Dementia AwarenessJoanna Bazalgette

Facts and Figures

• 1 in ? people over 65 have dementia.

• 1 in ? people aged 80 and over have dementia.

• ? people live with dementia in the UK today. 

• ? people live with dementia in Poole, B’mouth & Dorset

Facts and Figures

• 1 in 14 people over 65 have dementia.

• 1 in ? people aged 80 and over have dementia.

• ? people live with dementia in the UK today. 

• ? people live with dementia in Poole, B’mouth & Dorset

Facts and Figures

• 1 in 14 people over 65 have dementia.

• 1 in 6 people aged 80 and over have dementia.

• ? people live with dementia in the UK today. 

• ? people live with dementia in Poole, B’mouth & Dorset

Facts and Figures

• 1 in 14 people over 65 have dementia.

• 1 in 6 people aged 80 and over have dementia.

• 850,000 people live with dementia in the UK today. 

• ? people live with dementia in Poole, B’mouth & Dorset

Facts and Figures

• 1 in 14 people over 65 have dementia.

• 1 in 6 people aged 80 and over have dementia.

• 850,000 people live with dementia in the UK today. 

• 14,000 people live with dementia in Poole, Bournemouth & Dorset

What is dementia?

Dementia is caused by a disease of the brain. There are a number of diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is a set of symptoms that include loss of memory, mood changes, and problems with communication and reasoning.

The Brain Frontal lobe is our controller, damage to the frontal lobes can lead to the individual no longer being aware of what actions seen by others are inappropriate.

The BrainThe dominant parietal lobe - our body sense: knowing our left from our right, sensing where a limb is, putting things together into a structure such as reading and calculation.

The BrainThe non-dominant parietal lobe - our '3D centre'. Makes objects being viewed look 3D. It also helps our understanding of space - to locate objects, eg when picking something up.

The BrainThe occipital lobe - dementia in this part of the brain leads to PCA or Posterior Cortical Atrophy. This affects the visual processing, so recognition of colours/shapes, faces

and ability to read.

The BrainThe temporal lobe: damage to this area of the brain causes the individual to have problems with short term memory and over time the long term memories may also fade as the damage increases further into deeper regions of the brain

1. Alzheimer’s Disease

2. Vascular Dementia

3. Dementia with Lewy Bodies

4. Fronto-Temporal Dementias (incl Pick’s disease)

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Korsakoff’s Syndrome

PCA – Posterior Cortical Atrophy

Symptoms

Forgetfulness ConfusionCommunication problems Living in the pastAnxiety Not recognising people Change in personality RepetitionMobility problem WanderingBehaviour which challenges

Alzheimer’s disease

• Most common cause of dementia.• A physical disease affecting the brain.• Protein 'plaques' and 'tangles' develop in the

structure of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells (often in the temporal lobe).

• It also leads to a shortage of some important chemicals in the brain.

• Over time more parts of the brain are damaged and the symptoms become more severe.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

People with Alzheimer’s disease may• become confused and frequently forget names,

appointments and recent events, • experience mood swings, feel sad or angry, or

scared and frustrated,• become more withdrawn, due either to a loss of

confidence or to communication problems,• have difficulty carrying out everyday activities -

checking their change at the shops or how to work the TV remote.

Vascular dementia

• The second most common form of dementia.

• Caused by problems in the supply of blood to the brain due to damage to the vascular system (the network of blood vessels).

• Damage to the vascular system could be caused by strokes, high blood pressure, heart problems, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Symptoms of vascular dementia

People with vascular dementia may experience• problems concentrating and communicating, • depression accompanying the dementia, • physical weakness or paralysis, • memory problems,• a 'stepped' progression, with symptoms

remaining at a constant level and then suddenly deteriorating,

• seizures, • periods of acute confusion.

Dementia with Lewy bodies

• Around ten per cent of cases of dementia.

• Lewy bodies are tiny, spherical protein deposits found in nerve cells.

• They disrupt the brain's normal functioning, interrupting the action of important chemical messengers.

Symptoms of dementiawith Lewy bodies

People with dementia with Lewy bodies may • have problems with attention and alertness,

spatial disorientation, difficulty in planning ahead and co-ordinating mental activities. Memory is often affected less than in Alzheimer's disease.

• develop symptoms of Parkinson's disease, including slowness, shuffling when walking, trembling of limbs, muscle stiffness, loss of facial expression, changes in voice strength.

Symptoms of dementia with Lewy bodies (contd.)

In addition they may• experience detailed and convincing visual

hallucinations, often of people or animals • find that their abilities fluctuate daily, or even

hourly • fall asleep very easily by day, and have restless,

disturbed nights with confusion, nightmares and hallucinations

• faint, fall, or have 'funny turns'.

Symptoms of Fronto-Temporal Dementia:

• Loss of inhibitions – behave in socially inappropriate ways and act in an impulsive or rash manner; this could include swearing or inappropriate/offensive comments.

• Loss of interest in people and things – lose motivation but (unlike someone with depression) they are not sad

• Lose sympathy or empathy – become less responsive to the needs of others and show less social interest or personal warmth; this can make the person appear selfish and unfeeling

• show repetitive, compulsive or ritualised behaviours – this can include repeated use of phrases or gestures, hoarding and obsessions with timekeeping

• crave sweet or fatty foods, lose table etiquette, or binge on 'junk' foods, alcohol or cigarettes.

“Aggressive” Behaviour

• May be verbally abusive• Physically, hitting, kicking pinching, and lashing out• Overreacting to a situation. This may be Caused By:• Feeling frightened or humiliated• Feeling frustrated about their lack of understanding

or communication problems• Dementia may have eroded their judgement and

control• Loss of inhibitions and decreased awareness of

appropriate behaviour.

FEELINGS

THINKINGLOGIC

REASONING

ACTIONBEHAVIOUR

X

Memory without dementia

Memories like books on a bookshelf

Stored over time

Most recent on top

now

childhood

Bookshelf model

Person with dementia

Bookcase wobbles

Top shelf books affected first

Progressively lower books fall

• Hallucinations: an experience of something that is not really there. They can occur for all the senses, though visual hallucinations are the most common

• Visual Misperception: when the individual mistakes something for something else

for example…

Visual Difficulties

  

This mirror at the loo entrance has causedThis mirror at the loo entrance has causedresidents to leave, thinking it was occupiedresidents to leave, thinking it was occupiedalthough the persons were seeing theiralthough the persons were seeing theirown reflections.own reflections.

A lady says “there’s a mouse in the bin”A lady says “there’s a mouse in the bin”

aaThis carpet in a Dementia unitThis carpet in a Dementia unitwas mistaken for a pond with goldfish was mistaken for a pond with goldfish & lilies...& lilies...

The lift looks like a corridor to somewhereThe lift looks like a corridor to somewhere

Does this floor look slippery,wet or confusing?Does this floor look slippery,wet or confusing?

How you can helpPeople with dementia: might look or say that they are lost or confused. –ask if

you can help, and if so, HOW might appear to be searching for something they can’t

find. – ask if you can help might be having problems with money or their card. – be

patient / tell them there’s no hurry/ ask if you can help pick out the right money / ask if they would like to sign rather than PIN / offer to store their shopping so that they can come back for it once they have remembered their pin

speech may be hard to understand or they may not understand you. Be Clear – communicate clearly, use props and gestures to help, find a quiet place to go. If the person does not understand, rephrase rather than repeat

may pace or fidget – try to find out if there is something bothering them. Do they need the loo? A cup of tea? To rest?

To Summarise______________________________________

• Dementia is a syndrome caused by a number of illnesses.

• Dementia has a major impact on those affected.• Dementia is becoming a growing challenge.• The signs of dementia are well known and needs

can be met.• Effective communication is possible.• Behaviours can emerge that we find challenging.• Behaviours are not solely due to changes in the

brain.

A Dementia Friend learns a little bit more about what it's like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action - anyone of any age can be a Dementia Friend. From helping someone to find the right bus to spreading the word about dementia on social media, every action counts.www.dementiafriends.org.uk