Unit 33 Understand The Process And Experience Of Dementia

for England (QCF) and Edexcel Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care (Adults) for Wales and

1.3 Explain the way that individual process information with reference to the abilities and limitations of individuals with dementia.

Allow the person with dementia and their family plan and make arrangements for the future

Prior to diagnosis the individual may show signs of forgetfulness due to an incline in memory functions. They may even show signs of a decline in reasoning and communication

At first, someone with dementia may appear to be easily irritated or moody. More challenging behaviour may develop in some people over time. For example, in some cases, a person with dementia may become quite

The loss of cognitive function is associated with fewer nerve cells and synapses than the normal brain. The neurons demise is thought to be from the formation of plaques and tangles. The formation of these plaques and tangles can begin many years before the person becomes symptomatic of AD. The formation of plagues comes from the breaking down of a protein in the cell membrane into protein fragments called beta-amyloid. The YouTube video, NIH: Unraveling the Mystery of Alzheimer's Disease, provides a clear animation how the beta-amyloid plaques are formed as these sticky fragments begin to clump together. (National Institutes of Health, 2011) The video shows another protein called tau, involved with formation of tangles. The tau protein is instrumental in the transport of food molecules, parts of cells, and key building materials and is compared to a railroad track system. The tracks become unraveled and form tangles. In the earliest stages of the disease, the plaques, and tangles form deep inside the brain in the medial areas where learning and memory are formed, then progresses toward areas where thinking and planning occur as the neurons begin to die. Because of the billions and billions of cells in the neuron forest, the damages caused by the plaques and tangles may go undetected and be asymptomatic for

An individual’s needs and abilities change over time as a result of their condition and are different for each person. All abilities involve more than one memory and dysfunction of the brain will affect a person’s abilities. Self-awareness and identity can be lost that may affects a person’s abilities and needs. Furthermore anxiety, depression, mental health issues, loss of independence, loss of companionship, change of circumstance. Moreover Seven Stages of Alzheimer's (2006) going from no impairment to very server cognitive decline shows the fluctuation of the needs and abilities.

Fixed cognitive impairments are due to a single event. Traumatic brain injury may cause generalized damage to the white matter of the brain or localized damages. A temporary reduction in the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain may lead to this type of dementia. A stroke or brain infection can also be the cause of dementia. Excessive alcoholic intake results in alcoholic dementia. Use of recreational drugs cause substance induced dementia. Once the over use of these drugs are stopped he impairment persists but may not progress. Dementia which begins gradually and worsens progressively over

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common causes of dementia. The term 'dementia' describes a set of symptoms, which can include memory loss, changes in mood and problems with communication and reasoning. These symptoms occur when certain diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, damage the brain. Alzheimer's disease could be described as a physical disease affecting the brain. During the course of the disease, protein 'plaques' and 'tangles' develop

1.3 Explain the way that individuals process information with reference to the abilities and limitations of individuals with dementia.

| | |they fully understand their diagnosis before it progresses, this enables them to talk to family and|

Later in the course of the disorder, affected individuals may become confused or disoriented about what month or year it is, be unable to describe accurately where they live, or be unable to name a place being visited. Eventually, patients may wander, be unable to engage in conversation, erratic in mood, uncooperative, and lose bladder and bowel control. In late stages of the disease, persons may become totally incapable of caring for themselves. Death can then follow, perhaps from pneumonia or some other problem that occurs in severely deteriorated states of health. Those who develop the disorder later in life more often die from other illnesses (such as heart disease) rather than as a consequence of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a complex illness that affects the brain tissue directly and undergoes gradual memory and behavioral changes which makes it difficult to diagnose. It is known to be the most common form of dementia and is irreversible. Over four million older Americans have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to triple in the next twenty years as more people live into their eighties and nineties. (Johnson, 1989). There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s but throughout the past few years a lot of progress has been made.

Dementia effects your memory and a person’s ability to achieve a normal everyday task and activities.

Alzheimer’s disease slowly steals a person’s dignity and erases precious memories. The “Alzheimer’s Disease Guide”, found on WebMD explains that tasks become more difficult to do often leading to confusion and behavior changes. The article further explains the progression of the disease also brings hardship to family and friends (1). To best cope with Alzheimer’s we must better understand the disease.