Symptoms And Diagnosis Of Dementia - 987 Words

An estimated 47.5 million people suffer from dementia. Every 4 seconds one new case of dementia is diagnosed. Dementia is a term that describes certain symptoms such as impairment to memory, communication and thinking. It is a group of symptoms and not just one illness. Even though one‘s chance of getting dementia increase with age, it is not a part of aging. Dementia is usually diagnosed after a series of assessments that includes a physical evaluation, memory tests, imaging studies and blood work. It affects three aspects of one’s mental function, cognitive dysfunction (Problems with memory, language, thinking and problem solving), psychiatric behavior (changes in personality, emotional control, social behavior and delusions) and difficulties with daily living activities (driving, shopping, eating and dressing). â€Å"The median survival time in women is 4.6 years and in men 4.1 years† (Warren, 2016). Dementia symptoms most commonly observed by people wo uld be memory loss and an inability to complete simple mental activities such as adding or subtracting or remembering where things were placed, or a difference in a person’s normal behavior. There are times that a person without dementia will experience similar symptoms but, the difference is if these symptoms persist and do not go away after a period of time. Dementia isn’t something that happens quickly it is an illness that gets progressively worse as time passes. When a person that is effected with these symptomsShow MoreRelatedAnalysis and Description of Dementia Essay1741 Words   |  7 PagesDementia is characterized as a condition where the mental processes of cognition and memory start to deteriorate. It is described as a syndrome that hinders the daily lives of those who have it and is characterized by memory and thinking impairment. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease and the second most common is vascular dementia. Dementia is a syndrome occurring usually, but not limited, to people over the age of 40 and is due to brain damage caused by natural deterioratingRead MoreRole Of General Practitioners And Primary Care Providers1681 Words   |  7 Pagesgeneral practitioners/primary care providers in diagnosing dementia Primary care physicians (PCP) play a crucial role in dementia diagnosis. Older patients receive healthcare primarily from their general practitioners (GPs). [51, 52] Most patients and carers prefer their GPs to be the first source of professional help when dealing with dementia. [53-55] The Australian guidelines advocate early diagnosis by timely exploration of symptoms raised by patients and carers. [14] It would be reasonable forRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Dementia935 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Worldwide, 47.5 million people have dementia and there are 7.7 million new cases every year† (WHO). Dementia is not a specific disease. Instead, it is a broad term used to describe a wide range of symptoms that impact one’s daily functioning (ALZ). These symptoms are associated with memory, thinking, and social abilities (Mayo Clinic). While signs and symptoms of dementia can differ based on the cause, there are several common cognitive and psychological changes that occur. Common cognitive changesRead MoreEarly Signs Of A Progressive Dementia784 Words   |  4 Pagesprogressive dementia often bring discord to families, because siblings disagree on what is really wrong and chalk up the changes they are seeing to depression, boredom, a recent illness or even â€Å"allergies†. One of the family members usually suspects something like â€Å"Alzheimer’s† but the other disagree thus diagnosis is delayed. Early dementia is also known as MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) and only about half of those with this diagnosis move on to one of the more progressive dementias. So, it isRead MoreDiagnosing and Living with Dementia737 Words   |  3 Pagesthe first symptoms of dementia such as memory loss or problems with language lead to a diagnosis of the illness over varied amounts of time. It is not possible to get medication before the diagnosis. Therefore, diagnosing dementia early enables to have access to treatment, information and care. Yet according to the Department of Health, only 46% of the population living with the illness is diagnosed in the UK. The borough of Islington has an especially high rate of dementia diagnosis, with aboutRead MoreThe Differences Between Dementia And Alzheimer s Disease1162 Words   |  5 PagesWhen a lot of people think about dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they usually use the two interchangeably and think they have to do with memory. It is tr ue that they have to do with memory, but there are major differences between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Misconceptions and lack of knowledge can lead to death or injury, which is why initiatives like Healthy People 2020 are so important. Dementias and Alzheimer’s affect a person’s daily life in many ways and it can be dangerous or deadlyRead MoreEssay on Understanding Dementia in the Elderly532 Words   |  3 PagesDepression, and Dementia are some of the most common psychological diagnoses in the elderly today. The three D’s are difficult to differentiate between in older adults because they overlap with each other and can all exist in the same patient at once. Delirium, Dementia, and Depression all affect the elderly’s quality of life and often increase the risks for one another (Downing, Caprio Lyness, 2013). For the purpose of this paper I will be focusing primarily on the diagnosis of Dementia, the preventionRead MoreDiagnosis And Tre atment Of Alzheimer s Dementia1329 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Alzheimer’s Dementia is one form of dementia. It affects over five million people in the U.S. alone (Latest Facts Figures Report, 2014). Alzheimer’s is a group of symptoms caused by diseases or disorders. Every 67 seconds someone develops Alzheimer’s in the U.S. (Latest Facts Figures Report, 2014). Alzheimer’s can take 7-10 years to fully develop. During development the brain reduces in size. Being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s changes the patient’s life significantly. He or she must makeRead MoreUnit 14 P3 M11314 Words   |  6 Pagesthe investigations that are carried out to enable the diagnosis of these physiological disorders. For the merit this assignment will assess possible difficulties involved in the diagnosis from their signs and symptoms. P3 There are a range of tests and diagnostic procedures  is needed to diagnose dementia, but there are several that are fairly commonly used to diagnose dementia. A GP might refer a person to a specialist to help with the diagnosis. For example, they may be referred to a clinical psychologistRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Frontotemporal Dementia995 Words   |  4 Pagesappropriately labeled as Dementia. However, not all areas of Dementia are reserved for the elderly. Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is a rather extreme case of the all-encompassing term Dementia. FTD is caused by loss of neurons in frontal and temporal regions of the brain (Kring Johnson, 2015). The loss of these neurons actually causes the affected regions of the brain to shrink and ultimately leads to death; death usually occurs within five to ten years of the onset of symptoms (Mayo Clinic, 2014;