Case Study on Global Burden of Disease

Running head: CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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CASE STUDY
Introduction:
With the global burden of disease, non-communicable chronic disease has emerged as
one of the leading cause behind premature mortality and morbidity. In Australia, Currently, 9 out
of 10 individuals experience deaths where non communicable chronic diseases are
the underlying cause. Dementia is one such chronic disease that impacted thousands of lives
every year in Australia. In Australia, dementia was the second leading cause of death in 2017
where 9 out of 10 dementia hospitalization involve at least one overnight stay
(Www.aihw.gov.au. 2020). The rate of dementia was 376000 in 2018 which expected to increase
up to 550000 by 2030 (Www.aihw.gov.au. 2020). While Australian population experience
dementia associated morbidity, the comorbid situations are also common amongst the patients
suffering from dementia. The case study involves an 85 years old woman, Mrs Jones who
admitted to the hospital due to dementia. She had a long history of anxiety, COPD and require
assistance in her daily activity. This essay aims to provide an in-depth discussion regarding the
pathophysiology of one of the medical condition along with contributing factors with the
assistance of ageing theory. This essay will also incorporate relevant ageing theories and ethical
consideration while providing care. Two medications along with their side effects will be
incorporated in the essay. Lastly, this essay will discuss the model of care and strategies that can
provide Mrs Jone with a purposeful and quality life.

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CASE STUDY
Discussion:
Pathophysiology of dementia and associated risk factors:
While the case study highlighted a range of diseases experienced by the patient, dementia
has been chosen for discussing the pathophysiology, risk factors and relevant theories associated
with ageing. Dementia has emerged as a symptom of arranging of structural brain diseases where
Alzheimer’s disease is the most frequently occurring dementia. As observed in this case study,
the patient had a long history of Alzheimer which might be the reason behind the development of
dementia. Considering the pathophysiology of dementia, dementia is caused by the damages to
the brain cells which interfere with the ability of the brain cells to communicate with each other
(Karas et al., 2016). Due to risk factors of dementia, the damage to the vasculature observed
amongst patients which resulted in cerebral occlusion, hypoxia and hyperperfusion along with
deposition of amyloid protein which resulted in cognitive impairment. Apart from the vascular
Dementia, all forms of dementia include extracellular plaques of the amyloid and intracellular
tangles of hyper-phosphorylated tau which resulted in a neural loss, synapse and atrophy
followed by cognitive impairment (Ashby-Mitchell, Burns, Shaw & Anstey, 2017). According to
the amyloid cascade hypothesis, due to the presence of genetic, environment and lifestyle factors,
altered Amyloid Precursor Protein processing resulted in overproduction of amyloid-beta and
plaque formation (Ricciarelli& Fedele, 2017). The simultaneous oxidative stress and
neuroinflammation are also common in case of Alzheimer associated dementia amongst the
patients. Consequently, patients experience neural loss, difficulties in involving in daily
activities, limited mobility, confusion and anxiety.
Harrison (2020), highlighted that the cognitive decline and dementia are multi-causal
where risk factors such as smoking habit, age, family history dementia, high cardiac risk factors,

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CASE STUDY
physical inactivity, diabetes and increases the risk of developing late-life dementia amongst the
patient. The researchers suggested that the majority of the patients with a high risk of developing
dementia exhibit anxiety, hypercholesteremia and lung diseases, indicating these are the common
risk factors of developing dementia. Taking a deep insight into the situation, the patient had the
medical history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, type two diabetes, anxiety and
osteoarthritis. Patients with hypertension are at high risk of developing dementia since high
blood pressure damage and narrow the blood vessels of the brains as observed in this case.
Moreover, since the patient had diabetes where the brain cell has limited ability to use insulin, it
might be the risk factor for dementia (Martins, 2017). The patient had a history of COPD due to
severe smoking which might be the risk factor for developing dementia. The underlying reason is
that low level of oxygen, carbon die oxide along with cerebrovascular damage by smoking
resulted in oxidative stress followed by dementia (Cherbuin, Walsh & Prina, 2019). The case
study suggested that the patient is 85 years which might be the contributing factor behind the
development of dementia. This can be explained through the theory of oxidative stress which
suggested that due to obesity, smoking cigarette and ageing, increased imbalance in redox state
increase oxidative stress that resulted in neural dysfunction followed by dementia (Liguori et al.,
2018). On the other hand, sociological theory such as disengagement theory of ageing suggested
that ageing is inevitable and mutual disengagement with the society is common with ageing
which resulted in social exclusion and low physical activity. In this current context, it can be said
that she is 85 years widower which limited her physical activity and social connections as she
used to visit gardens with his husband.