Exploring Dementia: Types, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of dementia, a collective set of cognitive disorders primarily affecting the geriatric population. It highlights the key points pertaining to dementia, including its various types such as Alzheimer's, vascular, Lewy body, and frontotemporal dementia, as well as mixed-type dementia. The essay discusses the prevalence of dementia among senior citizens and the potential for genetic inheritance leading to early-onset symptoms. It also outlines the seven stages of dementia according to the Reisberg Scale, detailing the progression from no cognitive decline to severe cognitive impairment. Furthermore, the essay examines the causative factors, including abnormal protein structures and vascular disruptions, and emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary diagnostic approaches and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options. The role of family support in alleviating symptoms and improving the quality of life for individuals with dementia is also underscored. Desklib offers additional resources and solved assignments for students studying healthcare and related topics.

Running head: DEMENTIA
DEMENTIA
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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The disease condition of ‘dementia’ implied a collective set of cognitive disorders,
pertaining primarily to the geriatric population, and is characterized by a detrimental loss in
memory, followed by decreased abilities concerning cognition, such as following linguistics and
solving of problems (Dewing & Djik, 2016). The following paragraphs of the essay highlight the
key points pertaining to the disease condition of dementia, followed by emphasis on the various
types as well as associated signs and symptoms. An additional discussion regarding the various
effects implicated upon the brain by the occurrences of various types of dementia, the type of
population inflicted with its prevalence, followed by an availability of the various types of
treatment disorders, are also highlighted in the following essay concerning the key principles of
dementia.
The cognitive disorder of dementia is primarily caused as a secondary effect upon the
primary implications of Alzheimer’s disease, which progressively leads to the deterioration of
functioning principles of the brain, for the daily performance of tasks which require thinking,
reasoning and understanding (King & Dwan, 2017). Dementia can be classified into five types.
One of the most common types of dementia, is related to the Alzheimer’s type, due to the
Alzheimer’s disease being the primary causative effect. This type of dementia is characterized by
the presence of abnormal protein-based structures surrounding the brain, such as beta amyloid
proteins and tau protein structures (Winblad et al., 2016). An additional type of dementia is the
vascular type which is caused due to the distorted of circulatory functions affecting the flow of
blood to the brain, especially, due to the occurrences of strokes or haemhorrages ina major or
several minor portions of the brain (van Charante et al., 2016). Further, dementia characterized
by Lewy bodies form an additional type of dementia, associated mainly with Parkinson’s disease
along with formation of abnormalities in the brain cells, known as Lewy bodies. An additional

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type of dementia is the frontotemporal type which is concentrated mainly in the frontal and side
sections of the human brain. Lastly, individuals show casing symptoms pertaining to multiple
types of dementia, are diagnosed with mixed type of dementia (Ejlerskov et al., 2015).
Based on the presence of current prevalence statistics, dementia has primarily been
observed to affect senior citizens in the age group pertaining to beyond sixty five years of age.
However, recent research establishing associations with genetics, highlight the possibility of
inheriting symptoms of dementia at a young age, due to the presence of familial inheritance of
genes. Dementia also affects a minor population consisting of young adults suffering from
cognitive disorders such as cerebral palsy (Langa et al., 2017).
The stages of dementia can be classified into a total of seven stages as highlighted by the
Resiberg Scale, also known as the Global Deterioration Scale for Assessment of Primary
Degenerative Dementia. Stage one or the primary stage is characterized by an absence of
symptoms pertaining to loss in cognition, and hence is labeled as ‘no dementia’ (Coupé et al.,
2015). The second stage of dementia is characterized by the presence of mild levels of forgetting
and memory loss which is considered normal for old aged individuals. Such forgetfulness
involves shortcomings in remembrance of names or novel locations of objects and are not clearly
observed by the surrounding family member of the concerned patient. Third stage of mild
cognitive decline highlights increased loss in memory with additional shortcomings in activities
pertaining to requirement of greater concentration (van Kooten et al., 2015). The fourth or
moderate cognitive decline stage of dementia is characterized by the difficulty of the patient in
the performance of tasks with increasing complexities such as managing calculations, financial
expertise or performance of difficult tasks alone. Heightened memory loss is prevalent in the
fifth stage of moderately severe cognitive decline symptoms of dementia, where the concerned

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patient is unable to recall personal or residential details and requires significant aid in the
performance of tasks pertaining to grooming and toiletry (Choi et al., 2016). The severe
cognitive decline stage of dementia is highlighted as the sixth stage which shows prevalence of
emotional and behavioral disruptions in the patient such as delusionary thoughts followed by loss
of remembrance of names and familiarities of close family members. The stage severely
cognitive stage of dementia, pertains to the final worst case where there is a complete absence of
speech and cognitive activities in the concerned patient, and there is utmost requirement of
complete caretaker assistance for the performance of life care tasks (Huang et al., 2015).
Alzheimer’s disease continue to be one of the major causative factors pertaining to the
occurrences of dementia, which is characterized by the presence of abnormal tangles in the brain,
known as beta amyloid structures of protein. Such structures exist as clumps in the internal
regions of the brain, and caused disturbances in impulse and neurological transmissions amongst
associated neurons (Gijselinck et al., 2015). Another causative factor of the dementia is
associated with vascular disruptions, such as the occurrences of stroke. Such distortions in the
flow of blood to the brain, often results in mild temporary episodes highlighting symptoms of
dementia in the concerned patient (Cai et al., 2014). Individuals with Parkinson’s disease are
susceptible to dementia, caused due to the presence of abnormal protein structures known as Lew
Bodies, which is unique due to the presence of severe disruptions in the motor activities of the
human body, especially pertaining to movement (Howlett et al., 2017).
The management of any disease condition is of utmost importance pertaining to the
treatment and betterment of the individual. For the purpose of treating individuals with dementia,
it of utmost importance for the concerned clinician to perform, adequate diagnostic activities,
which would be of beneficial impact to the concerned patient, through the availability of clarified

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notions regarding the signs and symptoms and the resultant specification of the type of dementia
the concerned individual is suffering from (Booker et al., 2016). A multidisciplinary approach
may be adopted for the diagnosis of dementia, which may involve the participation of a geriatric
specialist if the patient is old, a specialist concerning nervous system disorders such as a
neurologist and a psychiatrist in order to deal with the mental health disorders pertaining to the
patient (Struyfs et al., 2015). The diagnosis would involve conductance of several steps such as
the obtaining of the historical or precious case details of the patient, in order to understand the
course of development of the associated symptoms of dementia and the trigger factors. There
may be conductance of physiological or biochemical examinations involving testing of the blood
of the patient in order to find out the presence of any characteristic which may lead to the
prevalence of dementia (Garcia-Placek et al., 2014). Tests pertaining to assess cognitive and
mental functioning of the concerned patient may be conducted in order to assess the present
levels of reasoning and thinking abilities displayed by the patient, followed by further
radiological diagnostic tools such as scans of the brain, which may highlight abnormalities in
patient brain structure (Boraxbekk et al., 2015). Upon diagnosis of dementia, the stage in which
the patient is presently suffering from may be determined by the usage of several diagnostic tools
such as Global Deterioration or Resiberg Scale for the Assessment of Primary Degenerative
Dementia, the Clinical Dementia rating and the Functional Assessment Staging test (Pujades-
Rodriguez et al., 2018).
The treatment options for dementia can be characterized into various types mainly
through the usage of pharmacological as well as non pharmacological treatment options (Gibson
et al., 2016). For the usage of treatments which do not require medicines, methods such as
cognitive stimulation therapy, conductance of counseling sessions, rehabilitation activities

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pertaining to cognition as well as cognitive behavioral therapies can be used. These enhance
patient cognitive functioning through the conductance of interactions which will provide
stimulatory advantages allowing the patient to recollect previous as well as recent event through
trigger factors (Lloyd, Patterson & Muers, 2016). Drug based treatment options may also be
utilized which may involve usage of antidepressants or blood pressure reducing medications for
patient suffering from vascular dementia, along with the additional usage of drugs such as
Galantamine, Rivastigmine and Donepezil (Huntley et al., 2015).
Initial diagnosis of especially severe symptoms of dementia, will lead to considerable
stress and tension amongst the family members of the concerned patient, due to the consequent
isolation pertaining to the loss of memory and remembrance of close relationships. However,
usage of adequate familial as well as care taker support will aid in sufficient alleviation of
symptoms. Family members can be actively involved in the care process of the patient, through
stimulation with the usage of pictures, notes or tools, or the provision of assistance to the
concerned patient (Mitchell, McCormack & McCance, 2016).
Hence, it can be conclude that the disease condition of dementia, causes detrimental
effects on the cognitive, behavioral and reasoning abilities of the concerned patient, followed by
a disruption in the performance of daily activities and present familial relationships. However,
with appropriate diagnosis, treatment and supportive care giving tasks by family and care givers,
individuals with dementia do possess the possibility of living sustainable lives.

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