Brain and behaviour session 5: dementia and the brain
Introduction to Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is form of dementia (i.e., a progressive degenerative
disease affecting the brain and the nervous system).
Characterized by: Loss of brain cells with consequent shrinkage of the brain,
psychological symptoms that increase as the disease progresses, can last 3-20 years,
average 7-8 years, currently no cure (though drugs may boost performance for some
people).
Alzheimer's disease is not the only form of progressive, degenerative brain disease
(dementia) - AD accounts for around 60% of cases of dementia.
Other forms of dementia include: Vascular (multi-infarct) dementia, Focal dementias,
including fronto-temporal dementia and Subcortical dementias (e.g., Parkinson’s
disease).
About 820,000 people in the UK have some form of dementia.
Consequences for society and health provisions
Risk of having AD doubles every 5 years after the age of 65
Females live longer than males, so there are more elderly women with AD than men.
Because people are living longer, the number of AD patients is expected to grow
steadily.
42% of people in the UK have a family member or friend with AD.
Annual cost of each patient to the UK economy estimated at >£25,000 per year
Total estimated cost = £23bn per annum
Dementia is now the leading cause of death
What is Alzheimer’s disease? – psychological symptoms
1. Minimal / mild dementia.
memory loss
'episodic' - problems remembering events from the past, or planned events in the
future (‘prospective memory’)
'semantic' - problems remembering the names of things; problems recognising
familiar people.
‘working memory’ – problems keeping relevant information in mind; losing tack of
tasks and conversations
problems thinking and making decisions.
can live independently with support.
2. Moderate dementia
confusion
disorientation in time and space
poor judgment
apathy about life and condition
personality changes (become withdrawn, paranoid behaviour, neglect of
appearance)
hallucinations
disturbed sleep patterns (sundowning – circadian rhythm is not correct)
3. Severe dementia
patients forget their own identity
do not recognise other people
Introduction to Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is form of dementia (i.e., a progressive degenerative
disease affecting the brain and the nervous system).
Characterized by: Loss of brain cells with consequent shrinkage of the brain,
psychological symptoms that increase as the disease progresses, can last 3-20 years,
average 7-8 years, currently no cure (though drugs may boost performance for some
people).
Alzheimer's disease is not the only form of progressive, degenerative brain disease
(dementia) - AD accounts for around 60% of cases of dementia.
Other forms of dementia include: Vascular (multi-infarct) dementia, Focal dementias,
including fronto-temporal dementia and Subcortical dementias (e.g., Parkinson’s
disease).
About 820,000 people in the UK have some form of dementia.
Consequences for society and health provisions
Risk of having AD doubles every 5 years after the age of 65
Females live longer than males, so there are more elderly women with AD than men.
Because people are living longer, the number of AD patients is expected to grow
steadily.
42% of people in the UK have a family member or friend with AD.
Annual cost of each patient to the UK economy estimated at >£25,000 per year
Total estimated cost = £23bn per annum
Dementia is now the leading cause of death
What is Alzheimer’s disease? – psychological symptoms
1. Minimal / mild dementia.
memory loss
'episodic' - problems remembering events from the past, or planned events in the
future (‘prospective memory’)
'semantic' - problems remembering the names of things; problems recognising
familiar people.
‘working memory’ – problems keeping relevant information in mind; losing tack of
tasks and conversations
problems thinking and making decisions.
can live independently with support.
2. Moderate dementia
confusion
disorientation in time and space
poor judgment
apathy about life and condition
personality changes (become withdrawn, paranoid behaviour, neglect of
appearance)
hallucinations
disturbed sleep patterns (sundowning – circadian rhythm is not correct)
3. Severe dementia
patients forget their own identity
do not recognise other people
