Decades ago the common notion about people who grew old was that they would inevitably lose their proper cognitive function and memory, and also generally begin to regress into behavior akin to children. This was believed to be a natural part of aging back then, but it has since been debunked as a natural occurrence and is now known as dementia.
Those looking for some interesting facts about dementia will learn that it is not a single disease, but an overall term that covers a broader range of specific medical conditions that primarily target cognitive function.
Interesting Facts About Dementia
- Dementia is not a stand-alone disease, but rather a collection of conditions that include deterioration of cognitive function, significant memory loss, and behavioral issues
- Dementia is not a natural part of growing old
- The most common condition associated with dementia is Alzheimer’s disease
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects that unless a cure for the condition is found, roughly 14 million Americans could have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease by 2060
- Dementia could develop from a variety of diseases or even injuries that primarily affect the brain
- Dementia is cited as one of the major causes of disability in older adults
- Dementia significantly affects the quality of life of the person who has it and the family the person is living with
- To this day there is no cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, though treatments exist that may help with symptoms
- People with dementia can become highly dependent on others, and a large share of working family caregivers in the United States are caring for someone with dementia
- The cost of care and medication for people with dementia is substantial, and coverage by insurance or healthcare providers is limited
- A significant number of primary care physicians report they do not feel adequately prepared to care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
- There is a well-documented shortage of care professionals who specialize in geriatrics or are specifically trained to attend to people with dementia
- People diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related conditions tend to have more hospital stays per year compared to other older adults
- People diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related conditions are more likely to have other chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease
What are the Types of Dementia?
The most common attribute observed in people suffering from dementia is pronounced memory loss, changes in behavior, and erratic reasoning. These symptoms, however, are not the only ones that typically manifest in a person with dementia, as many other types of dementia could afflict a person.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a condition that causes a type of dementia that rapidly gets progressively worse. Other forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or frontotemporal dementia, typically worsen much more slowly. This type of dementia, however, is quite rare, occurring only in about one person in one million annually worldwide.
The damage done to the brain by this disease leads to a rapid decline in thinking and reasoning, confusion, and mood changes. It also causes involuntary muscle movements and difficulty in locomotor skills, such as walking. The rapid degeneration caused by this disease makes it always fatal.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a progressive form of dementia that results in a decline in thinking, reasoning, and independent function. It may also manifest spontaneous changes in attention and alertness, recurrent visual hallucinations, REM sleep behavior disorder, significantly slowed movement, tremors, or rigidity.
This form of dementia has symptoms that are quite similar to Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, leading many researchers to the theory that these conditions may be linked in some way to the same underlying abnormalities that occur in the brain.
Down Syndrome accompanied by Alzheimer’s disease
People with Down syndrome have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Researchers believe the extra genetic material associated with Down syndrome is connected to that increased risk.
A major concern is that diagnosing dementia can be more difficult in this group, due to the challenges involved in assessing changes in thinking skills in those already living with intellectual disabilities.
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) or frontotemporal degeneration is a group of disorders caused by progressive nerve cell damage and eventual loss in the brain’s frontal or temporal lobes. The nerve cell damage caused by this condition leads to loss of function in these brain regions, which then leads to abrupt changes in the behavior and personality of the person who has it. It could also result in difficulty with comprehending language and verbal communication.
Because personality and behavior change is often the first sign, families frequently encounter this as anger, disinhibition or apathy rather than as memory loss. Our guide to aggression and resistance to care in dementia covers how families can respond to those changes.
Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive brain disorder believed to be caused by a defective gene. This disease causes changes in the central area of the brain that is associated with movement, mood, and thinking skills. As such, Huntington’s disease leads to drastic changes in mood, typically manifesting as depression, anxiety, and uncharacteristic anger and irritability. It is also observed to manifest as obsessive-compulsive behavior, causing a person to engage in repetitive speech or activities.
Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
Parkinson’s disease dementia is a steady decline in cognitive and reasoning skills that develops in some people afflicted with Parkinson’s disease and manifests at least a year after diagnosis. This condition affects a region in the brain that plays a key role in movement, leading to symptoms that include tremors and shakiness, muscle stiffness, a shuffling step, stooped posture, difficulty in initiating movement, and lack of facial expression.
As this condition progresses, difficulties in some mental functions will manifest, including memory impairment, decreased ability to pay attention, impaired judgment, and loss of ability to plan the steps needed to complete a task.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia manifests as a decline in cognitive skills caused by conditions that block or reduce blood flow to the brain’s various regions, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients. The blockage could be due to a stroke, which is known to cause blockages in major blood vessels in the brain. It could also be due to relatively minor damage that gradually worsens as a result of multiple minor strokes, or even other conditions that affect smaller blood vessels in the brain, leading to widespread damage.
Vascular dementia often coexists with effects linked to other types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Numerous studies suggest that vascular changes and other brain abnormalities could interact in ways that increase the likelihood of a dementia diagnosis.
What is the Difference between Forgetfulness and Dementia?
Memory changes are common with age, which is why many mistake dementia as a natural part of growing old. Transience is a normal process where some memories fade over time as the brain clears unused information. Absentmindedness, such as forgetting an appointment, is also common and is often about attention rather than memory.
Memory loss due to dementia is different from the normal memory changes that come with age in that it is progressive and it interferes with daily life. Our guide to the early signs of dementia explains how to tell the difference, and dementia and driving covers one of the earliest and highest-stakes changes families notice.
If memory loss becomes severe enough that living alone is no longer safe, families often begin looking at memory care, which Shepherd Premier provides in Dixon and Sterling.
Is there a Way to Prevent or Treat Dementia?
There is currently no cure for dementia. Research points to risk reduction through managing cardiovascular health, staying physically and socially active, protecting hearing, and avoiding head injuries, though none of this guarantees prevention. Some treatments may help with symptoms, and this is a conversation for a physician rather than an article.
When care at home is no longer workable, a small residential setting with constant support can help. Shepherd Premier provides assisted living in Crystal Lake, Harvard and Oregon.
There is Still a Safe Haven to be Found for the Elderly at Shepherd Premier Senior Living
There is no reason why people with dementia or other conditions associated with age cannot live in comfort and care. Shepherd Premier Senior Living provides senior living care and assistance in small residential homes. We know all about the special care our elderly folk requires, and more than anyone else, we believe that they deserve nothing less.
Call or text (847) 961-2551, take our free care assessment, or contact us today to arrange a private tour.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
- National Institute on Aging, What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis
- Alzheimer’s Association, Types of Dementia
This article is general information and is not medical advice. Please talk with a physician about any specific concern.
