Dementia Presentation_S24 PDF

DEFINITION AND Treatment Definition: CAUSE...

DEFINITION AND Treatment Definition: CAUSE Cognitive stimulation therapy / rehabilitation: patients work with professionals to achieve set goals, simulation therapy allows patient to take part in group activities aiming to Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of conditions associated with damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections to the brain. It is the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — to such an extent Improve memory, language and problem solving. Patients usually have 14 or more sessions can that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities last 1 hour. beneficial for patients with mild or moderate dementia. Cause: Medication (Donepezil , Memantine) dementia is not a single disease. There are different diseases that can cause dementia. A lot of these are linked to - memantine: this is given to patients who are unable to tolerate acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. It an abnormal build up of proteins in the brain. The build up of these proteins causes nerves cells to function less and ultimately die, as the nerve cells die , different areas of the brain shrink works by preventing excessive effects of glutamate and is given to patients with severe/ moderate Alzheimer disease is the most common type of dementia , it is caused by the abnormal build up of 2 proteins Alzheimer’s. Side effects include headaches, dizziness and constipation. called amyloid and tau. Deposits of amyloid called plaques, build up around brain cells. Deposits of tau form - Donepezil: this drug is a inhibitor which slows down the enzyme acetylcholinesterase breaking down ‘tangles’ within brain cells. As brain cells become affected in Alzheimer’s there are also a decrease in chemical acetylcholine. Donepezil are used to treat symptoms of Alzheimers but not to cure it, effects of these messengers ( called neurotransmitters) involved in sending messages, or signals between brain cells. Neurotransmitter called acetylcholine are particularly low in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease inhibitors include trouble sleeping, nausea and appetite changes. Another type of dementia which is vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, which Reminiscence therapy : this type of therapy can be structured or unstructured, it involves using damages and kills brain cells. This can happen as a result of – narrowing and blockage of the small blood vessels props and talking to the patient about events from their past. Benefits include improved cognition, inside the brain , or a single stroke where the blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly cut of reduced depression and improved mood. DEMENTIA Dental treatment modifications Dental Implications As dementia is an ongoing condition that progressively gets worse, this means that the patients requirement for modifications will also follow this pattern. It is advised that a dental appointment is sought after as soon a possible following a diagnosis as this offers an opportunity for early detection , prevention and treatment to be undertaken prior Cognitive decline may make dental procedures less tolerable for dementia patients to the patients symptoms more complicated, this can also lead to premature extractions if there is a concern that (Dementia UK, 2024). patients may face greater challenges with particular teeth in the future that they will be less able to cope with at the time. Different stages of progression have very different implications, ranging from prompting required to complete oral hygiene routines to requiring full support Break down tell, show, do method into further steps and repeat throughout , as well as reduction of any excess noise or performing their oral hygiene routine (Alzheimer’s Society, 2024). water As the disease progresses, communication ability decreases (Dementia UK, 2024). When the condition is in later stages patients may get more easily distressed or confused at dental appointments, for Advancing dementia symptoms may lead to the misplacing of dental appliances example the sound of drilling or unfamiliarity they face with people in the room may present too much of a challenge for such as dentures impacting speech and eating behaviors leading to frustration and the team to be able to carry out treatment safely. This may result in referrals to special care dentistry, however due to long waiting lists patients may often need to undergo sedation if they are unable to access the specialist services in an discomfort (Dementia UK, 2024). appropriate timeframe. “Under a law called ‘The Mental Capacity Act 2005’, everybody, regardless of their condition, should be assumed to be able to make their own decisions. This includes If the patient no longer has the capacity to give valid consent due to the stage of their condition, this can be gained from someone who has the lasting power of attorney, usually a close friend, relative or carer who acts to make decisions in being able to agree to, or refuse, medical treatment” (Alzheimer’s Society, 2024). the patients best interest. “Many studies have shown an association between periodontal disease and Alzheimer's disease” (Kamer et al., 2020). If a dementia patient resides in a care facility then there is also the option to have a dentist come out to visit them in their home setting instead of increasing their struggles to cope in the dental environment. Bibliography Kamer, A.R., Craig, R.G., Niederman, R., Fortea, J. and de Leon, M.J. (2020). Periodontal disease as a possible cause for Alzheimer’s disease. Periodontology 2000, 83(1), pp.242–271. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/prd.12327. Alzheimer’s Society. (2024). Dental treatment and dementia. [online] Available at: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/daily- living/dental-treatment-dementia#content-start [Accessed 20 Nov. 2024]. Dementia UK (2024). Mouth care and oral health for people with dementia. [online] Dementia UK. Available at: https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/health-advice/mouth-care/. NHS (2023). What are the treatments for dementia?, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/about- dementia/treatment/.