ABOUT DEMENTIATIMES.ORG
This website aims to bring together information in which carers, clinicians, researchers and professionals can find and source new material. We do not legislate for the voracity on any particular topic, but, hope to help those who may discover new ideas that will go to help to treat those with dementia.
The term Dementia refers to mental illness where one losses mental functions such as memory, thinking and reasoning. The different types of Dementia and other disorders that are linked to Dementia include: Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Dementia with Lewy bodies, mixed dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, Normal pressure hydrocephalus, Huntington’s disease and Wernicke Korsakoff Syndrome. The symptoms which are associated with Alzheimer’s disease include: difficult to remember recent events and names, depression, confusion, impaired judgment, difficulty in walking, swallowing and speaking. Vascular dementia is mainly caused by brain injuries. People who have been affected by Dementia with Lewy bodies always experience well formed visual hallucinations, sleep disturbances and muscle rigidity.
Mixed Dementia consists of more than one type of Dementia. The Frontotemporal dementia includes behavioral variant FTD, primary progressive aphasia and progressive supra nuclear. Vascular Dementia is caused by the death of brain cell which may be caused by some cerebrovascular disease such as stroke. When Dementia occurs, the individual losses the memory and he or she experiences in completing familiar tasks. Problem in communication is experienced since the individual forges simple words and use wrong words. The mood of the individual changes and poor judgment occur. Less interest will be experienced by the individual and she or he will become more suspicious. Stages of Alzheimer that take place to an individual include: the individual will have normal function at the first stage, during the second stage, the individual will experience memory lapses and forget familiar words but medical examination cannot detect Dementia. In the third stage, medical examination from doctors will be able to detect problems in memory and concentration. Friends and families will start noticing difficulties. During the fourth stage, Alzheimer disease will be on its mild stage. Individuals will begin to require help in order to do their daily activities in the fifth stage. This is because the individuals will be confused at this stage about who they are and what they do. Severe cognitive decline will be experienced on the sixth stage. And on the seventh stage, the individuals will be unable to respond to their environment. The Institute for Dementia research and prevention is bringing together multiple scientific disciplines within clinical research so as to prevent, detect and manage dementia. The world health organization raises awareness and provides information about dementia.
Since there is no treatment to stop dementia and there is no cure for it, WHO continues to strengthen the private and public efforts in order to improve the support and care for people with dementia. The recent research carried by brain matters researchers proves that almost 310000 people in Australia have dementia. Challenges that occur when taking care of an individual with Alzheimer includes: overwhelming emotions, the demands of the care giver increases due to fatigue and exhaustion and financial complications arises due to challenged resources. Some of the rewards of caring for someone with Alzheimer include: the bonds of companionship increases, problem solving become easy due to much experience and unexpected rewards may develop due to acceptance and companionship. Support should be given to Dementia individuals and one should try as much not to be critical of their attempts. Family members who have an individual living with dementia are supported by Alzheimer’s association located in Australia, by providing them with careers.