1. Dementia
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2. Dementia
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3. Activity

4. Statistics 1 in 20 people over 60 have a diagnosis of dementia.
There are about 800,000 people in the UK with dementia. (Alzheimer's Society, 2012)
Around 2/3 people with Dementia are cared for at home.
Dementia mainly affects people over the age of 65, and the likelihood increases with age.
However, it can also affect younger people: there are over 17,000 people in the UK under the age of 65 who have dementia. (Alzheimer's Society, 2012)

5. Caring for residents with cognitive disorders
What is dementia?
group of symptoms that are caused by changes in brain function
most common are Alzheimer’s disease and multi-infarct (vascular) dementia
Alzheimer’s Disease
begins with mild memory problems
ends with severe brain damage

6. Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease 1
Mild
primary early symptom is forgetfulness (e.g. names/words, addresses, shopping items)
main deficit is in recent memory
intellectual deficits confirmed by neuropsychological testing
some awareness of their symptoms, so the person may become anxious, depressed and may be in denial
no distinguishing features on physical examination

7. Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease 2
Moderate
significant memory loss: e.g. forgetting close family members or well-known routes/places
personality and behavioural changes
self-neglect
disorientation in time and space
inability to undertake simple tasks i.e. dressing
reduced range of thinking (intellectual deficits)
language problems start
disinhibition

8. Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease 3
Severe
dysphasia with disordered and fragmented speech
aggression, restlessness and wandering
hallucinations and delusions
incontinence
immobility, rigidity and recurrent falls
general physical deterioration

9. How Alzheimer’s affects the brain
A brain without the disease (upper left)
A brain with advanced Alzheimer’s (upper right)
How the two brains compare (bottom)
The cortex shrivels up, damaging areas involved in thinking, planning and remembering.
Shrinkage is especially severe in the hippocampus, an area of the cortex that plays a key role in formation of new memories.
Ventricles (fluid-filled spaces within the brain) grow larger.
©2006 Alzheimer’s Association

10. How Alzheimer’s affects the brain
Alzheimer brain tissue has many fewer nerve cells and synapses than a healthy brain.
A PET scan showing brain activity
©2006 Alzheimer’s Association

11. Living with Alzheimer’s
Jennifer and Trevor’s story Watch video:

12. Living with Alzheimer’s
Alive Inside Watch video: