Dementia Research Paper

As a result, the brain has difficulty performing mental functions such as thinking and remembering.

Dementia describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. These changes are often small to start with, but for someone with dementia they have become severe enough to affect daily life.

The term dementia is used to describe an illness that affects the memory. Patients can suffer from forgetfulness, loss of memory and the inability to remember new information. As well as being unable to speak and be understood by others and be unable to carry out general tasks. Patients can also suffer from mood changes and all reasoning. This all has an effect on daily routines and people become unable to look after themselves properly and manage their own personal care.

projected to triple by 2050. Additional studies shows that last year million of family and friends

Dementia is a type of disorder that affects the central nervous system. It’s not a disease itself but a group of symptoms that characterize disease and conditions. It’s commonly defined as a decline in intellectual functioning that is severe enough to interfere with the ability to perform routine activities. It causes significant loss of intellectual abilities, such as memory capacity, severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning. Dementia‘s a general term that also includes specific disorders like vascular dementia as well as others.

Dementia originated from the Latin language meaning ‘mind gone’. The course of the disease declines to the last stage and the person will forget majority of his or her memory. The patient will go about his or her normal ways during the first stage of dementia; eyes and mind are clear. During the beginning of the last stage, the patient will depend on the caretaker for his or her needs and will not recall the things he or she has learned. In the last phase of the last stage, the patient will be “born again”, meaning he or she will derive from the end of his life to the beginning. Similar to the Alzheimer’s disease, the nerve cells in the brain become short. The brain will not function properly because of the shrinkage of the nerve cells, but

Dementia is a disease which causes mental debility and affects one’s way of intelligent, attentiveness, recollection and problem-solving (NHS, 2013). As a result of dysfunction of brain cells in some parts of the brain it affects the thinking process then dementia occurs and it usually comes with age (Ibid). It is estimated that 560

It is important to remember that dementia is not a mental illness and those with

Dementia or Neurocognitive disorder is a group of symptoms that affects memory, thinking and social abilities enough to interfere with a person’s normal daily functioning. It also includes emotional and language problems, and a decrease in motivation.

Memory is a precious commodity, an incredible, internal gift. As I watch the effects of dementia slowing chipping away at my father?s body and mind, I realize that if there are any good aspects to be found in this condition, to me, is it the fact the oldest memories hold on longer while the recent slip away sooner. My father can still tell the same stories I grew up hearing; he can recall with pride his family?s history. While these old recollections are not as strong as they once were, and maybe not as accurate, at least they are still present in some form; they are still available. I do prefer my father have these memories than the ones of his daily decline. Of course, he knows he is not who he once was, but the knowledge does not fill his every waking hour; it is not something he is focused on throughout his days because that is a more recent development and thus something he doesn?t remember as easily. Now, of course, dementia effects more than just memory, but I am grateful that he still has the past to help get him through the difficult present.

When taking care of an elderly parent, it’s natural to observe their behaviors. In most cases, caretakers are looking for early signs of any of the myriad conditions that afflict seniors, like Alzheimer's. However, it’s important to understand the difference between a memory lapse and Alzheimer's, especially if the senior is living in one of Richmond VA retirement communities. At a retirement community, Alzheimer's residents would receive different treatment plans.

My basic knowledge of Alzheimer’s and dementia comes from my work experience and from my classes. I’ve also attended many educational Alzheimer’s seminars, and I know that maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, avoiding mind-alternating drugs, and sleeping more all help in preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s.

Dementia may still be falsely viewed as a normal part of forgetfulness that comes with

Dementia robs a person of their ability to plan or complete activities. It can make the world a very scary place. Familiarity is comforting and reassuring.

There are many disease processes that culminate in the onset of dementia; the most common of which is Alzheimer’s disease. The syndrome is frequently associated with a progressive decline in brain function and the associated physical and mental abilities, including memory, language and cognitive function.