Effects of Dementia on Health and Well-being: A Bio-Psycho-Social Perspective

Running Head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

NURSING ASSIGNMENT1
Introduction
This essay is going to discuss the effects of dementia on the overall health and well-
being of an individual from the biological, social and psychological perspectives. This essay
will also have a reflection on dementia and how the condition can be treated in the future
with the help of the new age technology and the way in which the disease can affect the
future treatment method, social life of the affected person and the psychological health. An
individual with Alzheimer's or other progressive dementia will need the help of a caregiver to
organize the day (Prince et al. 2013). This can affect the social and the psychological well-
being of that individual and along with that the slow damage to the cellular factors are also
affecting the overall health of the patient. This essay is thus going to discuss the number of
factors that form an integral part of the patients who are suffering from dementia. The essay
will describe the bio-psychosocial framework that will help in analysing the conditions of the
patients who ate suffering from dementia (Livingston et al. 2013).
Discussion
George Engel first conceptualized the bio-psychosocial model in 1977, indicating that
the understanding of a person's medical condition requires consideration not only of the
biological variables, but also of the psychological and social variables (Woods et al. 2018).
The factors that constitute the bio-psychosocial are the biological factors that are
physiological pathology, psychological factors like behaviours and emotions such as the
psychological distress, fear or avoidance beliefs, and social that constitutes the socio-
economic, socio-environmental and cultural factors such as work-related problems, family
conditions and benefits (Iadecola 2013). This model is commonly implemented in chronic
pain, considering that pain is a pattern of psychological behaviour that cannot be classified as
social factors, biological, or psychological factors alone. It is suggested that physiotherapy
should integrate psychological treatment to address all components of chronic pain

NURSING ASSIGNMENT2
experience. These factors thus helped Mr Brown for the complete treatment of dementia
when he first visited the hospital (Hurd et al. 2013).
The bio-psychosocial model was also introduced to dementia as a basis for exercise,
clinical knowledge and taking decision that is evidence based. The bio-psychosocial method
to dementia lines up it into the following manner: the physiological environment with the
degradation of certain substances that are transmitted inside the human brain and the effect it
has on the functioning and cognitive capacity of the person's memory, including the visual
identification of objects caused by occipital lobe harm (Woods et al. 2018). The
psychological domain provides a chance to interact with an individual with dementia first and
foremost as an individual whose behaviour is guided by the significance of his or her
situation. The social domain is related to the value of the individual suffering with dementia
having an important social identity, one where the language is used properly for the social
position of the person as someone which is of intrinsic importance and value (Prince et al.
2013).
Biological Factors
Dementia is caused by damaged brain nerve cells. Individuals with dementia, based
on which portion of the brain is damaged, are impacted differently. Damaged brain cells are
unable to interact usually with other brain cells that affect thinking, conduct, emotions,
memory, and motion (T O'Brien and Thomas 2015). The major biological cause of dementia
is neurodegeneration, which often leads to Alzheimer's disease. Neurodegeneration breaks
down, killing cells of the brain that are known as neurons. Over time, dying brain cells cause
mental and physical function to decline steadily and progressively (Wimo et al. 2013).
Usually a prevalent biological cause of dementia is the consequence of strokes, heart disease,
and blood vessel hardening that supplies the brain and this condition is known as
atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular damage from haemorrhaging, malformation, or blockage.

NURSING ASSIGNMENT3
Localized brain regions are damaged by absence of blood supply (Buckner et al. 2013).
Dementia is also caused by infections. Viruses, bacteria, and parasites can kill cells in the
brain and may result in dementia — usually in subsequent phases of serious diseases.
Dementia can also be induced by a chemical body imbalance induced by toxin for example,
medicines, malnutrition, or other biological circumstances, such as metabolic illnesses.
Another cause of dementia is serious injuries and concussions to the head and brain (Smith et
al. 2013).
As it becomes clear that Mr Brown has received a number of reasons from the doctors
regarding the condition of his disease, he was concerned about the actual cause of dementia
and how it might affect his life. The doctors told him that he was suffering from the disease
due to the neurodegeneration of the nerves that is very common due to old age (Gagliese et
al. 2018).
Social Factors
Age is the greatest recognized dementia risk factor that becomes one of the most
anticipated social risk factors for the patients who are suffering from dementia. A person's
danger of developing Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia doubles approximately every
five years above the age of 65. It is estimated that one in 14 individuals over 65 and one in
six over 80 suffer from dementia (Wade and Halligan 2017). Genetic disposition and the
other experiences of life, such as education and work, and life in older age, along with
involvement in activities, could provide this cognitive reserve. Therefore, it can
be assumed that by creating a favourable environment, it can become possible to clinically
prevent the disease. Higher earnings in ancient era enable more exposure through leisure
operations to more stimulating settings (Gagliese et al. 2018). It also ensures higher access to
quality medical care in previous phases of the disease and hence improved maintenance of
health, particularly in developing nations. Some past studies concentrated not only on the