According to the WHO (2016), dementia is a disease that is often chronic or has a progressive nature. The condition which to the deterioration in cognitive ability (the capacity to process thought) beyond what may be anticipated from regular ageing. Age is a significant risk factor for dementia and hugely affects the elderly generation. Dementia affects thinking, memory, understanding, orientation, learning aptitude, judgement, calculation and language. However, the condition does not lead to loss of consciousness (WHO, 2016). The breakdown in cognitive ability is usually accompanied and seldom preceded, by deterioration in motivation, emotional control or social conduct. However, it is essential to note that these symptoms are unique to every person; hence the experience of dealing with dementia may differ from person to person.
According to Livingston et al. (2017), there are many causes of dementia that originates from various diseases and injuries that primarily or secondarily affects the brain. The condition is caused by loss or damage of nerve cells and their connection in the brain, which often leads to different symptoms elicited by different people depending on where the proteins are deposited. Alzheimer disease is the primary cause of dementia, accounting for about 60-70% of the cases (WHO, 2016). In Alzheimer condition, an unusual protein covers brain cells, and another protein interferes with the internal structure of the brain. With time, the chemical connections in the brain cells are lost, and cells begin to perish. Other primary causes of dementia include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, mixed dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Currently, there are no known treatment therapies to cure dementia or change its course of progression. Numerous researches are still being conducted by scientist across the globe for the treatment of dementia and are in different phases of clinical trials (WHO, 2016). Nonetheless, there are various support that can be provided to enhance the quality of life of individuals who have dementia, their families, and care providers. The main objectives for dementia care include: early diagnosis to encourage early and ideal management, optimizing physical wellbeing, activity, cognition and health. Also, dementia care aims at recognizing and treating the presenting physical illness, which can be achieved through counselling, where the patient opens up about his/her condition (Livingston et al. 2017). The other intervention is identifying and treating problematic psychological and behavioral signs using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Besides, cognitive rehabilitation, especially at home, may make a person to retain abilities and cope better.
In conclusion, dementia is categorized as one of the primary causes of disability and dependency in older adults across the globe. The condition can have a devastating effect on a person, family or care provider. Dementia has no cure; hence treatment interventions aims at improving behavior through therapies and cognitive behavior both for the patient and their families.
Reference
Livingston, G., Sommerlad, A., Orgeta, V., Costafreda, S. G., Huntley, J., Ames, D., ... & Cooper, C. (2017). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care. The Lancet , 390 (10113), 2673-2734.
WHO. (2016). Dementia. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia
