Dementia
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Description/Definition[edit | edit source]
Dementia refers to a group of symptoms associated with a decline in mental ability. It is caused by disorders affecting the brain, and are described by a collection of symptoms affecting the brain. Dementia has an effect on thinking, behaviour and social interaction, as well as functional abilities.[1][2]
Clinically relevant anatomy[edit | edit source]
Hippocampus:[2]
- Center of memory and learning
- Cells in this region are normally first to be damaged, resulting in the most common symptom of memory loss
Different types of dementia are associated with particular types of brain cell damage in particular regions of the brain. For example, in Alzheimer's disease, high levels of certain proteins inside and outside brain cells make it hard for brain cells to stay healthy and to communicate with each other. The brain region called the hippocampus is the center of and memory in the brain, and the brain cells in this region are often the first to be damaged. That's why memory loss is often one of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's.
Epidemiology & Etiology[edit | edit source]
Epidemiology[edit | edit source]
Dementia is more common in the population above 65.[1]
Etiology[edit | edit source]
Damage to brain cells causes changes to cognitive, behavioural and emotional functions, causing dementia
While most changes in the brain that cause dementia are permanent and worsen over time, thinking and memory problems caused by the following conditions may improve when the condition is treated or addressed:
- Depression
- Medication side effects
- Excess use of alcohol
- Thyroid problems
- Vitamin deficiencies
Different types of dementia has different causes. Common types of dementia are:[1]
- Alzheimer's disease (most common type):
- 60-80% of cases
- Vascular dementia (second most common type):
- After a cerebrovascular accident
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Fronto-temporal lobar degeneration
- Huntington's disease
- Alcohol related dementia (Korsakoff's syndrome)
- Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease
Clinical presentation[edit | edit source]
Early signs of dementia are normally subtle, and not always obvious. It can include:[1][2]
- Progressive and frequent memory loss (mostly short-term)
- Confusion
- Personality change
- Apathy and withdrawal
- Loss of functional abilities to perform activities of daily living
Although some cases of dementia are reversible (e.g. hormonal or vitamin deficiencies), most are progressive, with a slow, gradual onset.
Diagnostic procedures[edit | edit source]
To make the diagnosis of dementia, at least two of the core mental functions need to be significantly impaired:[2]
- Memory
- Communication and language skills
- Concentration and focus
- Reasoning and judgment
- Visual perception
Differential diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Treatable causes of dementia includes:
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Hormone deficiencies
- Depression
- Medication clashes
- Overmedication
- Infections
- Brain tumours
O[edit | edit source]
utcome Measures[edit | edit source]
add links to outcome measures here (see Outcome Measures Database)
Medical management[edit | edit source]
Medical management should be obtained as soon as symptoms start appearing, as some of the causes are treatale, and early diagnosis and management can slow down or treat the disease process to allow most benefit from available treatments.[2]
Medication
Support
add text here relating to management approaches to the condition
Resources [edit | edit source]
add appropriate resources here
