Literature Review : Canadian Prevention Plan

Dementia refers to a syndrome which results in deterioration in thinking, memory, behavior, and ability to execute everyday activities and duties. Despite the fact that the syndrome is mainly associated with the older people, it is not a normal aspect or part of ageing. One of the major causes of dementia is the aspect of Alzheimer's disease. This disease contributes to about 60 to 70 percent of the cases of dementia. Dementia possesses psychological, physical, economic, and social impacts in relation to the family, caregivers, and the entire society. Dementia affects each individual in a diverse or different way with reference to the impact of the disease and personality following the development of the syndrome (Gao et al, 2013 p. 447).

By 2015, it is estimated that there will be a number of 850,000 dementia sufferers in the UK and about 225,000 people develop dementia every year in which it is roughly about one person in every three minutes. It is predicted that the number of people with dementia will exceed 2 million in 2050 if preventative measures are not taken. In brief, dementia can be described as a persistent and progressive loss of mental ability due to brain diseases or injuries in which the symptoms can be recognized by memory disorders, perception and personality changes and also impairments of body functions. Alzheimer is the most common type of dementia which contributes about 62% of the cause of dementia and had become a global prevalence disease. By 2015, it

Military service members who are and have been deployed to the middle east show high levels of emotional distress and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Both active duty and reserve component soldiers who have experienced combat have been exposed to high levels of traumatic stress. As a consequence, many have gone on to develop a wide range of mental health problems such as PTSD. “According to researchers, PTSD is a long-term reaction to war-zone exposure that can last up to a few minutes, hours, several weeks, and for some a lifetime.” Common symptoms include: emotional numbing, anxiety, feelings of guilt, and depression. If the disorder turns chronic veterans may experience functional impairment (Friedman, M. J. et al., 1994, p.

A major devastating and debilitating disease, Alzheimer 's is a public health issue that affects not only the United States but also countries all around the world. In 2010, there were 35.6 million people living with Alzheimer’s. Researchers and medical personnel expect this number to triple by the year 2050. The disease is costing America an exorbitant amount of money and has become a burden on families, caregivers, medical personnel, the healthcare system, and the nation’s economy. If attention is not focused on this major problem, “nursing homes will be overloaded, caregivers will be burned out, healthcare system will be overwhelmed, and federal and state budgets will be overtaxed” (Alzheimer’s Association, 2011).

Today the aging population faces many challenges, such as the effects it has on physical, psychological, and social functioning in late life. Aging veterans not only face these challenges, but they also face unique challenges because of their military experience. One unique challenge that they face, is exposure to military trauma which among aging veterans is approximately 85% (U.S Department of Veterans Affairs). This specific trauma faced by military veterans can impact physical, mental, and sociological function. According to Research on Aging Military Veterans, “Combat exposure can lead to poorer health-related and psychosocial quality of life in later years”.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and fatal form of dementia, frequently seen in the elderly altering their cognition, thought process and behavior. AD is reported in about half of patients that have a dementia diagnosis; one study states that about 10.3% of the population over 65 years is affected by dementia with an increase to almost 50% over the age of 8 (Beattie, 2002). Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of the aging process in humans, but rather found in a group of diseases that affect the brain leading to a decline in mental and physical control. AD when diagnosed has a very slow and gradual course, initially affecting the individual’s short term memory (Beattie, 2002). Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death, affecting more than five million people in the United States and is also one of the most common forms of dementia. Dementia can be defined as a disorder of progressive cognitive impairment severe enough to affect daily functions of an individual’s life (Fillit, et al., 2002).

It takes many years for dementia to develop before it is diagnosed, and for the cognitive abilities of the diseased person to deteriorate to a level where they are unable to continue their normal social and professional activities. According to a recent study (Prince et al., 2013), it is estimated that about 35. 6 million people suffered from dementia worldwide in 2010 and these numbers will double every twenty years. Australia is among a list of countries which are boldly facing this disease, which afflicts the intellect of its countrymen. In 2011, 298,000 Australians suffered from dementia, 62% of which were women (AIHW, 2012)

Veterans are dealing with health issues (Musculoskeletal injuries and pain, Mental health issues, Chemical exposure, Infectious diseases, Noise and vibration exposure, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Urologic injuries) upon returning home from combat duty. Also, many veterans have problem assimilating, flashbacks or just talking to civilians in general. The purpose of this paper is to look at the research surrounding veterans with PTSD link to Dementia.

The National Prevention Strategy aim is to increase the number of Americans to live healthy in every stage of their life (CDC, 2014). It provides leadership at the federal level that emphasize on prevention, wellness, and health promotion and its landmark represented in a vision, goals, strategic direction, priorities, recommendation, and act. The National preventive strategy supports the Affordable Care Act, as both of them emphasize on the importance of prevention for all Americans.

According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (2014), there are currently an estimated 19.4 million veterans, of which 1.6 million are women. Eight percent of the US population has served in the US military and 33% of the US population is directly related to someone who has served (Meyer, Writer, & Brim, 2016). Many returning service members face complex mental and behavioral health challenges in readjusting to life after deployment (American Psychological Association [APA], 2016a). Data indicate that one-third of returning Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) service members have reported symptoms of mental-health or cognitive problems (APA, 2016a). This includes concerns of suicidal ideation, posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, adjustment disorders, substance use disorders, depression, and anxiety disorders, among others. As OEF and OIF deployed service members continue to return home with high rates of mental health disorders, there are concerns regarding the availability and adequacy of mental health

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or as many know by the abbreviation PTSD, is a complex mental issue that affects several every day. People that know of post-traumatic stress disorder tend to connect it to military personnel. In recent years, PTSD has been diagnosed in people who have endured other types of high-stress experiences as well (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)). In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) added PTSD to the third edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). Although PTSD was recognized as a mental disorder in 1980, in the 1800’s doctors began to notice that soldiers were “exhausted” from war and would experience mental shutdowns and similar symptoms of

Mental illness is very common among men and women who serve in our military. According to American Psychiatric Association (2015), military men and women face unique challenges, including actively participating in war, being separated from their families and friends, and various other stressors that come with being deployed. These stresses can lead to anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and substance abuse following their return back home. Addition to mental health illnesses, military personnel during combat may also have encountered traumatic brain injury or multiple concussions. While few Veterans who experience traumatic brain injury do recover, others face long -term consequences that impair their physical and mental health (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2015).

Soldiers returning from combat face a wide range of challenges in adjusting to civilian life. These challenges are compounded by the high susceptibility of combat-experienced soldiers to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and overlapping symptoms of traumatic brain syndrome. As the two articles considered hereafter demonstrate, the U.S. military has sought better ways of understanding the primary symptoms and health consequences of traumatic brain syndrome with an interest in driving better outreach and treatment. The discussion will address the value of both articles in contributing to this aim.

Vyas, K. J., Fesperman, S. F., Nebeker, B. J., Gerard, S. K., Boyd, N. D., Delaney, E. M., & ... Johnston, S. L. (2016). Preventing PTSD and Depression and Reducing Health Care Costs in the Military: A Call for Building Resilience Among Service Members. Military Medicine, 181(10), 1240-1247. doi:10.7205/MILMED-D-15-005. Retrieved from EBSCO; key words: Preventing PTSD

Given the need for highly trained personnel in Afghanistan and Iraq region's, military personnel are being asked to do multiple tours in the region and to stay for extended periods of time while on tours. While this approach has produced a highly trained fighting force it has also exposed military personnel to increased traumatic exposure and exposure at a much higher rate than previous Veteran populations. With multiple deployments becoming a normal part of one's military experience it's important for clinicians to be aware and trained on the mental health implications associated with multiple and longer deployments.