Dementia is an umbrella term for a collection of symptoms that include difficulty thinking, reduced problem solving and memory loss, something which affects roughly 50 million people worldwide. Of the different types of dementia, including vascular and frontotemporal, Alzheimer’s disease is by far the most common.
Unfortunately, all types of dementia are progressive, as the structure of the brain will become more damaged with time. However, this deterioration can happen at a different rate for every individual with the disease, and everyone’s experience of the disease is unique.
So, what does dementia progression look like?
The Progression Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Physically, the disease causes a build-up of protein and abnormal structures in the brain, called tangles and plaques, which damage the connections between the nerve cells responsible for proper function. Over time, these nerve cells deteriorate and the tissue in the brain is lost. Due to the nature of the disease, Alzheimer’s and dementia can progress quickly for some and more gradually for others. Depending on the area of the brain being most affected in the individual symptoms will increase and develop differently for everyone.
Alzheimer’s disease could start with you noticing subtle changes in a person’s behaviour and ability. They may forget a recent conversation or event, mislay an item, struggle to find a word in a conversation or become confused with the date or day. Professionals will measure these changes to get a better understanding of the rate of progression and give a clearer reflection of someone’s mental ability. It’s important to provide assistance and guidance to any individual showcasing the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease to help maintain their independence for as long as possible and focus on what they can do as opposed to becoming frustrated over what they are unable to do. As dementia progresses, the person may become more irritable, anxious and sometimes even depressed, as they come to terms with the fact that they are beginning to lose their memory and independence.
As Alzheimer’s disease progresses more assistance is required in their day to day life and a person’s forgetfulness will begin to include both short and long term memories. This could mean that they will find it difficult to recognise people and can lead to much frustration as they struggle to remember which may show itself through uncharacteristic anger and aggression, as well as getting easily upset.
Severe experiences of Alzheimer’s disease will mean that the individual will require complete help from a nurse throughout the course of a day. The individual won’t be able to recognise those closest to them and even become confused with familiar objects. It is crucial at this stage that they are cared for by a kind and knowledgeable team, who understand how best to help the resident throughout dementia’s progression as they will become weaker and have difficulty eating, swallowing, begin to lose their speech, develop incontinence and you could notice considerable weight loss and our care home will ensure that they live out their days with the best possible standard of care.
Vascular Dementia Progression
Vascular dementia occurs when brain cells are deprived of oxygen and die. Typically, this happens when there are tiny blood vessels in the brain or if someone suffers a stroke. On the surface, subcortical vascular dementia is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in that symptoms will manifest gradually, however in cases where the individual has suffered from a stroke, the vascular dementia progression is likely to be more abrupt and sudden.
Though at first it may appear similar to Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia has some significant differences. Common early symptoms will include difficulty planning and making decisions and demonstrate a slower speed of thought with more trouble concentrating than usual. Mood swings are also typical and they may be uncharacteristically emotional and more likely to experience anxiety or depression.
If the vascular dementia has occurred because of a stroke, weakness of limbs and problems with speech or vision will coincide with loss of memory. As vascular dementia progresses symptoms mirror that of a more developed case of Alzheimer’s disease, including disorientation, confusion and memory loss.
Frontotemporal Dementia Progression
As the name suggests, frontotemporal dementia is a result of damage to the temporal and frontal lobes located to the sides and fronts of the brain. These areas are responsible for our emotional responses, language skills and behaviour, and thus symptoms which develop from frontotemporal dementia impact these areas the most.
Early on, recent events, object recall and the understanding of words are most difficult. With progression, the symptoms become very similar to Alzheimer’s disease, however they will experience an increased problem in judging distances, seeing objects in three dimensions and typically behavioural symptoms will be displayed earlier.
The Rate Of Dementia Progression
There are a variety of factors that can have an impact on the rate at which dementia progresses, including overall health of the individual and gene predisposition. The deterioration of dementia is also accelerated in someone who has had multiple strokes.
Although dementia mainly affects older people, it is not a natural part of the ageing process, however those who strive to keep their mind and body active, eat healthy foods and avoid harmful habits such as smoking, have a chance to slow down the progression of dementia.
For those caring for someone with any type of dementia, it’s imperative that we understand the symptoms and specific signs of progression, as it enables us to care for the individual in the best possible way.
For more information about dementia and the progression, get in touch with our team at Meddyg Care, today.
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