Do you know someone who has dementia and what they go through everyday? Do you know how their relatives feel standing in front of them yet not being able to do anything to bring them back to who they were? Do you know how it feels to be forgotten by a loved one? Read this article to delve deeper into dementia and how it can heavily impact one’s daily life.
Introduction
Dementia, a common phenomenon seen upon the elderly, is the loss of cognitive functioning such as thinking, remembering, sensing and feeling, to an extent that interferes with their daily lives. Dementia ranges in severity. During the mildest stage, many do not notice it as they do not realise the gradual changes that are happening to them, such as not being able to remember things from time to time, known as Alzheimer's disease. However, this can lead to more severe effects like having to depend on others for basic activities of daily living as they no longer have the ability to do so themselves.
Dementia is the result of changes in certain brain regions that causes neurons and their connections to stop working properly. It is known that the most common form and the earliest stages of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. As it is a progressive condition, it worsens over time, leading to more severe dementia . Although about one-third of all people aged 85 or older may experience some form of dementia, it is not a natural part of old age. Despite more research being required to figure out the true cause of why some people have dementia but others don’t as they age, it is recognised that the chances of dementia can be reduced from developing a healthy lifestyle from a young age.
Symptoms
There are 2 main types of symptoms often observed from patients with dementia: cognitive and psychological changes
Cognitive changes relate to the way people think, which include:
Memory loss
Poor coordination / control of movements
Struggles with normal conversations/communication
Confusion and disorientation
Difficulty understanding and expression thoughts
Psychological changes relate to the way people feel, which include:
Depression
Changes in personality
Hallucinations
Paranoia
Anxiety
These symptoms may range in severity. For milder symptoms, it may be difficult to recognise them and they may easily be ignored.
3 Most Common Types of Dementias
1. Alzheimer’s Disease
As mentioned before, Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common types of dementia. Around 60%-80% of dementia cases include Alzheimer's disease. It is the build-up of abnormal proteins in the brain, damaging brain cells which affects one’s memory, thinking and behaviour
2. Vascular Dementia
This type of dementia is caused by the damage of the blood vessels in the brain, which may potentially be the result of stroke. As this affects the blood flow to the brain, it can bring up problems such as deterioration in one’s memory, language and decision-making.
3. Lewy Body Dementia
This is caused by the build-up of abnormal proteins in the brain, known as Lewy bodies. This may seem similar to Alzheimer’s disease. However, memory loss is seen as an early stage in Alzheimer’s disease but a later stage in Lewy Body dementia. Some symptoms seen in early stages of Lewy Body dementia include changes in behaviour, mood, perception and sleep.
Medication
Dementia is known as a progressive condition. Currently, there isn’t a cure for dementia. However, medication has been discovered to slow down symptoms and the rate of dementia worsening.
Not all medications are suitable for all types of dementia but for the most common type, Alzheimer’s disease, here are a few medications that help slow down the decline of their cognitive and psychological behaviours.
donepezil
rivastigmine
galantamine
memantine
Conclusion
When a person experiences dementia, it can be extremely exhausting and stressful for not only them but also the people they are surrounded by. As students and non-scientists, although it may be difficult to contribute to discovering the scientific cure for dementia, it would be helpful to encourage and provide support to those who have dementia or their relatives who have to take care of them whilst balancing their daily lives as they may experience a lot of grief and stress. Therefore, even a simple encouragement can brighten up their entire day and make a positive impact on our community.
Bibliography
https://www.facebook.com/racingdementia. “What Is Dementia? | Race against Dementia.” Race against Dementia, 2024, www.raceagainstdementia.com/what-is-dementia?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsoe5Bh. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
“Dementia - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 30 Aug. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352013.
National Institute on Aging. “What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis.” What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis, 8 Dec. 2022, www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia/what-dementia-symptoms-types-and-diagnosis.
Alzheimer's Society. “Treatments.” Alzheimer’s Society, 2019, www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/treatments.
Dementia UK. “Medication for People Living with Dementia.” Dementia UK, Nov. 2022, www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/health-advice/medication-for-people-living-with-dementia/.
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