The lay people associate Dementia with memory loss, but it’s just not that simple. Dementia is a gradual disease with many other characteristics, such as, loss of attention, orientation, language, judgement, and reasoning (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Harding ). “Personality changes and behavioral problems such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations may occur” (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Harding). All of the issues that come with Dementia affect the entire person’s quality of life. The person can no longer fulfill work obligations, can no longer function in a social aspect, and ultimately can no longer perform activities of daily living (ADLs).
Causes
There are several conditions that can lead to the onset and development …show more content…
Physiological changes occur many years before physical changes present. In Dementia the coritcal function in the brain has declined, which causes impairment of cognitive skills and motor function. One of the manifestations that is the most common in many types of Dementia include loss of cognitive function. This can be any degree of cognitive function, from some memory loss to having issues with language. The first type of memory loss is short term memory and then as the disease progesses into later stages long term momory is affected. “Normal age-related memory decline is characterized by mild changes that do not interfere with ADLs” (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Harding). The patient will also present with symptoms of “dysphagia (difficulty comprehending language and oral commnication), apraxia (inability to manipulate objects or perform purposeful acts), visual agnosia (inability to recognize objects by sight), dysgraphia (difficulty communicating via writing)” (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Harding). Other manifestations may include “personality changes and behavioral problems such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations” (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Harding). All of the issues that come with Dementia affect the entire person’s quality of life. The person can no longer fulfill work obligations, can no longer function in a social aspect, and ultimately can no longer perform activities of daily living
Causes
There are several conditions that can lead to the onset and development …show more content…
Physiological changes occur many years before physical changes present. In Dementia the coritcal function in the brain has declined, which causes impairment of cognitive skills and motor function. One of the manifestations that is the most common in many types of Dementia include loss of cognitive function. This can be any degree of cognitive function, from some memory loss to having issues with language. The first type of memory loss is short term memory and then as the disease progesses into later stages long term momory is affected. “Normal age-related memory decline is characterized by mild changes that do not interfere with ADLs” (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Harding). The patient will also present with symptoms of “dysphagia (difficulty comprehending language and oral commnication), apraxia (inability to manipulate objects or perform purposeful acts), visual agnosia (inability to recognize objects by sight), dysgraphia (difficulty communicating via writing)” (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Harding). Other manifestations may include “personality changes and behavioral problems such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations” (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Harding). All of the issues that come with Dementia affect the entire person’s quality of life. The person can no longer fulfill work obligations, can no longer function in a social aspect, and ultimately can no longer perform activities of daily living