Dementia

what is dementia?

• group of progressive symptoms with different causes that damage the brain

• need medical exam to diagnose

Results of dementia:

• poor nutrition/malnutrition

• pneumonia

• inability to perform self care tasks

• personal safety challenges

• falls/fractures

• hallucinations

• incontinence

what is the most common cause of dementia?

• alzheimers

symptoms of alzheimers:

• mild

  • wandering

  • repeating qs

• moderate

  • problems recognizing familiar faces/family

  • impulsive behaviour, agitation, paranoia

• severe

  • cannot communicate

  • doesn’t recognize common objects/self in mirror

  • totally dependent

cause of alzheimers:

• beta amyloids/tau build up abnormally in brain (usually washed out and kept to a good amount)

• forms plaques and tangles

• elevated glucose is main factor

vascular dementia:

• second most common type

• caused by disruption of blood flow (cholesterol, ichemic stroke)

• symps include problems solving issues, slower thought speed, concentration diffs, issues following instruction, memory deficits

lewy body dementia:

• less common

• caused by deposits of lewy bodies (alpha-synuclein protein)

• symptoms include inability to concentrate, disorganized thoughts, muscle rigidity, poor coord, reduced facial expression, insomnia, hallucinations

frontotemporal dementia: