Why Does It Matter
- While medications cannot cure causes of dementia, there may be medications that help with some of the symptoms associated with them.
- Caregivers may be able to seek out other caregivers dealing with the same type of dementia to learn more from each other and have good moral support from other who understand.
Causes Of Dementia Are Vastly Different
A medical illness, metabolic issue , vascular disease , or, rarely, infectious diseases can affect brain cells, causing dementia. Even mad cow disease, which is very rare, can contribute to dementia, says Dr. Isaacson. A condition called depressive pseudo dementia is another possible source. As he explains, when levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin run low, you may have trouble paying attention. And when youre distracted, you have trouble remembering things, which can manifest as dementia.
On the other hand, Alzheimers has its own origins. Its a brain disease marked by deposits of beta-amyloid plaques and proteins called tau that damage cells in brain regions that control functions like thinking, memory, and reasoning. Here are the everyday habits that can increase your risk of dementia.
Stage : Mild Cognitive Impairment
Persons at this stage manifest deficits which are subtle, but which are noted by persons who are closely associated with the person with mild cognitive impairment. The subtle deficits may become manifest in diverse ways. For example, a person with mild cognitive impairment may noticeably repeat queries. The capacity to perform executive functions also becomes compromised. Commonly, for persons who are still working in complex occupational settings, job performance may decline. For those required to master new job skills, such as a computer or other machinery, decrements in these capacities may become evident.
MCI persons who are not employed, but who plan complex social events, such as dinner parties, may manifest declines in their ability to organize such events. This may be an early stage of Alzheimers, however, it is important for the person to seek medical help as soon as possible, to determine if a broad variety of medical conditions may be causing or contributing to the persons difficulties. Blood tests and an MRI of the brain should be obtained to assist in determining if the individual has MCI due to Alzheimers and whether there are other causes or contributing conditions to the persons cognitive decline.
Some MCI persons may manifest concentration deficits. Many persons with these symptoms begin to experience anxiety, which may be overtly evident.
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Women Might Be At Higher Risk
Age is the major risk factor for Alzheimers disease, and women on average live longer than men.
However, longevity alone does not fully explain why two-thirds of Alzheimers patients are women. Even after taking into account the difference in longevity, some studies have suggested that women are still at a higher risk.
Stage : Very Severe Cognitive Declinesevere Dementia
At this stage, AD persons require continuous assistance with basic activities of daily life for survival. Six consecutive functional substages can be identified over the course of this final seventh stage. Early in this stage, speech has become so circumscribed, as to be limited to approximately a half-dozen intelligible words or fewer . As this stage progresses, speech becomes even more limited to, at most, a single intelligible word . Once intelligible speech is lost, the ability to ambulate independently , is invariably lost. However, ambulatory ability may be compromised at the end of the sixth stage and in the early portion of the seventh stage by concomitant physical disability, poor care, medication side-effects or other factors. Conversely, superb care provided in the early seventh stage, and particularly in stage 7b, can postpone the onset of loss of ambulation. However, under ordinary circumstances, stage 7a has a mean duration of approximately 1 year, and stage 7b has a mean duration of approximately 1.5 years.
In persons with AD who remain alive, stage 7c lasts approximately 1 year, after which persons with AD lose the ability not only to ambulate independently but also to sit up independently , At this point in the evolution, the person will fall over when seated unless there are armrests to assist in sitting up in the chair.
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Expert Commentary & Five
A total of 100 years has passed since the appearance of the first article on AD by Alois Alzheimer. AD is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 5075% of all dementia and affecting more than 26 million people worldwide. Over the past three decades, we have witnessed an explosion of research effort dedicated to the study of AD, with some speculation that disease-modifying therapies are on the horizon. Biomarkers play an increasingly important role in AD drug development and will continue to be refined moving forward. AD together with the other major neurodegenerative syndromes remain a major public health problem. The early detection, prediction and dissociation of dementia syndromes is, therefore, of paramount interest, especially for treatment purposes.
Causes And Risk Factors
The cause depends on the type, but the exact causes of many forms of dementia are currently unclear.
Dementia is not an inevitable part of aging, but age is one of the main risk factors. In fact, up to 50% of people aged 85 years and older may have a type of dementia.
Also, in the United States, around 11.3% of people aged over 65 years currently have Alzheimers disease, according to the Alzheimers Association. This number rises to 34.6% in those aged 85 years and older. Symptoms tend to worsen with age.
It is possible to develop dementia at a younger age, but the condition is more common among older adults.
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What Is The Difference Between Alzheimers And Dementia
Millions of Americans currently live with Alzheimers or other forms of dementia. Over 35% of older adults aged 85 years and older have Alzheimers. If you or a loved one are exhibiting symptoms of dementia, you may be wondering how to tell Alzheimers vs. dementia differences. Are the two conditions different? If so, how do they differ from each other?
Elder Care Alliance seeks to clear up the confusion surrounding Alzheimers and dementia in this guide. Here is what you should know about the two conditions and how they differ.
Pooled Estimates Of Incidence
In the same collaborative effort that pooled prevalence data of European studies, data on incidence of dementia of eight population based European studies were compared and pooled. In total, there were 42 996 person-years of follow up with 835 new dementia cases. Of these, 6070% were diagnosed with AD and 1520% with VaD. Incidence rates of dementia increased exponentially with age from 2.4 per 1000 person-years in the 6569 age group, to 70.2 per 1000 person-years in the 90+ age group. Rates among women were higher, especially above the age of 80 . The rates continued to increase with age in women, whereas the increase reached a plateau in men at age 85. For AD, findings were comparable, with pooled incidence rates increasing from 1.2 per 1000 person-years among 6569 year olds to 53.5 among subjects over 90 years old.
Pooled incidence rates of dementia by sex. Based on Fratiglioni et al.
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An Innovative Approach To Adult Care
Oakwood Creative Care began as Sirrine Adult Day Health Services in 1975. The founders dreamed of a nonprofit that would provide an innovative solution to helping older adults remain in their homes for as long as possible, while staying connected to the community as their health care needs were being met.
Sirrine was licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services in 1987, and developed a strong partnership with the community. The City of Mesa and a collective group of women volunteered to create fundraising events and support for the organization.
In 2013, Sirrine leadership changed and with it came a rebrand and revitalization. The organizations name changed to Oakwood Creative Care. The Board of Directors and staff leadership felt it was important to remain close to our deep roots in the community however, they also wanted to offer a more innovative approach to the services being offered.
Oakwood Creative Cares rich history and ability to adapt to the needs of our members is a testament to the community that supports this amazing organization.
TOWN CENTER
Alzheimers And Parkinsons Disease: Similarities And Differences
James M. Ellison, MD, MPH
Swank Center for Memory Care and Geriatric Consultation, ChristianaCare Configure
Explore the similarities and differences between two common degenerative brain disorders.
Ron brings his 78-year-old wife, Sara, to the Memory Clinic, with a pressing concern. Sara is forgetting things more often even though her Parkinsons disease symptoms appear to be under good control with standard medications, healthy diet, and plenty of physical activity. She is losing her train of thought mid-sentence and she became very confused about where she was while driving the well-traveled route to her daughters home. Is she developing dementia? Is that a part of Parkinsons disease? Or is she developing Alzheimers disease? And what are the differences between Alzheimers and Parkinsons?
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What’s The Difference Between Alzheimer’s And Dementia
Dementia is a general term that refers to severe memory loss and problems with thinking, behavior, and social skills that interfere with daily life. According to the National Institutes of Health, this neurological condition affects one in seven adults over age 71.
Alzheimers disease is a type of dementia and makes up 60 percent to 80 percent of dementia cases, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most cases of Alzheimers occur when people reach their 70s and 80s.
Although Alzheimers disease accounts for many dementia cases, other types of dementia are distinct from Alzheimers disease, such as vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia. Alzheimers disease differs from other diseases involving dementia when it comes to its symptoms, effect on the brain, and treatments.
What Are Your Living Options
If your parent or loved one is diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimers, one of the next things you have to determine is their living options. You may be wondering if they can live independently, in assisted living, or in memory care. Youll have to talk to their doctor to determine the necessary level of care, but the best option for individuals with dementia or Alzheimers is generally living in a memory care facility. Memory care is the highest level of care offered by senior living communities and involves:
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A secure facility
However, depending on how advanced the dementia is, they may still be able to live in assisted living or with a family member where they can be supervised and taken care of. Dementia can progress quickly, so its important to keep your parent or loved one in the safest situation possible.
Pines Village Retirement Communities, Inc. is a nonprofit senior living community in Valparaiso, Indiana, with two campuses: Pines Village and Meridian Woods. The Pines Village campus offers pet-friendly independent living apartments with the option to add assistive services à la carte or in packages. The Meridian Woods campus consists of maintenance-free paired homes and Campbell St. Cafe, which, in addition to being a restaurant open to the public, hosts events and acts as a meeting space for residents and local nonprofits.
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Four Common Types Of Dementia
The term dementia is an umbrella term used to describe the symptoms of cognitive impairment. And within the dementia umbrella, there are many different variations Alzheimers included. Most of us average folk dont realize that all dementia is not Alzheimers. In fact, I would venture to say that the regular layman isnt quite sure what the difference between Alzheimers and Dementia is. Dont fret Ill explain it here!
Learning the difference between the varying levels of memory loss can be crucial to know the dos and donts of dealing with behavior challenges. It will also come into play with understanding the levels of care that are available to fit your loved ones needs, so they can live more comfortably.
In this blog we will discuss the Top 4 most common types of Dementia. The good news for you is that at The Kensington, we are very experienced with these areas of Memory Care and more. We welcome everyone!
Yes, there are many, many more types of dementia that are known. There is dementia resulting from years of alcohol misuse. There is dementia associated with Parkinsons Disease. There is dementia that is a result of a traumatic brain injury. All in all, there are over 100 types of dementia being treated and researched today. An accurate diagnosis is critical to the treatment of someone with dementia, for obvious reasons.
Distinguishing Ad Dementia From Other Major Forms Of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative brain disease that usually begins in late life and results in a progressive dementia. AD is characterized pathologically by neuronal atrophy, synapse loss and the abnormal accumulation of amyloid- protein as senile plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau protein as neurofibrillary tangles. In most cases, neurofibrillary tangles initially involve medial temporal lobe structures and then extend to temporal, parietal and frontal lobe association areas as the disease progresses, while A deposition begins in parietal, temporal and frontal association areas . Primary sensory and motor cortices and most subcortical structures are relatively spared until late in the disease process. Degeneration in basal forebrain structures results in a major reduction of cortical, limbic and hippocampal cholinergic projections. The typical dementia syndrome of AD is characterized by prominent episodic memory impairment, with secondary deficits in word-finding skills, spatial cognition and executive functions . These cognitive deficits and the decline in everyday functions that they cause make up the core features of the AD dementia syndrome.
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You May Be Able To Prevent Alzheimers
We have the Alzheimers Prevention Clinic, and the fact that you can talk about those words together is advanced, says Dr. Isaacson. The clinic investigates how lifestyle choicesa healthy diet, exercise, social and mentally stimulating activities, as well as everyday habits, and ample sleep can markedly reduce your risk of Alzheimers. In fact, in a study in 2014 published in the Lancet Neurology,reducing certain risk factors can decrease the risk of Alzheimers by 33 percent. The most important ways to prevent Alzheimers: Control diabetes and high blood pressure, reduce weight if obese, stay active, treat depression, dont smoke, and stay in school. The Lancet, in a 2017 article, also notes that staying social and managing hearing loss have been shown to be among the controllable factors that may help prevent dementia. Dont miss these 50 other everyday habits that can decrease your risk of Alzheimers.
How Is Dementia Treated
Treatment of dementia depends on the underlying cause. Neurodegenerative dementias, like Alzheimers disease, have no cure, though there are medications that can help protect the brain or manage symptoms such as anxiety or behavior changes. Research to develop more treatment options is ongoing.
Leading a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, healthy eating, and maintaining social contacts, decreases chances of developing chronic diseases and may reduce number of people with dementia.
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How Is Alzheimers Diagnosed
While a physician may not be able to diagnose Alzheimers with 100% certainty, there are several diagnostic tests they can do. One of the most prevalent types of testing used to determine Alzheimers is taking images of the brain with magnetic resonance imaging . This type of testing utilizes powerful radio waves and magnets to make detailed pictures of the brain. Additional tests include:
- Examining MRI images of the brain
- Attention testing
You Can Make A Difference In The Lives Of Arizona Seniors
Only 2%of American philanthropic dollars are directed to senior care.We couldnt do this without your help.
Thank you for joining us in our mission to provide extraordinary care and make a difference in the lives of seniors in need. As a nonprofit, we rely on the generous support of our community in order to provide care and hope to our members and their families.
Over 5 Million Americans are living with Alzheimers, and a new diagnosis occurs every 67 seconds. Often, families are encouraged to place their loved one in a facility with minimal support, information, training, or hope. Oakwoods Clubs allow individuals to remain at home for as long as possible, by providing a safe place for caregivers to entrust their loved one during the day. Our clubs offer enriching classes in art, movement, music, gardening, poetry, history, spirituality, wellness, nutrition, medication management, nursing care, training, and support groups.
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Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Mealtime With Dementia
Over time, people develop unique relationships with food determining what they like and do not like. It is commonplace to have a favorite meal, type of food, place to eat, etc. Individuals living with dementia, however, commonly experience changes from their normal food habits. Depending on the person and what stage of dementia they are in, a loved one may show changes in things like appetite, eating habits, food preferences or swallowing ability.
The Kensington White Plains Experts In Dementia Care
The health professionals at The Kensington are devoted to providing the highest quality memory care to your loved one. Our promise is simple: We will love and care for your family as we do our own, and we live that promise in every aspect.
The decision to move a loved one to an assisted living community for memory care is not one that should be taken lightly. Our team has a deep understanding of Alzheimers and dementia, and our goal is to always capitalize on the strengths of our residents no matter where they are at in their journey.
With two thoughtfully designed memory care neighborhoods Connections and Haven and around-the-clock care and support, you can have peace of mind knowing your loved one is always in the hands of professionals. The Connections neighborhood was created for early to middle stage Alzheimers and dementia care, and Haven is for middle to late stage. Each floor provides the required level of assistance and security, in a cozy living space, to ensure the best care.
Please to speak to our team and learn more about our programs, staff, residents, and dedication to giving your loved one top-level care and fulfillment.
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