Research Proposal Dementia in Older People Early Dignosis and Public Awareness Leicester Le S in Liecester

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The term ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms which can include loss of memory, mood changes and problems with communication and reasoning. These symptoms occur when the brain is damaged by certain conditions and diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. 
Age is the greatest risk factor for dementia. Dementia affects one in 14 people over the age of 65 and one in six over the age of 80. However, dementia is not restricted to older people: in the UK, there are over 17,000 people under the age of 65 with dementia, although this figure is likely to be an underestimate.

Worldwide dementia numbers will grow significantly over the next forty years and create the necessity for improved dementia education. Today it is estimated over 46 million people live with dementia and projected to escalate to 131.5 million by 2050, a new case every 3.2 seconds (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2015). At present 58 percent of people with dementia live in low to middle income countries, this figure is expected to grow to 63 percent by 2030 and to 68 percent by 2050 (WHO, 2015). In table one it displays the chief projection rates will occur in low to middle income countries. However, Langa (2015) identified through education that nine studies over the last ten years have shown a declining risk of dementia incidence in high-income countries. So maybe the estimates in table one in high income country will not be accurate. Additionally, the United Nations predicts by 2050 there will be 83 countries where 20 per cent of their population is over the age of 65 (Rubinstein, Duggan, Landingham,

This paper is on dementia, a late-life disorder, as it pertains to the geriatric population. “It is estimated that 24.3 million people around the world have dementia and that, with an estimated 4.6 million new cases every year, we can expect about 43 million people and their families to have to handle the challenge of dementia by 2020.” (McNamera, 2011) I will cover three relevant points concerning this disorder that cause changes in the brain.

In the United States by 2012 there has been approximately 5.5 million people diagnosed with dementia (“What is Dementia?”, 2012). Dementia symptoms can begin as early as age 45 and the risk of getting doubles every 5 years. More women have been diagnosed with dementia than men but no reasons have been found as to why (“What is Dementia?”, 2012).

The most common medications used to treat symptoms of dementia in the UK are: anti-psychotic drugs, tranquilizers, hypnotic drugs, anti-depressive drugs, anti-anxiety drugs, pain killers, antibiotics. They do not cure dementia.

1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................... 3 DESCRIPTION ................................................................. 3 PURPOSE.......................................................................... 4 PROFESSIONAL INTEREST......................................... 4 2. 3. 4. LITERATURE SEARCH

The National Institutes of Health reports that, “According to their calculations, 13.9% of Americans age 71 and older have some type of dementia.” (National Institutes of Health 1). Dementia is a generic term used in reference to a wide group of symptoms. The disease has no cure and is different in every patient. There are many different definitions and forms of dementia; consequently, while not on purpose, there have been many misdiagnoses and negligence of dementia. Although studies show that dementia is prevalent in 30 to 47% of people over the ages of 85, it is not an inevitable part of aging.

More than 47 million people around the world have dementia. Dementia refers to a deterioration in cognitive function, including memory and comprehension. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia but other conditions can also be responsible. Dementia is usually chronic and progressive, so it has a major impact on people’s lives.

Dementia can be caused by a few things and is effecting more people every year. Dementia is the loss of intellectual and social abilities severe enough to interfere

Globally it is estimated that 46.8 million people are diagnosed and living with dementia. This figure is expected to double by 2030 reaching 74.7 million.(sources). As indicated by research, dementia incidence increases substantially with ages. Dementia is Prevalence in over the ages of sixty and varies across the world, from 8.7% in North Africa and the Middle East to 4.6% in Central Europe. In 2015, there was 4.9 million new diagnose dementia cases of which 2.5 million (25%) in Europe, 1.7 million (18%) in the Americas, 49% of the total in Asia, and 0.8 million (8%) in Africa. It has been suggested; these figures would double with most of those diagnosed coming from the developing nations (Ferri et al., 2005). Globally the cost of dementia has increased from US$ 604 billion to US$ 818 billion in 2010 and 2015 respectively.

Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia in the United States. It usually starts with recent memory loss – then progresses to forgetting where you are, familiar faces and names. Eventually, the disease continues to progress and patients develop impaired mobility, difficulty swallowing, and inability to care for themselves. Alzheimer disease is a major cause of disability and death in the United States.

Reported by Singapore Alzheimer’s Disease Association, dementia is chronic disease of 21 st century. The number of elderly people between 65 years old and above of having dementia in year 2015 has increased to 40,000 compare to year 2010 which is 30,000.

It is important to note though that the number of people becoming victim to this disease vary based on а number of factors. According to а recent research conducted for the spread of dementia in the United States recorded a total of 10% of the elderly in the population (i.e. those aged 65 or above) to be experiencing symptoms of or severe cases of dementia. The overall percentage for Аlzhеimеr disease was recorded to be in the roundabouts of the two-third percentage of the total cases available for the elderly as well. On the other hand, the statistics of the older people suffering from this illness in China are recorded to be as high as nearly 3.49% for those suffering from dementia and 1.85% for those suffering from АD. Apart from these two major countries, the results of the elderly in the European population suffering from this disease are 6.4% for those suffering from dementia and 4.4% for those suffering from АD. The aged people are found to become victim to

In an article by Weir (20017) the relationship between new kinds of preventive measure for dementia, and how well they actually work are explored. As the baby boomer generation begins to move into their 60s and 70s doctors anticipated a new wave of dementia patients, but the doctors did not find the numbers they were expecting. Between the new incoming generation of elderly, and the already preexisting generation of elderly, the number of people with symptoms of dementia has drastically decreased. In 2000 the percentage of 65-year-old people with symptoms of dementia was at 11.6 percent, and as of 2012 that number decreased to 8.8 percent. This sudden drop in patients with dementia has led researchers to look further into what factors may be slowing the processes that lead to dementia.