preview

Understand the Process and Experience of Dementia Essay

Better Essays

Outcome 1 1.1Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells and in many ways, from alcoholism, brain injury, drug abuse, side effects to medications, depression, age, thyroid function abnormalities, and vitamin B12 deficiency. Alzheimer’s Dementia is caused by a build-up of proteins which the body no longer breaks down and this affects the transmission of signals. 1.2Memory loss can be defines in different ways. Memory loss can be the inability to retrieve information from the long-term memory (usually happening when the person is distracted or not fully concentrating when the memory is formed), when the new memories replace the old memories stored in brain (experienced by everyone), and the fading away of memories for example numbers …show more content…

Untreated Lyme disease (caused by the bite of an infected tick) can cause memory problems. Strokes occur due to a disruption to the blood supply to an area of the brain, causing damage and problems in memory. Damage to the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system causes MS, which interferes with information transmission between the brain and body. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition which can affect talking, writing, swallowing, walking and memory. I was surprised to discover that stress can cause memory difficulties and the inability to concentrate, through the emotional and physical strain as a result to pressures of life. 1.5Each person experiences dementia in different ways, and there is no set in stone timescales when the condition will deteriorate. Fluctuation of needs and abilities can fluctuate to the person’s mood, they may have done an activity for several years therefore feel confident about this until they are out of their familiar routine and surroundings so their confusion will grow, making their symptoms more obvious. Stress can rise at many stages during the dementia process, especially in the earlier stages where they are fully aware they have forgotten things and become agitated and upset, increasing stress levels making the confusion and memory worse than it already was, and also when they are having a ‘bad day’ and

Get Access