Understanding Dementia
a Key to
Compassionate Care
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the more prominent
forms of dementia, but there are many additional
types of dementia that also can cause both physical
and cognitive alterations. Understanding the
complexity of dementia can be beneficial to both
dementia sufferers and their caregivers.
Dementia is a general
term used to define a
decline in mental ability
severe enough that
it can interfere with
daily life, offers the
Alzheimer’s Association.
Alzheimer’s disease is
the most common type
of dementia.
Dementia is not a disease
but a term used to
describe a wide range of
symptoms. The words
“senility” and “dementia”
often are incorrectly
used interchangeably.
However, serious mental
decline is not a normal
part of aging.
Dementia presents itself
through various symptoms,
and memory loss
alone is not enough
to lead to a dementia
diagnosis. Dementia can
affect thinking and social
abilities, but the Mayo Clinic notes that some
dementias may be reversible. The following are
some common symptoms of dementia:
Trouble communicating or finding words.
Difficulty completing complex tasks.
Challenges with planning and organization.
Episodes of confusion and disorientation.
Memory loss, which is often noticed by a third
party.
Personality changes that can include agitation,
anxiety, inappropriate behavior and even hallucinations.
Apart from Alzheimer’s disease, which is a progressive
disorder most common in people age 65
and older, there are other types of dementia. The
second most common is called “vascular dementia.”
This results from damage to vessels that supply
blood to the brain. This damage can be the result
of stroke, smoking and other blood vessel conditions.
Brain imaging can often detect blood vessel
problems implicated in vascular dementia.
Dementia with Lewy bodies, or DLB, is another dementia
that laymen may mistake for Alzheimer’s
disease. The Alzheimer’s Association notes that
people with DLB often have not only memory loss
and cognitive problems common in Alzheimer’s,
but they also display
initial or early
symptoms such as
sleep disturbances,
well-formed
visual hallucinations,
slowness,
gait imbalance or
other Parkinsonian
movement features,
which can lead to
misdiagnosis. If
physicians suspect
dementia was
caused by various
factors, a person
may be diagnosed
with mixed dementia.
Unfortunately,
there are no cures
for progressive
dementias that are
linked to plaque
tangles in the brain
and changes in the
way the brain processes
the protein
alpha-synuclein. Patience and various medications
may be needed to help those with dementia live
fuller lives. Cholinesterase inhibitors are mainstays
in dementia treatment. These medications
prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical
messenger important for learning and memory.
Acetylcholine supports communication among
nerve cells by keeping acetylcholine levels high.
Physical therapy and cognitive therapy may be
used in conjunction with medication to assist those
with various dementias.
Helping individuals with dementia remain comfortable
is a priority for caregivers, and understanding
the symptoms and treatments can help
caregivers make patients and loved ones as comfortable
as possible.
November 2017 Community Magazine 15