in normal daily activities or events
Hallucinating or experiencing delusions or paranoia
Acting impulsively
Not caring about other people’s feelings
Losing balance and problems with movement
Although there are 400 different types of Dementia, most people diagnosed with dementia have one of 4 common types: Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia. You will find some facts about each one of them below.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common type of Dementia. The billions of nerve cells that make up the brain are interconnected. When it comes to Alzheimer’s Disease, these cells' connections with one another become lost. This occurs as a result of proteins accumulating and forming aberrant structures known as "plaques" and "tangles." Brain tissue is eventually lost as nerve cells pass away.
Alzheimer's disease progresses in stages. Some clinicians break Dementia disease into three stages: Early, Middle and Late. Although this is a correct system, there is another staging system created by Barry Reisberg, Director of the Fisher Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Research program at NYU Grossman School of Medicine for people with primary degenerative dementia such as Alzheimer's disease. This is called the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), also known as the Reisberg Alzheimer’s Scale. Professionals and caregivers worldwide use this guideline to identify at what stage of the disease a person is in. Stages 1-3 are the pre-dementia stages; stages 4-7 are the dementia stages. Stage 5 is when a person can no longer live without assistance.
We have provided a breakdown of this scale below.
Arranging Care
Some families can find it hard to believe that what their loved one is going through is more than just age-related forgetfulness. Once the doctor provides a diagnosis, it can be overwhelming for a family to figure out the next step.
Many families begin by looking after their loved ones themselves. While this can be manageable at the start, once their loved one’s care needs increase, it can take quite a toll on the family. Unfortunately, some families continue caring for their loved ones until they end up with caregiver burnout and have no choice but to share the workload or allow someone else to take over. When is the right time to bring in extra care assistance? We have a blog on 5 Signs Your Loved One Requires Homecare which you can read by clicking here.
It’s never too early to look into care options, even if you feel it’s not required immediately.
If you would like to discuss arranging care for your loved one, please get in touch, and we will assist you.
Disclaimer: This website does not provide medical advice
The information, including but not limited to text, graphics, images and other material on this website, is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new health care regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
References:
https://alzheimersdisease.net/reisbergs-stages
https://www.fhca.org/members/qi/clinadmin/global.pdf
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7114305/
https://www.england.nhs.uk/mental-health/dementia/
https://www.royalhomecare.ie/blog/5signshomecare
https://www.royalhomecare.ie/blog/nursing-homes-vs-home-care
https://www.royalhomecare.ie/blog/how-do-i-speak-to-my-loved-one-about-homecare