What is Dementia?
What is Dementia?
Dementia is a broad term used to describe a group of symptoms. These include impairment in memory, intellect, judgment, language, insight and deterioration in social skills. The individual diagnosed with dementia may also demonstrate an acute sensitivity to his or her built and social environment and a high level of stress.
While over 100 different diseases will produce the symptoms of dementia, it is known that Alzheimer's Disease is the most common cause and accounts for more than 50% of all cases. Other common causes include vascular brain disease (Multi-Infarct or Vascular Dementia), mixed dementia (Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia) and Lewy Body's Disease.
Less common dementias include Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Korsakoff's Disease (alcohol related), Huntington's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob (CJD) and HIV-associated dementia (HAD). Below the age of 60, dementia is rare and is often associated with genetics/a strong family history.
The incidence of dementia increases with age. At the age of 65, 5% of people are likely to have dementia, at 80, the incidence increases to 20% and at 85, and approximately 25% of people will have a dementia. For someone in their 90's the risk of developing dementia is 50 times greater than that of someone in their 60's (Gilleard, 2000).
Most people with dementia live at home and are supported by family caregivers and by community/voluntary services. The survival rate in dementia can be anywhere from 2 to 20 years.
About Dementia
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a collection of symptoms characterised by the loss of cognitive and social functioning and behavioural changes. It is caused by many different factors of which the most common is Alzheimer's disease.This accounts for more than 50% of all cases of dementia.
Dementia is age-related and its incidence and prevalence increase significantly with advancing years. In Ireland, it is estimated that some 38,000 people are likely to have dementia. Because our population is ageing, these figures are likely to reach between 80 000 and 100 000 over the next 30 years.
Dementia is difficult to manage and there are often significant personal, social and economic costs associated. In Ireland, the major costs are generally borne by family caregivers, who provide most services.
Alzheimer's Disease is particularly expensive to manage due to its insidious onset and the ever increasing levels of disability associated and the length of time over which the condition extends itself.
Alzheimer's Disease is a stigmatising condition and myths exist which can serve to de-humanise the individual diagnosed and may cause isolation from family members and friends.
The Dementia Services Information and Development Centre (DSIDC) is committed to challenging these misconceptions and to facilitating a shift from negative imagery. We focus on how the individual can be helped and how the environment can be adapted to minimise the impact of the disability experienced.
Although at an international level, much effort has been invested in researching the causes of dementia, progress has been slow. Studies indicate that the single most powerful risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease is increasing age.
For vascular dementia, risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and obesity increase risk. If controlled, these can reduce the likelihood of dementia. Even after the onset of dementia the control of these risk factors can help prevent further deterioration.
Drugs can in some cases slow the progression of dementia and reduce the associated challenging behaviours. However, the cost of medication is high, not everyone is suitable and in some cases the side effects are profound. Improved public awareness means that more people are being empowered to seek an early diagnosis and the availability of drugs points to the need for early differential diagnosis.
In recent years, attention has being paid to understanding the subjective experience of persons with dementia and to developing appropriate services to respond to that. Conventional beliefs about Alzheimer's Disease and its management have been re-examined and a new focus has been placed on using a person-centred approach to care.
This approach draws on a disability model of health, emphasising the uniqueness and personhood of the individual rather than focusing on the signs and symptoms of dementia. The advantage of this approach is that it highlights how an individual can be helped or enabled and how the environment can be made more appropriate for their needs.
The ‘new culture of dementia care’ which places the individual at the centre and acknowledges the critical role the social world plays in reducing ‘excess disabilities’ and in improving the quality of life.
In all our professional activities, the new culture of care is strongly embraced.
