Dementia And Alzheimer's Disease

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Senescence is the normal aging process that explains the natural decline of the body and organ performance which may affect a person’s ability to perform normal daily activities. All people and even some animals experience senescence and the changes that affect the different organ systems (Hooyman, Kawamoto, Asuman Kiyak, 2015). While not a natural part of aging, dementia affects a significant amount of people as they age. Defining dementia can be tricky since it is not a disease rather an umbrella term that refers to a variety of symptoms that affect mental functioning. In dementia patients, the cerebral cortex is negatively impacted by diseases, injury and other unknown causes. Dementia is categorized by memory loss, personality changes, …show more content…
In addition, someone with Alzheimer’s might experience new problems with language, misplace things and lose the ability to retrace steps, have decreased or poor judgment, withdraw from work or social activities, and change their mood and personality (Impact of a cognitive rehabilitation intervention on neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, 2015). However, these changes tend to have a later onset. Alzheimer’s patients progress from mild to moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease at different rates. There is no specific timetable that gives an indication of how progressive the disease will be. In advanced Alzheimer’s disease, people need help with basic activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom. In the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease one loses the ability to communicate, fails to recognize loved ones, and becomes bed-bound and dependent on around-the-clock care from caregivers (Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, …show more content…
Treatments are available for vascular dementia because it is one of the few types of dementia caused by a blockage. The main way to cure vascular dementia is to do extensive testing to find the cause of the blockage and then pursue treatment. This could be done by several tests like MRIs and CAT scans. There are also blood thinning medications and even surgeries to remove blockages. There are several ways to prevent vascular dementia including changing dietary habits, exercise, and taking medications to promote blood flow (Vascular Dementia,