Lesson Topic “Dementia –an overview of physiological effects”

The Federal government’s lead agency for Alzheimer’s disease research is the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. By the end of this session, you shall identify : The “meaning” of the term Dementia The physiological effects of the most common cause of Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, in order to provide you with the basic expertise to take into account the physiological needs of service users suffering from Dementia in your present or future health and social work

What does the term “Dementia” mean to you?

What is Dementia? Dementia is not a specific disease. It is a descriptive term for a collection of symptoms caused by diseases that damage different areas of the brain involved in regulating memory, emotion, language, sensation, sound and/or vision. Alzheimer’s Disease is also the most common disease to cause Dementia.

An Overview of the Symptoms of Dementia Hence, as Dementia advances through the brain, it often leads to symptoms associated with: Memory loss Mood and behavioural changes Confusion Difficulty in seeing, speaking, swallowing and walking

Overview of Alzheimer’s Disease, the Main Cause of Dementia Alzheimer’s Disease involves the wasting away/shrinking of the Cerebral Cortex, the outer layer of grey matter, consisting of nerve tissue called “Neurons”. Neurons form a network that use electrically-charged impulses to activate neurotransmitters, chemicals that send and receive signals/messages to stimulate different areas of the brain. The wasting away of the Cerebral Cortex in Alzheimer’s Disease occurs when clumps of protein, known as “Amyloid-beta Plaques” and “Tau Tangles” form and destroy the networks/connections between neurons. This process thereby restricts neurotransmission and the functioning of different areas of the brain.

Comparison between a healthy brain and one with Alzheimer’s Disease Normal brainA brain with Alzheimer’s Disease

A Comparison between Amyloid-beta Plaques and Tau Tangles in Alzheimer’s Disease and a Healthy Brain

Guidance Notes on Activity You have been given six questions to answer to consolidate what you have learned on Dementia. You must answer at least four questions. You have five minutes to complete this activity and will be required to share your answers with the class. Factsheet 1 contains all the information that you will need to answer the first five questions. The last question requires you to briefly evaluate what you have learned. Good luck!

This now concludes my lesson…

Cerebral Cortex The Frontal Lobe is behind the forehead and responsible for voluntary movement, emotion, planning and execution of behaviour, intellect, memory, speech and writing. The Parietal Lobe is above the ear and receives and interprets sensations of pain pressure, temperature, touch, size, shape and body part awareness. The Temporal Lobe is behind the ear and governs understanding sounds and spoken words, as well as emotion and memory. The Occipital Lobe is at the back of the head and is responsible in understanding visual images and the meaning of the written word.