Dementia
Dementia is a collective term used to describe various symptoms of cognitive decline, such as forgetfulness. It is a symptom of several underlying diseases and brain disorders. Dementia is not a single disease in itself, but a general term to describe symptoms of impairment in memory, communication, and thinking.
Cluster Number:
Wiki Number: W055
Diagnosis: Dementia
US Patients:
World Patients: 50 Mil
Sex Ratio:
Age Onset: Age 80+- 50%
Brain Area: hippocampus shrinks; temporal and parietal lobes shrink; the brain degenerates; SPECT & PET show vascular cause.
Symptoms: early signs: handling finances, getting lost, repeating things;later-need help eating, dressing, getting out of bed
Progression: Alzheimer’s=80%; vascular, 20%=blood loss to the brain; Lewy bodies=hallucinations; frontotemporal=language problems
Causes: lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia;people with dementia average five other chronic diseases; 50% persistent pain
Medications: donepezil, antipsychotics; no medications show a preventative effect
Therapies: exercise helps sustain activities of daily living;music; diets with low saturated fat and good carbohydrates; vitamin D
Youtube Video: Living with
Young-Onset Dementia
Youtube Video: Later Stage Dementia: Brad and Jean’s Story
Book from Amazon or Library: 2022 Dementia Overview
Click the book to link or order from Amazon.
Support Groups: alz.org; This website allows searching for
local associations. (Alzheimer’s Association)
Contact your local Social Security Office for possible Disability benefits through their Disability Determination Service,
Section 12.02.
4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED
The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis
Clicking each title opens the
PubMed article’s summary-abstract.
- Predictive value of nutritional status and serological indicators in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairmentby Ying Yang on December 20, 2024
CONCLUSION: The risk factors for MCI are diverse. Early identification of individuals at high risk of MCI can better intervene and improve their quality of life of MCI patients.
- Effect of bright-light therapy on depression and anxiety of a patient with Alzheimer's disease combined with sleep disorder: A case reportby Xi Mei on December 20, 2024
CONCLUSION: This case report suggested that bright light therapy can have a positive effect on sleep quality in elderly patients with AD and can be used as an effective and safe non-pharmacological treatment.
- Anti-amyloid treatments for Alzheimer's disease: A study on physicians' perspectivesby Dror Shir on December 20, 2024
Advances in amyloid targeting therapies (ATT) for Alzheimer's disease have introduced new options, necessitating an understanding of physicians' perspectives as these therapies move from trials to practice. A survey of Israeli specialists found that 84% were familiar with new ATT, but 60% raised doubts about their ability to significantly impact disease progression. Neurologists were more likely to recommend these treatments, but concerns included treatment costs and limited real-world...
- Autophagia in a Patient with Dementia and Hemineglect: A Case Reportby Bradley N Bragg on December 20, 2024
CONCLUSION: Patients with dementia and neurologic deficits present frequently in the ED. These patients are at considerable risk of self-injury. The emergency physician should maintain vigilance in both screening for injuries and being aware of these risks when planning living arrangements after disposition from the ED.