Dementia

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, since dementia is most commonly seen in the elderly, it is often erroneously considered to be part of the normal aging process; however, it is important to remember that dementia is a condition that is a result of a disease or trauma and does not occur in a healthy person simply because of old age. The author points out that the two most common forms of dementia are Alzheimer's disease and multi infarct dementia; both types are irreversible and cannot be cured, although there progress can be slowed with proper treatment. The paper relates that people with multi infarct dementia can be helped by controlling their blood pressure, blood cholesterol and diabetes to prevent further strokes; by using medications for reducing agitation, anxiety, depression, or sleeping problems; by avoiding alcohol and smoking and by continuing physical and mental activities.

Table of Contents
Is Dementia an Inevitable Part of the Aging Process?
Differentiating Dementia and Normal Aging Process
Types of Dementia
Diagnosing Dementia and the Role of the Cognitive Psychologist in Diagnosis
Helping Patients to Cope with Dementia
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Dementia affects our memory, decision-making, judgment, spatial orientation, thinking, reasoning, and verbal communication. Its symptoms may include asking the same questions repeatedly; becoming lost in familiar places; being unable to follow directions; getting disoriented about time, people, and places; and neglecting personal safety, hygiene, and nutrition. Similar symptoms are sometimes displayed by older people due to emotional problems, which can be mistaken for dementia. These emotional problems may be triggered in the older people due to the trauma of major changes in their lives such as at the time of retirement or having to cope with the death of a spouse, relative, or friend. Such emotional upheavals leave an old person feeling sad, lonely, worried, or bored. Adapting to these life-changing events can confusion and forgetfulness in some people-the classic symptoms of dementia. Fortunately, emotional problems can be eased by supportive friends and family, or by treatment from professional doctors, psychologists or counselors and are not a permanent feature. Furthermore, certain physical conditions such as high fever, dehydration, vitamin deficiency and poor nutrition, bad reactions to medicines, problems with the thyroid gland, or a minor head injury may also result in dementia-like symptoms but the resulting condition is not dementia and needs to be treated differently."

More papers on Dementia:

• Analytical Essay # 142817 : "Pathophysiology of Age-Associated Dementia"
• Term Paper # 120665 : "Vascular Dementia"
• Descriptive Essay # 131308 : "Front Temporal Dementia"
• Essay # 70112 : "Vascular Dementia"

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