There are many different forms of dementia and each has its own cause. Some of the main type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of dementia affecting 50%-70% of dementia patients (Alzheimer's australia, 2005). This is a degenerative illness which attacks the brain, this is achieved buy tangles which are in the middle of shrunken brain cells and plaques which eventually cause the brain cells to die meaning information can no longer be recalled or assimilated. There are also other types of dementia which include vascular dementia which is caused by circulation of the blood to the brain, Parkinson’s disease which is a disorder of the nervous system, Lewy-bodies dementia which is caused by the degeneration and death of the nerve cells in the brain and Huntington disease which is an inherited brain disease effecting body and mind. There are many support services out there to aid in dementia, although many people may be unaware of these services. There is also a significant impact on family and others.…
Alzheimer’s is caused by broken signals within the brain leading to the death of brain cells, this can also lead to a shortage of some important chemicals, these chemicals control the transmitting of messages to the brain.…
Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia. It is caused by certain nerve cells within the brain dying and deterioration of connections between nerve cells.…
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and social/behavioral skills. The direct cause of it is not yet fully understood, but based on studies, the disease seems to be a result of the combination of genetic material, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain. While Alzheimer’s is most commonly found among people above the age of 65, it is not what would considered a normal part of aging. However, it is the most common risk factor for this disease. As the age of a person reaches 65, the risk of getting this disease doubles every five years.…
1) Hypothesize the ways in which damage to various parts of the brain might affect a person’s behavior and abilities.…
Fixed cognitive impairments are due to a single event. Traumatic brain injury may cause generalized damage to the white matter of the brain or localized damages. A temporary reduction in the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain may lead to this type of dementia. A stroke or brain infection can also be the cause of dementia. Excessive alcoholic intake results in alcoholic dementia. Use of recreational drugs cause substance induced dementia. Once the over use of these drugs are stopped he impairment persists but may not progress. Dementia which begins gradually and worsens progressively over several years is usually caused by neurodegenerative disease; that is, by conditions affecting only or primarily the neurons of the brain and causing gradual but irreversible loss of function of these cells. Less commonly, a non-degenerative condition may have secondary effects on brain cells, which may or may not be reversible if the condition is treated. The causes of dementia depend on the age at which symptoms begin. In the elderly population, a large majority of cases of dementia are caused by Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia or both. It is rare to have dementia in young people, Among youngsters also the major dementia observed is Alzheimer's disease. People who are affected by frequent head trauma, like boxers and football players are risk of dementia. Other than alcohol, drugs and psychiatric reasons certain genetic disorders also can cause dementia…
1.1 Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, but there are many rarer diseases and syndromes that can lead to dementia, dementia-like symptoms or mild cognitive impairment. Rarer forms of dementia account for around only 5 per cent of all Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of diseases that affect memory, behaviour and motor skills. The causes vary depending on the disease but largely the presence of "Plaques and tangles" on the neurons of the brain is found in people with Alzheimer's. Plaques are proteins that the body no longer breaks down and allows to build up, these get between the neurons and disrupt message transmission. The tangles are tau proteins within the neurons becoming abnormal. In Korsakoff's, prolonged alcohol abuse is to blame In Vascular dementia, clots and stroke cause abnormal functioning to the affected area of the brain, which is often at the front, above the eyes which effects inhibition and judgement. In Lowy body dementia, abnormal clusters of protein cause Parkinson like symptoms Pick's disease occurs after trauma to the front section of the brain, starting out with personality and behaviour changes and followed by memory loss while dementia isn't necessarily hereditary, if a parent has it a child is more likely to develop it.…
This illness however is still nowhere near fully understood. There are however a number of different types of dementia and their causes which have been identified in the above. Alzheimer’s is caused by two abnormal proteins that build up into the brain; they form either ‘plaques’ or ‘tangles’. These plaques and tangles interfere with how the brain responds and how the cells work to communicate with each other, the plaques are usually seen in the area were the brain makes new memories there is ongoing research for finding new ways to stop these proteins so they can protect the brain cells from harm. Whereas vascular dementia is the reduction in the blood flow to the brain, the blood carries essential oxygen and nourishment that the brain needs to survive and without it the brain cells can die. The vessels that carry the blood around the body is called the vascular system, there are many ways that these vassals in the brain can be damaged causing vascular dementia such as:…
Fixed cognitive impairments are due to a single event. Traumatic brain injury may cause generalized damage to the white matter of the brain or localized damages. A temporary reduction in the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain may lead to this type of dementia. A stroke or brain infection can also be the cause of dementia. Excessive alcoholic intake results in alcoholic dementia. Use of recreational drugs cause substance induced dementia. Once the over use of these drugs are stopped he impairment persists but may not progress. Dementia which begins gradually and worsens progressively over several years is usually caused by neurodegenerative disease; that is, by conditions affecting only or primarily the neurons of the brain and causing gradual but irreversible loss of function of these cells. Less commonly, a non-degenerative condition may have secondary effects on brain cells, which may or may not be reversible if the condition is treated. The causes of dementia depend on the age at which symptoms begin. In the elderly population, a large majority of cases of dementia are caused by Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia or both. It is rare to have dementia in young people, Among youngsters also the major dementia observed is Alzheimer's disease. People who are affected by frequent head trauma, like boxers and football players are risk of dementia. Other than alcohol, drugs and psychiatric reasons certain genetic disorders also can cause dementia.…
1.1Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells and in many ways, from alcoholism, brain injury, drug abuse, side effects to medications, depression, age, thyroid function abnormalities, and vitamin B12 deficiency. Alzheimer’s Dementia is caused by a build-up of proteins which the body no longer breaks down and this affects the transmission of signals.…
Having Alzheimer's doesn't mean that the life of the patient is over. Living with Alzheimer's means that the patient have to manage some life changes sooner than expected. The patient can carry on with his life by dealing with his physical and passionate well being, by taking part in exercises to revel in and by investing time with family and companions. The process of living with Alzheimer involves the patient to take care of himself, family and friends taking care of the patient ,also coping with changes .…
Alzheimer's is a strange and mysterious illness. There are many frequently asked questions that must be answered.…
Approximately 5.4 million Americans now have Alzheimer's disease and by the year 2050, more than 15 million Americans could possibly be living with the disease, unless scientists or medical professionals develop new ideas to prevent, slow or cure it. (AHAF) Alzheimer’s is usually associated with old age but it can also be diagnosed in younger individuals. “Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.” (ALZ) This is considered to be one of the most heartbreaking diseases for a loved one to go through, because you’re basically watching them mentally fall apart often to the point when they don’t even remember who you…
Alzheimer's is a disease of the brain that causes a loss in memory. This results in dementia, loss of brain functions (thinking, remembering, and reasoning) severe enough to interfere with everyday life. When German physician, Alois Alzheimer, first described the disease in 1907, it was thought to be rare. Today, Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting 10% of people 65 years old, and nearly 50% of those age 85 or older. An estimated four million Americans have Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's disease usually begins gradually, causing a person to forget recent events and to have difficulty performing familiar tasks. How quickly the disease advances differs from person to person, causing confusion, personality and behavior changes, and impaired judgment. Communication becomes difficult for Alzheimer's patients. They struggle to find words, finish thoughts, or follow directions. Eventually, people with Alzheimer's become unable to care for themselves.…
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) usually presents with loss of memory, especially for learning new information and later behaviour that challenges. Symptoms commonly include depression, apathy, agitation, disinhibition, psychosis (delusions and hallucinations), wandering, aggression, incontinence and altered eating habits.…