We found it time and time again the importance of understanding the difference between dementia and amnesia.
This is one of the reasons it is important to discuss the differences between the two.
There are SEVERAL areas in which amnesia and dementia differ, and we will discuss them in-depth in this article.
What is the difference between dementia and amnesia?
Definition
Dementia can be described as a progressive disorder that affects various domains like attention, language, memory, judgment/ executive function, perception motor i.e. visual construction and visual perception and social cognition.
This normally influences an individual’s day-to-day activities because it affects the capability to perform basic motor functions.
Dementia also showcases personality distortions.
We can describe amnesia, on the other hand, as the inability to recall old memories or form new ones.
It is among the most common symptoms of dementia and is also known as an amnestic syndrome. People who have amnesia retain their motor skills.
Causes
Although some common causes can lead to both amnesia and dementia, others remain distinct.
Experts state that dementia is brought about by the loss or damage to nerve cells and their connections in the brain.
Many resources also include age as one of the causes of dementia.
Diversely, there is a wide range of conditions that can result in amnesia.
In dementia cases, when a person experiencesmemory loss, it does not affect a person’s general knowledge, intelligence, judgment, attention span, identity or personality.
In most cases, individuals with amnesia can UNDERSTAND both spoken and written words.
They can also learn new skills, like playing the piano or riding a bike. Many of them also know that they have a memory disorder.
The symptoms of dementia are quite different from those of amnesia.
Persons with dementia may have issues with solving problems or planning.
Many are confused about the place or time and have challenges completing tasks they frequently do like getting to a familiar location, making coffee, or changing the settings on the TV.
Most also have issues with writing or speaking, and they have a hard time grasping visual information as the disease progresses.
It is also common for persons with dementia to experience changes in personality and mood as well as withdrawing from their social circles.
Types
We also see the differences between dementia and amnesia in the different types of these conditions.
There are about nine different types of dementia. These are
This is the inability to recollect details that a person acquired before a specific date, usually the date of operation or accident.
Anterograde amnesia
It is the inability to relocate new details to the long-term store from the short-term memory store. People with this type of amnesia cannot recall things for long periods.
The two types of amnesia are not mutually exclusive because they can both occur at the same time.
Treatment
When looking at the differences between dementia and amnesia, it is worth talking about treatment.
Sadly to date, there is still no cure for dementia.
The disease is typically progressive, disabling, and fatal.
With amnesia, most forms usually fix themselves without the need for treatment. However, if there is a need for treatment, doctors may recommend different options such as:
1. Treatment of psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety, etc.
2. Cognitive therapy using expert language or speech therapists especially for persons who have mild to moderate loss of memory.
3. Treating the underlying medical conditions that result in amnesia. These are conditions like kidney and liver diseases, low thyroid functions, head injuries, stroke, bleeding and blood clots in the brain amongst others.
Rates
When differentiating dementia and amnesia, statistics indicate that dementia is MORE prevalent than amnesia.
Across the globe, there are more than 50 million individuals who have dementia. There are up to 10 million new cases that crop up every year, according to the World Health Organization.
Even though amnesia has been prominently featured in movies, it does not affect as many people in real life.
A study on transient global amnesia records that amnesia usually affects people between the ages of 40-80 years and it has an incidence of 5 per 100,000 population every year.
Dementia and Amnesia Closing Remarks
Several points come up when differentiating dementia and amnesia, as highlighted above.
Summing up, amnesia is memory loss, while dementia is a global loss of higher brain functions.
Over the course of our studies, we discovered different types of dementia, including rapidly progressive dementia (RPD).
This is a form of dementia where deterioration from onset happens at a SPEEDY rate when you compare it to other dementias.
Experts, most of the time, predict two years as the time frame for the development of the illness. However, in most cases, RPD usually develops sub-acutely in a few weeks or months.
Various factors can lead to the development of RPD like:
RPD is rare and challenging to diagnose. Nonetheless, accurate and early diagnosis is essential because a majority of the causes of the illness are treatable.
If you suspect that a person has the illness, it is advisable to see a doctor who specializes in these medical conditions.
The professional then makes a proper diagnosis.
The practitioner might ask some questions concerning the medical history of the person suspected to have the illness, the progression of symptoms, recent possible exposures i.e. from toxins, infections, chemicals, or travel as well as any similar diseases present in biological relatives.
Thorough documentation of all medications, both prescribed and non-prescribed, is also imperative.
The medics also perform CAREFUL physical examinations. These help spot any physical issues as well as evaluate the current mental function level.
These examinations determine whether there are other neurologic features present and whether there are any organs in the body that are affected by the illness.
To confirm whether a person has rapidly progressive dementia or not, doctors normally combine different types of diagnosis methods to come up with conclusive results. These include:
Rapidly Progressive Dementia Tests
Laboratory Tests
Ancillary testing is crucial mainly because many RPDs have similar clinical features.
Doctors may request various laboratory tests that may include:
Brain imaging like electroencephalogram which measures electrical activity in the brain from the scalp, MRI or CT.
Cerebrospinal fluid tests which involves looking at the clear fluid that surrounds the spinal cord and the brain.
The results that the doctor will gather from the tests can HELP to determine the cause of the disease.
Lumbar Punctures
A lumbar puncture or CSF can also be performed on a person to determine if they have rapidly progressive dementia.
It is usually beneficial for persons who have neoplastic, infectious, or autoimmune disorders.
EEG
Some doctors also find that it is necessary to conduct EEG in a bid to rule out seizures as one of the causes of RPD.
Brain Biopsy
In a few cases, a brain biopsy is necessary.
RPD Treatment Options
Regarding rapidly progressive dementia, it is important to mention that treatment for most cases of RPD is palliative.
The illness is perpetually fatal, and experts give it a median survival rate of 6-11 months even though some people can live for three years upwards.
On the other hand, some types of RPD are reversible if doctors can efficiently treat the cause of the disease.
For instance, if the illness is a result of hormonal imbalance or cancer, treatment CAN TARGET these specific conditions in a bid to help treat RPD.
Some treatment options that may help curb treatable RPD include:
Paraneoplastic and Autoimmune Encephalopathies
If medical practitioners suspect autoimmune encephalopathy, they will recommend a trial of immunotherapy for the ill person, which will help to treat RPD in responsive persons.
Immunotherapy, however, does not work when the person with dementia has infections that will become worse after immunosuppression.
Physicians also avoid steroids when lymphoma is differential because it can DELAY EFFICIENT treatment. Worth noting is that steroid trials work as diagnostic tests as well as treatment options.
This implies that doctors need to administer a high dosage for a clear clinical response.
The doctor will determine the number of steroids to give out because currently, there is no documentation on the minimum steroid dose that is sufficient to treat dementias that are immune-mediated.
Persons who cannot tolerate steroids will often go through PLEX (plasma exchange) or a course of IVIg.
Toxic Metabolic
To treat toxic-metabolic etiologies, doctors will first find out the specific disorder that they need to tackle.
Thiamine deficiency is one of the disorders that has proven to be more affordable and easier to treat empirically rather than going in to rest the thiamine levels.
Specialists use A COMBINATION of glucose and thiamine to treat a person who has Wernicke encephalopathy to help with treatment.
Taking Care of Infectious RPD
When it comes to treating infectious rapidly progressive dementia, infectious disease specialists should first detect the type of infection that the person had before recommending the appropriate treatment.
For example, antivirals are normally suggested to individuals who have viral encephalitis. Medics also screen persons with RPD to look for infections like Lyme disease, syphilis, and HIV.
When diagnosed EARLY enough, such infections are treatable.
This is one of the reasons why it is essential to consult the specialists soon enough so that they have adequate time to identify and treat the infection before it is too late.
Maintenance Therapy
Studies indicate that persons who have positive responses to immunotherapy trials often require long-term treatment because relapse rates are usually high.
Individuals with RPD must, therefore, also go through maintenance therapy to maintain remission. Most people will go through suitable osteoporosis and screening for latent tuberculosis as part of this process.
Clinicians will, however, advise on the best approach for maintenance therapy depending on an individual’s progress regarding treatment.
Antiviral Medications
These are medications that come in handy, especially in cases where prion diseases cause RPD.
The medicines, when administered in the right way, help to significantly improve clinical status where persons with the illness record a relapse of symptoms.
Depending on the individual, a doctor can also prescribe anticonvulsants to help deal with seizures.
Doctors may also prescribe other forms of medications that will offer relief to the persons with RPD, depending on why they got the illness in the first place.
In instances where the individual does not have the option to take medicine, the TREATMENT approach mainly FOCUSES on improving the quality of life and making sure that a person is as comfortable as possible.
Some of the options available when it comes to this include:
In-Home Care
Because many people who have rapidly progressive dementia do not have many years to live, it is advisable to think of collaborating with an in-home care agency.
These are companies that have the experience and the expertise needed to care for a person who has medical conditions like RPD.
It works well for families that want their loved ones to stay at home while receiving expert care round the clock.
Staying in a familiar environment is beneficial as it helps to offer persons with RPD peace of mind and security.
This also allows NON-PROFESSIONAL caregivers (friends and relatives) to go on about their business so that they can spend time with their unwell relatives when they are free without feeling too overwhelmed.
In-home care professionals may offer services like assistance with dressing, walking, grooming, bathing, as well as medication reminders, appointment transportation, light housekeeping, meal preparations, errands, and shopping, amongst others.
Take time before working with any in-home agency to ensure you settle on the RIGHT FIT for the affected individual.
Above all, ensure that the person who will be spending time with the person with RPD has proper qualifications and preferably has experience working with persons who have this type of dementia.
When in-home care does not give the results a family is looking for, it is probably best to look for an appropriate care facility that will be in tune with the needs of the ill individual until they take their last breath.
Working with Routines
It may also help to develop routines that the person will follow. Many individuals with RPD find comfort in routines. This is because, when crafted well, they help to reduce anxiety and confusion.
For instance, an individual can wake up at six am have breakfast at seven am shower an hour later, rest, eat lunch at one, participate in an activity at three, go for an evening walk or exercise at five and retire to bed at eight pm.
Remember that when coming up with routines, it helps to consider the needs of the suffering person so that their day is full of activities they enjoy and love.
The routine should also not be cast in stone. It should be adjusted along the way to ensure the person with dementia has productive and comforting days.
Conclusion
Rapidly developing dementia, unlike other forms of dementia, usually develops at a fast rate.
While some cases of RPD are treatable after early diagnosis, others are irreversible, depending on the cause. If a loved one ever gets RPD, it is best to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
It is important to know the next steps to take to ensure a person receives the right treatment. Not to mention, lives comfortably until the illness runs its course.
We reviewed numerous studies that suggest a possible link between sugar and dementia.
This is after researchers confirmed that consuming TOO much sugar in any form puts a person at a higher risk of getting dementia.
One longitudinal study exposed the fact that persons with high levels of blood sugar experience faster cognitive decline rates than the ones with normal blood sugar levels.
Another study by Melissa Schilling reveals that elevated insulin plays a huge role in the development of dementia.
Seeing that too much sugar is one of the RISK factors of dementia, which still has no cure, to date, it is important to keenly study the relationship between the two to find out how both factors reconcile.
Below you will uncover some of the ways that consuming too much sugar can increase the risk of developing dementia EVEN at a young age.
Poor Insulin Control
When your body always has to deal with insulin resistance, it means that you will be at a higher risk of developing dementia.
Note that when you eat different types of food, including sugar, starches, and carbohydrates, the body breaks them down into glucose.
When the digestion process takes place, the small intestines and the stomach absorb all the glucose and then sends it into your bloodstream.
Insulin, which is a hormone that the pancreas produces, transports the sugar/glucose in the bloodstream to the cells in your muscles and other organs.
Your body will produce MORE insulin when the levels of blood sugar are too high. This implies that insulin will, essentially, try to give the cells more sugar.
When this happens, the cells are bound to try and protect themselves from insulin’s powerful effect, thus creating insulin resistance.
The pancreas then responds to this resistance by giving the body even more insulin. This creates a vicious cycle where insulin resistance results in higher blood sugar levels.
Where there is an insulin spike, too much glucose will find its way to the brain through the bloodstream. This will eventually DESTROY the cells in the brain, a move that can lead to the development of dementia.
An Overdose of Glucose in Brain Cells
The brain needs glucose as a source of energy.
However, when there is too much sugar in the brain, the cells in this organ can easily absorb the glucose.
It is worth noting that brain cells, unlike other cells in the body, do not require insulin to absorb glucose. This means that the cells in the brain will DIRECTLY absorb the glucose from the bloodstream because sugar usually crosses the barrier in the brain fast.
When too much sugar is flowing in the brain, it will NOT PRODUCE useful mental energy. This is because the brain can only convert sugar into energy with the help of insulin.
After a long period of consuming simple carbohydrates and sugar, the brain will have an overflow of sugar that is not beneficial in any way.
In fact, when talking about sugar and dementia, it is safe to say that a high insulin load will prevent the brain from using glucose as a source of energy because it will have excess levels.
When the brain cells do not get the energy they need from glucose, they eventually die off one of the events that lead to the onset of dementia.
The sad fact is that brain cells get too much sugar but CANNOT make good use of it.
Too Much Sugar Clogs the Brain and Causes Inflammation
Another front that shows evidence of the link between sugar and dementia is the fact that obese individuals have a doubled risk of developing dementia.
Most people will become overweight because of a poor diet that mostly consists of too much sugar.
As a result, this causes clumps in the brain that affect how it functions. To better understand this concept, it is essential to know that obese persons typically have TOO MANY amyloid proteins in the brain.
These proteins are toxic to the brain because they stick together and start forming clumps. These clumps are usually present in the brains of people who have different forms of dementia.
In the medical world, there is still a huge debate as to whether the clumps that amyloid proteins form are responsible for dementia even though they are generally present in persons who already have dementia.
Experts also believe that HIGH sugar amounts in the body can cause inflammation.
Inflammation has been LINKED to dementia, diabetes, heart diseases, and cancer. Inflammation inside the body is akin to a swollen red, infection on the skin that is full of puss.
When there is inflammation in the brain or other parts of the body, the body has to get into a position where it is always fighting infections.
When this happens, it will lead to cognition breaking down because the brain, as well as the blood vessels, are irritated and swollen.
Eating Sugar Leads to Addiction
Experts have established that excess sugar in the brain can impair both cognitive skills as well as self-control. Many people experience cravings after consuming a little sugar.
Sugar is known to have a drug-like effect on the brain’s reward center. Scientists propose that sweet, salty, and fatty foods can produce addiction effects in the brain.
This results in overeating, loss of self-control, and CONSEQUENTLY weight gain.
This drive, on the other hand, can lead to excess amounts of sugar in the brain, which is a dementia risk factor.
Too much sugar in the brain is harmful as it can result in deficits in attention, memory, and slow cognitive function.
Too much Sugar Leads to Strokes
Another possible variable when discussing sugar and dementia is the fact that too much glucose in the blood vessels can lead to stroke.
This is because a spike in blood sugar can cause the vessels to become weak. Meaning, they will not function as they should leading to strokes, which can make a person get various dementia forms.
In such a case, the brain cells will die because they lack oxygen.
How to Reduce Adverse Effects of Sugar and Dementia
It is almost IMPOSSIBLE to cut off sugar in your diet, seeing that most fruits are loaded with sugar. This, however, does not mean that you should not try and limit the amount of sugar that goes into your system.
There are several steps you can take to prevent getting dementia because of too much sugar like:
Balancing blood sugar
This has everything to do with the things that you put into your mouth.
Avoid those high-fat and sugar diets because they will only lead you into trouble. Take off the unhealthy stuff that includes alcohol, refined carbs, caffeine, dairy, processed foods, etc.
Instead, your diet should constitute healthy alternatives like leafy green vegetables, nuts, good fats, and grass-fed meats, among many others.
These foods are not only great for your waistline, but they will also make the brain very happy.
If you are NOT TOO sure about the foods to be eating, it is best to work with a dietician who will give you proper guidance.
Remember that sugars present in soft drinks and sweets can lead to a spike in blood sugar levels. The ones from complex carbs are absorbed in a slower rate.
Exercising
Another way to tame blood sugar is to get physically active. This helps to reduce blood sugar levels and weight if need be.
If you have not been working out for long, try and schedule at least 150 minutes of exercise every week.
You DO NOT have to go into a gym or start working with an expensive professional trainer.
Brisk walking for a few minutes every day can do the trick. Take short but frequent breaks as you walk. This can be as short as forty seconds or one minute.
This can help to lower blood sugar effectively.
Some experts also advise taking a walk after meals. Exercising can also mean taking the stairs more than using the lift, parking a little further from your destination, and moving around if you sit around for hours.
When you are more active, your muscles will increase their glucose intake, which will prevent instances of insulin resistance.
Get enough rest and avoid stress
Giving the body enough rest is crucial if you want to protect the health of your brain. This includes getting quality sleep and listening to your body when it needs to rest.
Additionally, it is also important to avoid stress triggers because they are not good for your health.
Do things that you love and enjoy and talk to a trustworthy person if you feel like things are getting out of hand to keep stress at bay.
Sugar and Dementia Conclusion
It is now evident that there is a connection between sugar and dementia.
Experts agree that faster cognitive decline happens when there are high sugar levels in the blood, whether the sugar levels make a person diabetic or not.
It is one of the reasons why you should control sugar consumption while ADOPTING a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of dementia and other diseases.
One of the therapies that are gaining momentum for helping persons with dementia is horse therapy.
What is horse therapy? What does it involve? Does the therapy offer healing?
Read on to uncover answers to these questions and more.
Benefits of Horse Therapy for Dementia
Persons with dementia can get various benefits from horse therapy and some of them may include:
Stress Relief and Relaxation
Many people with dementia find it challenging to relax and let go of daily stressors. Taking care of or riding a horse requires concentration.
When a person is concentrating on the activity at hand, they will probably not be thinking of other factors that may be causing anxiety and stress.
Participants may NOT EVEN realize that they are letting go of their worries. When the session is over, a person may feel better and enjoy more clarity.
Improved Physical Health
When an individual participates in horseback riding, they will use muscles that they may not use in other contexts strengthening the muscles.
The activity also helps to build skills like balance, strength, and dexterity all of which are crucial for riding a horse. It can also be helpful for spine strength and mobility.
Horse riding is also rewarding when it comes to burning calories. Being an outdoor activity, the therapy offers fresh air and sunshine which are great for physical strength.
As a person starts to experience the physical benefits, it can also help them start to feel betteremotionally and mentally.
Boosts Independence
While professionals in horse care often accompany participants undergoing horse therapy for dementia, this activity can help boost a person’s independence and self-esteem.
A single person can groom, feed, and ride a horse when they are comfortable with the task.
This gives individuals time alone with the horse and their thoughts perfect for persons looking for a quiet activity.
Completing tasks related to horse therapy also gives people a feeling of self-sufficiency and independence. Interacting with the horses also helps a person to feel needed.
Caring for a living being is a good way of making a person feel like they are CONTRIBUTING something worthwhile to the world.
Learning Something New
While it may be strange for a person with dementia to learn a new skill, it is important to take any chance that may help create connections in the brain.
People DO NOT NEED to have any experience on a farm or with horses to benefit from the therapy.
The hands-on learning exercises horse therapy offer helps to stimulate the brain more than watching a game show or working on a crossword puzzle.
What Makes Horses Ideal Candidates for this Dementia Therapy
Paula Hertel co-founder of Connected Horse a human and animal interaction program explains that something special happens when people visit a horse barn.
They become more aware of the new smells, sounds, and horses as the animals welcome them to their space.
Horses have certain characteristics that make them IDEAL for this type of therapy and some of them include:
The animals are not biased by the individual’s past mistakes, abilities, or physical appearance, amongst others.
Horses will also NOT complain when a person asks the same question over and over.
This is an aspect that is critical to therapy because it helps increase self-confidence and self-esteem.
Mirroring and Feedback
Horses are keen observers thanks to their nature as herd or prey animals which makes them sensitive and hyper-vigilant.
It implies that their feedback is offered more consistently and earlier than when it comes from human therapists.
Horses also have an innate tendency to MIRROR a person’s physical movements, behavior, and emotions which helps participants become more aware of themselves.
An equine specialist can translate this type of feedback and the group can also analyze it.
Healing Power of Horses for Persons with Dementia (Studies)
There are a few studies that have been conducted on the perks of horse therapy for dementia and the most notable ones include:
Connected Horse and Stanford University
A pilot study was conducted by Connected Horse and Stanford University. This sought to help persons learn how to manage early-stage dementia through a series of workshops.
The professionals recruited persons living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia and their caregivers.
The participants joined a workshop that included activities like leading and grooming horses, awareness practices, and discussion groups.
Researchers carried out standardized tests before and after the workshops in a bid to measure the effects of the workshop on participants’ quality of sleep, stress levels, and ability to communicate and relate to others.
Initial results of the study revealed that participants scored HIGHER for better sleep quality, social support, and decreased depression and anxiety.
The results of the study will be used to come up with more resources to develop training materials, secure more equisetin sites, and get funding for developing new programs.
Ohio State University
Multiple departments at the Ohio State University collaborated to conduct a study on the therapeutic effects of spending time with horses on adults who have Alzheimer’s dementia.
The University collaborated with an adult daycare center and an equine therapy center.
They found that persons with Alzheimer’s the most common cause of dementia were able to feed, groom, and walk horses safely under supervision.
At the daycare center, A national Church Residences Centre for Senior Health in Columbus recruited 16 residents who had Alzheimer’s (7 men and 9 women).
Eight of the clients once a week took a bus trip to a farm where they visited with horses under the supervision of their caretakers.
The residents bathed and groomed the horses, fed them grass and walked them.
The researchers reported that the persons with dementia enjoyed their time on the farm because they talked to the horses, laughed, and smiled more.
This was seen even in the persons who usually acted withdrawn as they became fully engaged in the exercise. The therapy also BOOSTED physical activity.
Even though the clients had physical limitations, they were inspired to push boundaries once presented with the horses. The clients grew more physically active after visiting the farm.
The small study is from the journal Anthrozoos.
Horse Therapy for Dementia Closing Thoughts
While more research is still necessary regarding horse therapy for dementia, current results are promising.
This makes the therapy something worth looking into for people living with dementia and their caregivers.
Bonus: What is Horse Therapy?
Horse therapy also known as Equine therapy or Equine-assisted therapy is a treatment option that includes an equine environment and/or equine activities to promote physical, emotional, and occupational growth in people suffering from various medical issues.
These medical problems include a host of mental health issues. Like anxiety, ADD, autism, dementia, cerebral palsy, depression, traumatic brain injuries, genetic syndromes, behavioral issues.
Equine-assisted therapy is IN USE in mental and medical health fields by major countries.
This type of therapy can help individuals build communication, self-efficiency, confidence, trust, social skills, impulse control, perspective, and learn boundaries, etc.
The Anxiety Treatment Centre reckons that it is easy for ill persons to create a connection with horses because the domestic animals have similar behaviors with humans like responsive and social behaviors.
Horses can also mirror the feelings of a rider or handler. The large and intimidating appearance of a horse forces people to gain trust around them.
Horse Therapy Activities
There are different activities involved in horse therapy for dementia that offer therapeutic benefits and they include:
Horse riding
Stroking
Feeding the horse
Haltering and leading
Grooming
In some sessions, depending on the participants’ abilities and mood, a person may not even touch the horse.
Professional therapists often lead the sessions and set goals for their clients.
This can be something SIMPLE like putting a halter on the horse or leading the horse to a designated area.
The client will do their best to complete the task. And then discuss the ideas, thought-process, and problem-solving that were used to finish the task.
The discussions help IMPROVE language skills. Listening to the therapist helps enhance a person’s ability to listen and follow directions.
The effects of dementia on a person go from mild to severe, depending on the stage of the disease. Also, they may vary from person to person.
In other words, not all experience the same impact of dementia on their mental and physical state.
Since we are continuously doing researches and studies, you can later come back to this article and find new effects that we will add.
As a caregiver, family member or relative, it is crucial to understand the main and most common effects of dementia.
This way, you will easier recognize the disease and seek help from a doctor. Not to mention, if a person with dementia experiences rapid mood swings, you know it is not you who is the source of the circumstance.
While this might be HARD to comprehend, you need to develop a thick skin when you are around a person with dementia.
Let the effects of the disease have no impact on you.
Typical Effects Of Dementia On A Person
1. Poor nutrition
A person with dementia suffers from different emotional and physical symptoms. These can include severe loss of appetite or the loss of willingness to ingest meals.
As a normal person without any mental incapacity, it is already typical for everyone to skip a meal when experiencing constipation or toothaches.
Thus, imagine what a person with dementia who is constantly suffering from emotional and physical pain goes through and the (poor) nutrition they consequently get from these sufferings.
Additionally, another cause of poor nutrition may be traced to communication problems such that a person affected with dementia may have difficulty indicating his hunger.
Another factor could also be the lack of appetite due to frequent changes in medication. This can also cause (rapid) weight loss in patients with dementia.
2. Aggressiveness
If a person is in pain, it is normal that their behavior or mood may suddenly change without their awareness.
Aggression is another effect of dementia that may be seen in a person suffering from this kind of mental incapacity.
There are two major factors why can a person with dementia act or show aggression.
1. First is a physical abnormality.
The stress caused by physical changes to the body can affect his or her inhibitions and make them less aware of what kind of behavior is appropriate.
They may also have less tolerance for environmental changes since the surroundings may be too busy or overwhelming.
Temperature intolerance is also another reason for aggression. It is a fact that these physical changes may lead to another factor – psychological abnormality.
2. Psychological abnormality is the second factor. With this, the person affected may feel disrespected.
For example, a person may feel that he is being prevented from doing things he ought to do.
1. Bathing, as fear of water can sometimes be a problem.
The person may not be able to gauge the depth or temperature of the water and will be frightened to step into it.
2. Changing clothes, as changing clothes is essential for hygiene and personal freshness.
However, a person with dementia might just skip changing clothes, keep wearing the same old ones.
Thus, they might need a bit of encouragement removing dirty clothes at the end of the day and putting on clean ones the next.
Being a person who loses interest in life inevitably loses his interest in cleaning himself regularly as well.
4. Anxiety
Dementia is both a mental and a physical torture where one’s psychological well-being could really get affected.
Once affected, it causes one’s brain to be overly stressed, thus, making a person emotionally and mentally weak.
Accordingly, this is how a person with dementia develops anxiety.
He or she will start to be frightened of everything. According to the video presentation, a person with anxiety caused by dementia will be extremely withdrawn from a crowd.
It is because a crowd makes them suffocated and anxious.
An anxiety attack can be distinguished when one is experiencing heart palpitations.
Anxiety also activates a natural stress response which causes the body to increase perspiration or sweating.
Additionally, one can also experience shortness of breath during an anxiety attack.
5. Sleep disorder
A person suffering from dementia is also experiencing problems in sleeping. It is because their memory seemingly becomes worse after a bad night.
As the disease progresses, the damage to a person’s brain becomes more extensive and he or she gradually becomes weaker and frailer over time.
This one may be the least experienced effect of dementia but it is still essential to know how dementia affects one’s sleeping patterns.
If you see a loved one oversleeping all throughout the night or spending their time sleeping all day time and even finds themselves sleepy regularly, such circumstances may indicate that a person’s condition is getting worse.
6. Depression
When a person is suffering from dementia, his or her common response with regard to their usual routines is having uncontrollable mood swings.
Sometimes, the person becomes extremely jolly or too fearful.
Their inability to complete simple daily tasks at home, work or in school leads to multiple frustrations, and a buildup of demotivation and mental breakdowns.
These instances unconsciously lead a person to develop depression and anxiety.
Depression is the most prominent mental health problem of a person with dementia.
In some cases, symptoms of depression are often confused with the early stages of dementia but both of which are actually related to one another.
7. Communication challenges
Dementia makes it difficult for a person to speak or to communicate, and this can be upsetting. This is another effect of dementia that can make a person frustrated.
You might hear persons affected using filler words most of the time when trying to express themselves.
It is because they are having trouble finding the right words/sentences on how they can describe what they feel, what they want to eat, or even what they want to do.
Besides, a person with dementia may repeat words or phrases and stutter every time they try to communicate with other people.
We all need to communicate regarding our needs, wishes, and feelings. Losing the ability to communicate effectively negatively changes the quality of our life.
8. Repetitiveness
According to Enomwoyi Damali, living with her mother who has dementia has taken some time adjusting to. Her mother usually asks her the same things over and over again a hundred times.
In the latter part of this mental illness, this effect of dementia occurs and becomes cognizable.
The cause of repetitiveness is the feeling of being anxious and frightened as well as seeking comfort, security, and reassurance.
A person affected with dementia may also have trouble understanding what’s going around him or her because of memory incapacity, hesitations, loss of feeling for a time and even boredom.
Always try to remember that the person is not difficult on purpose as this effect could be more frustrating to them more than what you feel every time you listen to him or her.
9. Trouble adapting to the environment
A sudden change in surroundings could really make a person hard to adapt.
This is an impact of dementia wherein a person does not enjoy changes as much as what he or she was used to.
Small changes could incite negative emotions in the person who is suffering from dementia, and changes from the environment can also result in confusion and feelings of being frightened frequently.
A constant change in one’s environment can also result in anxiety attacks.
A person who is having a hard time concentrating, thinking, and expressing one’s emotions might not accept or totally reject adaptation to the environment.
10. Irritability and mood swings
In the mid and especially late stages, a person who has dementia may begin to lose control of his impulses.
This is the most alarming effect of dementia, which may lead to hurting another person emotionally.
A person who has dementia may even say tactless things, like “Gosh, you look old!”, which they would never say before.
In the later stage, more aggressive acts often seem to come out of nowhere, including cursing, arguing, shouting, and even threatening.
As dementia gets worse, the person loses tolerance for a lot of things and situations which makes his or her mood change constantly.
11. Stressed family relationship
Engaging with a person suffering from dementia in the house can be quite stressful, not only to the one in charge but also to the one taking care of the person with this mental illness.
A person with this kind of brain incapacity requires a lot of attention, understanding, and patience.
It could also be so tiring doing the routine regularly. This engagement could cause a domino effect with other family members.
Recognition could be a problem as well and should already be expected, as the person affected may not recognize anyone of the family members when things get worse.
A person may only remember their parents; or in the worst-case scenario, no one.
12. Demotivation
If one is sad, he is most likely to feel sluggish and lazy for a short time.
If one is depressed, he or she is unable to get the strength to be motivated which may persist for months – even years.
For a person diagnosed with dementia, it is twice as worse.
An individual who is dealing with the effects of dementia often loses the eagerness to fight it or looking at life with a positive outlook.
Now that his mental capability slowly weakens, his reason for living and fighting for the people whom he used to know and care for dies.
Anxiety and depression are two of the common reasons why a person especially suffering from dementia can be demotivated.
These certain groups of people need tons of genuine moral, financial, and emotional support from family members friends to make them feel secured, well-attended, loved and respected.
And that no matter what happens, there is always a reason to look forward to another day even if they do not remember how to anymore.
13. Trouble learning new things
If your loved one is diagnosed with dementia (predominately any type), one of the effects is trouble/difficulty learning new things and solving problems.
It becomes very evident that even if you repeat them what to do several times, not only do they not show interest in it, they are struggling, too.
Offer a helping hand and together solve the task.
The last thing you would want to do is to start screaming and yelling at them.
Unfortunately, this is part of the progression of dementia. Instead, you should introduce all sorts of different dementia activities which will help keep their brain active.
Said that, keep them engaged in various exercises as often as possible for as long as possible. This will slow down the process of dementia, worsening their well-being.
14. Unable to concentrate
Unfortunately, with the progression of dementia, a patient will eventually have a hard time concentrating and focusing. Their attention span will decrease drastically, too.
In some instances, the slightest distraction can put them off, almost forgetting what they were doing just seconds ago.
As a caregiver, family member or friend, in these situations, patients matter most. One thing you must absolutely not do is to argue with the person.
It is an unpleasant effect of dementia that we cannot avoid but alleviate.
With different exercises, like opposite cards and other fun memory activities, you can contribute to the lack of their concentration, aiming to boost the attention span.
After close investigation, we saw that cooking therapy for dementia is one of the therapies that people living with dementia benefit from.
QUITE significantly.
Some experts describe cooking therapy as a therapeutic technique that uses cooking, arts, gastronomy, and people’s personal, familial, and cultural relationships with food to address psychological and emotional issues.
An article in Psychology Today described cooking therapy as one of the ways to simultaneously nourish the mind and feed the soul.
How Does Cooking Help Dementia?
MIND DIET Cookbook for Beginners: Tasty and Nutritious Recipes for Optimal Brain Health (The Alzheimer’s Prevention Food Guide)
Also known as kitchen or culinary therapy, cooking therapy is also considered a form of SELF-CARE according to Dr. Axe.
This is because it helps people save money, relieve anxiety, and the result is a product that an individual can enjoy on their own or share with others.
Professionals agree that cooking can support an individual’s mental and physical health in multiple ways.
This is why this type of therapy can be beneficial to a person with dementia. It is, however, important to make sure that seniors engaging in cooking therapy do so safely depending on their current abilities.
Persons with dementia SHOULD ONLY take part in tasks that do not put them at risk of injury.
Some of the appropriate kitchen activities are:
Washing vegetables
Rolling dough
Setting the table
Mixing ingredients
Cleaning dishes
Making simple meals like sandwiches and fruit salads
Avoid letting the elderly handle sharp cutlery, hot stoves, and other risky actions.
It is best to gauge what an individual is CAPABLE of handling even for the most willing and able seniors.
Always match the tasks assigned to the functional level of the individual with the neurodegenerative illness.
With this in mind, let’s look into some of the ways individuals with the progressive illness can benefit from cooking therapy.
Benefits of Cooking Therapy for Dementia
Reduces Stress
A 2018 review revealed that cooking can help enhance mood and reduce anxiety symptoms by giving participants a sense of accomplishment, control, and providing for themselves or others who will end up eating the meal.
Dementia often brings negative emotions and feelings caused by frustration and confusion. Cooking can HELP get rid of such by reducing some of the behavioral symptoms that people with dementia showcase.
For instance, a SIMPLE act of kneading dough or washing potatoes can reduce irritability and depression.
This is because a person is presented with a task that they can accomplish and enjoy which aids in relieving stress.
Encourages Physical Activity
One of the perks that cooking therapy for dementia presents is encouraging individuals with the illness to get on their feet as they prepare ingredients and clean up afterward.
Physically, cooking requires some movements in fingers, shoulders, neck, elbow, neck, wrists, and good overall balance. An EXCELLENT activity for the entire body if you will.
Muscle strength is also required in upper limbs for chopping, cutting, and mixing.
While it may not be an intense workout, cooking sessions allow people to enjoy a fun and creative exercise that is relatively active.
Promotes Healthy Eating
Most people who engage in cooking therapy end up being mindful of what they put in their mouths.
High-quality diets are crucial for maintaining brain health. Dr. Andrew McCulloch wrote that nutrition should become a mainstream daily component of MENTAL HEALTH care.
Including foods that are rich in various nutrients including legumes, dark leafy greens, berries, and oily fish, etc. has been linked with better outcomes for persons battling mood disorders.
MIND DIET: Eating for a Sharp Mind and Healthy Brain (The Alzheimer’s Prevention Food Guide & Cookbook)
Cooking makes people FEEL nostalgic especially during family gatherings, over the holidays, and other traditional events.
Persons with dementia can reminisce on good times they had in the past cooking or sharing meals with loved ones.
Time Magazine researchers suggest that humans associate food with happy memories. The smell is another powerful element that triggers nostalgia.
Note that the part of the brain that processes smell is the EMOTIONAL center of the organ.
This implies that individuals are biologically hardwired to evoke emotions through smell.
Susan Whitborne professor of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts explains that food memories involve all five senses reason they are more sensory than other types of memories.
Cooking therapy can also enhance brain stimulation through various actions that the senior participants in.
For starters, a person needs to concentrate on the activity a move that gives the brain a workout.
Encourages Self-Expression and Social Bonding
One of the benefits of cooking therapy for dementia is when seniors cook in a group setting.
They have a good time working with peers and other staff members where they end up enjoying the support and help of others.
It is quite EASY to bond over a delicious meal or snack.
The process of creating these foods offers the elderly an opportunity to have fun and provides a social outlet for self-expression.
Closing Remarks – Cooking Therapy for Dementia
Many professionals agree that cooking therapy for dementia is quite beneficial for various stages of the illness.
This has even led to the introduction of therapeutic kitchens in many long-term care facilities.
Not only do residents use the kitchens but the staff and family members as well.
Since dementia and aggression, both physical and verbal, are very common in patients, we will look at all the possible causes and steps to soothe the situation.
People with dementia might sometimes become verbally or physically aggressive because of the damage that is happening in the brain.
In fact, it can be pretty common, as we experienced it 100s of times.
It is a normal part of the illness, and it can happen to seniors who have NEVER been violent all their lives.
Aggressive outbursts can be difficult and scary for ill persons as well as those around them.
Persons with the illness may start to curse, scowl, scream, hit, bite, grab, throw things, or push.
Family members and friends may not know how to react accordingly when their loved one with dementia starts to behave aggressively.
Below we discuss the possible causes of aggression and how to best approach it in people with dementia.
Causes of Aggression
With most dementia cases, affected persons who start to showcase aggressive behaviors normally do so because they cannot communicate their needs.
The person may misunderstand the good intentions of caregivers
Being pushed by others to complete certain tasks like going out to socialize or remembering events or loved ones, etc.
Practical Tips for Dealing with Aggression
Caregivers may not always understand why dementia patients behave the way they do.
It is, however, important to familiarize yourself with some of the aggressive scenarios that may arise during the illness so that you prepare well for such.
Below we look at some of the best ways to respond when a person with dementia experiences anger outbursts.
Remain Calm
It’s natural to want to fight back or argue when you encounter an aggressive person.
Avoid the urge to do this and, instead, step back, and take several deep breaths before reacting. This will give the person with dementia some space and time.
Although it may not be easy, you should always try to remain as calm as possible when dealing with an individual who is being aggressive for one reason or the other.
You can leave the room if this is what it takes to feel calmer.
It may be difficult, especially in a situation where you feel threatened. If you genuinely feel like the person is a threat, get away from them and immediately call for help.
Unless it is necessary, avoid trying to restrain the person because this escalates the problem further.
Remember to speak calmly, stay positive, and keep reassuring the angry person.
Try and Identify what is Triggering Aggression Episodes
Another way to help an individual with dementia when they are being aggressive is to think about what was happening before the flare-ups.
Frustration, fear, or pain are among likely triggers. For instance, an individual may start yelling at an empty chair or commanding people in the room to leave.
When you look around, you may notice that the room is getting darker; and shadows may start showing up in corners so that it feels like there are other persons in the room.
To help calm the weak person, you can turn on the lights so that the shadows disappear.
If the aggression ceases, you will know to turn on the lights in a room before it becomes shadowy.
Rule out Pain
When a person who has dementia is feeling pain and they cannot voice this out, they are bound to become aggressive.
Before coming up with other solutions, it is important to try and rule out eliminate pain as the cause of aggression.
Some of the things that may cause the individual pain include:
Infections like UTI’s or chest infections
Existing medical conditions like arthritis
Constipation
Bruises, cuts, or other injuries
Sitting, sleeping, or moving around in an uncomfortable position
Earache, toothache, or issues with dentures
Finger or toenails that need trimming, amongst others
You can take the person for eyesight and hearing testing so that they can get hearing aids or glasses if obligatory.
Validate the Person’s Feelings
When dealing with dementia and aggression, you must also try to put yourself in the shoes of the person exhibiting aggression.
Study their body language and try to imagine what they are trying to express or how they are currently feeling.
For example, if a person starts to remove their clothes, they may be feeling too hot, itchy, may need to use the washroom, or they may be feeling like the clothes are too tight.
If you can identify the issue that is bringing out the aggressive behavior, you can solve it with greater ease.
Worth noting is that the individual with dementia will most probably respond to facial expression, body language, and the tone of your voice rather than the words you choose to use.
Smile, use eye contact, or a reassuring touch to show compassion and pass your message. Remember that these behaviors are not personal.
Use Distractions
During anger outbursts, you can try and distract a person so that they can focus on something else.
Soothing or classical music is one of the things that work well for people with dementia and aggression.
If the person is not feeling this type of music, you can always play their favorite tunes.
Singing along to some music as you complete some tasks like brushing teeth or dressing can make these easier.
Other than music, you can also shift focus to another enjoyable activity. This primarily works if a previous or current event is the cause of the agitation.
Give the person with dementia a moment to vent before you introduce a new activity so that you do not surprise them and make the problem worse.
Moreover, exercise can also be part of the distraction. Working out will not only help to reduce aggression, but it will improve sleep as well.
At times, the room that a person is in may be the cause of aggression. A high percentage of people with dementia are usually sensitive to their environment.
This is especially if there is too much noise that is coming from other people, TV, radio, or other sources.
If the individual cannot get out of the room for one reason or another, you can politely ask the others to tone down.
Switching off devices that are making noise can also help to calm the situation.
Always ask for help when you feel that you are stuck so that you remain in the right frame of mind when looking after the person with dementia.
Ensure Safety
You will notice that sometimes the person with dementia just needs a few minutes on their own to calm down or even forget that they are angry.
This means that you should leave them alone in the room so that they can regain balance.
Before you leave a person on their own, it is essential to ensure that the room is safe.
There are a couple of things you can do to enhance safety such as getting rid of clutter so that a person can move around with ease.
Marking doors or leaving them open can also help reduce confusion inside the house.
Experts also suggest that adding keepsakes or photos can help to evoke positive memories creating a pleasant environment.
If you feel like the individual with dementia is not safe at home, it may be time to consider a care facility.
All you need to do is carefully look for one that will take care of the needs of your loved ones so that they live a comfortable life despite dementia.
Dementia and Aggression Closing Thoughts
It is advisable to always look for the early warning signs of dementia and aggression.
This is because it is easier to deal with the cause before extreme behavior problems start.
Never try and ignore this issue because it will only become worse. When the aggression becomes overwhelming, consulting a doctor might be the only solution.
The medic will perform a medical exam to identify the cause of aggression.
When the need is, the professional may prescribe medication that can help to prevent or reduce aggression.
We take a closer look at the possible connection between statins and dementia risk? Could the medication prevent the disease? Or does it cause memory loss?
Statins are a class of medication that lower cholesterol levels in the human body.
They block the enzyme responsible for making cholesterol in the liver.
Additionally, some studies are now focusing on the use of statins and dementia risk.
Dementia has fast grown to become a healthcare concern around the globe. The disease already affects millions of people, and there are predictions that the numbers will double after two decades.
This means that the number of people who have dementia might rise to 74.7 million in 2025 and a whopping 152 million by 2050.
The fact that the disease does not have a cure does not help.
There was excitement when earlier studies revealed that there might be a connection between dementia prevention and statins use.
Later studies, however, did not draw similar promising inferences.
Experts continue to explore different avenues to introduce solid ways of preventing the development and progression of dementia.
While on this journey, researchers stumbled on the likelihood of statins reducing the risk of dementia. There are different types of statins that slightly differ from one another.
Some are also more likely to enter the brain than others.
Researchers claim that statins are instrumental when it comes to preventing and treating dementia, especially in middle-aged people.
Worth noting is that the results of one type of statin may not necessarily translate to another. This is because the drugs will regulate and prevent cholesterol metabolism in the brain.
Do statins have the potential to prevent dementia?
Although statins have the potential to prevent the development of dementia, there are still some concerns about the safety of the drugs that need to be addressed.
It is mostly due to the conflicting results that studies have concerning the association of dementia and the use of statins.
Some observational studies report that in some cases, the use of statins is associated with a decrease in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia, as well as improvement of cognitive impairment.
Other studies refute these findings stating that statin use is not related to the risk of dementia.
One of the studies that support the fact that the meds can help with dementia risk decrement base their results on the fact that elevated serum cholesterol and high-cholesterol diet are risk factors for dementia and coronary heart disease.
They further support the theory by stating that hypercholesterolemia can be deposited in the hippocampus part of the brain.
This is important to study when looking at how statins and dementia relate. Cholesterol is a fatty substance present in the body’s cells and blood.
A doctor can measure a person’s cholesterol levels to determine if there are healthy or harmful levels in the bloodstream.
The body makes this substance naturally, and you can also consume it in certain foods.
Studies are seeking to prove the connection between dementia and cholesterol look at several ways that link these two.
Evidence, although scanty, shows that high levels of cholesterol in a person’s blood can increase the risk of a person developing dementia, especially during mid-life.
Furthermore, if you have high levels of cholesterol in your blood, there is a high chance that you have other factors that can cause dementia.
These include factors like diabetes and high blood pressure.
This implies that it is complex to separate cholesterol and dementia.
Investigations are also going on to determine the role that cholesterol plays in the brain to lead to dementia development.
Statins and Memory Loss
When discussing statins and dementia, it is also important to talk about memory loss as one of the side effects of medications.
A section of patients who have high cholesterol has been on record saying that they experience memory loss while taking the meds.
This led the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) to update statins safety information to include confusion, forgetfulness, and memory loss as possible side effects or risks.
Researchers have done several tests about this, but to date, there is still no evidence that statins are responsible for memory loss.
Researchers from John Hopkins Medicine in 2013 took to examine 41 studies to uncover the link between memory loss and statins.
All the studies followed 23,000 women and men who did not have any history with memory problems for about 25 years.
The professionals did not pick up on any evidence that supports the notion that statins cause loss of memory.
Note that the percentage of people on statins who had memory issues was not significantly different from those taking other medication that helps to lower cholesterol.
Instead, analyzing those studies revealed evidence that long-term use of statins may protect people against dementia.
Experts believe that some dementia types are brought about by blockages in the blood vessels that supply the brain with blood.
Taking statins can help to reduce some of the blockages.
Cognitive Function and Statins
To further understand the relationship between statins and dementia, you must note that cholesterol is essential for brain function.
Around 25% of the body’s cholesterol is present in the brain. This helps with membrane function. It is possible that inhibition of cholesterol synthetic pathways theoretically results in adverse neurocognitive effects.
Statins might reduce cholesterol synthesis in a person’s brain; hence, interfere with myelin function and formation.
On the other hand, statins can also induce a decrease in coenzyme- Q10 levels, which may result in weakened mitochondrial functioning, as well as an increase in oxidative stress, which can also affect cognition.
Statins may as well have an impact on cholesterol levels.
Can Statins Reduce Risk of Dementia after Concussion
JAMA Neurology published a study that suggests the use of statins reduces the risk of dementia in older adults after a concussion.
Researchers in this study evaluated billing data from physicians from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.
They combined this with computerized health care records for dementia risk after a concussion in seniors over 66 years with and without statins use.
The population that took part in the study were older people who had experienced a concussion without a diagnosis of severe brain injury.
After thorough investigations, it revealed that the use of statins reduces the development of dementia by 13% when compared to the persons who were not on the medications.
An increase in prior hospitalization, physician visits, urban home location, total prescriptions, lower socioeconomic status, and older age were factors considered to increase dementia risk.
The experts also noted that other medications that participants took did not make a difference in the reduction of dementia risk. The meds did not make things better or worse.
Statin was the only exception among the other cardiovascular and lipid-lowering medicine.
Because there are different types of statins, deeper analysis showcased that Rosuvastatin was responsible for the largest reduction risk while simvastatin had the opposite effect (smallest reduction risk).
There was a correlation between the time participants took statins with higher/lower benefits, but the dosage did not affect the results.
Researchers in this study concluded that although elderly individuals have a higher dementia risk after suffering a concussion, there is a modest reduction in the risk of dementia for the persons who receive a statin.
Clinical Trials on the Use of Statins to Reduce Dementia Risk
Studying statins and dementia demands looking into suitable clinical trials that can either support or refute the claim that statins are beneficial for reducing the risk of dementia.
There are multiple clinical trials in medical databases that compare administering statin as a pretend medicine or placebo to individuals with normal cognitive function and those who are at the age where they risk getting dementia.
Many trials did not show a reduction in the occurrence of dementia in people who use statins or placebo.
Side effects were also low in both groups.
It is, however, impossible to give accurate results of the trials because several limitations exist in these studies to provide proper results.
Researchers will, nonetheless, continue to improve these trials so that in the future, they can give an adequate deduction as to whether or not the use of statins can help with the prevention or treatment of dementia.
Statins and Dementia Closing Thoughts
The topic of the use of statins and dementia is COMPLEX. There is a need for more research to give conclusive results on how taking the medications can help reduce the risk of dementia.
In the future, experts may be in a position to identify individuals who can benefit from the use of statin based on genetic profiles of other factors of dementia risk.
For now, medics recommend that people follow healthy lifestyles first and foremost.
Granny Mary Thinks Differently is an eBook for everyone in the family facing dementia.
Dementia is a syndrome that does not have a cure yet. Unfortunately, it affects every family member, including children.
It happens very commonly in families that we completely forsake explaining dementia to children. It is a challenging term for a child to understand. That’s why we need to teach them about the condition their grandparent is facing.
Very often, the child and the grandparent are best friends. However, when dementia occurs, their relationship can change drastically.
Sometimes, kids think it’s their fault, which can even lead to depression.
Explaining Dementia to Children and Young People
With lovely and educational children’s book, Granny Mary Thinks Differently, you can now educate your child about dementia conveniently.
Through carefully picked words and engaging illustrations, your child will understand that dementia is a disease.
They will learn that they are not guilty of a negative reaction from grandparents. The book will also help them stop having the feeling that grandparents no longer like them.
Tell your child when you feel sad, angry, tired, or in a bad mood because of your grandparent’s dementia.
Emphasize that the child is not to blame for your feelings and that he or she has done nothing wrong.
Talk to Children and Young People About Dementia
Additionally, allow the child to talk about their fears, concerns, and emotions related to the changes they observe and experience in grandparents or the family.
It is important that the child does not experience feelings of guilt. You should clearly explain to your child that no one in the family is to blame for the illness – dementia.
At the same time, we need to assure the child that he will not get dementia and that he should not worry about his future or his parents’ future (dementia is rarely hereditary).
If you teach a child about the disease (especially about the noticeable signs that he will easily notice), it will not affect him.
This especially applies to situations when the grandparent forgets his name, repeatedly asks the same question, will no longer want to read them a fairy tale, or even becomes angry at them.
The child will know that this is an expression of the disease. Not the fact that the grandparent no longer likes him/her.
In short, explaining what is good for the brain and how he/she should take care of his/her body to be healthy for as long as possible.
Knowledge is a cure (for the whole family) when we face dementia.
The more information and knowledge a child has about dementia, the easier it will be to find themselves in a new position. When you do not have the answers to all the questions, your child has asked you, find information and solutions together.
We discover dementia and get to know it through the childhood curiosity of Granny Mary’s granddaughter, Anna.
Hidden in the story are important questions about age, illness, family, friendship, and love, which gives us the strength and courage to cope with the changes that dementia brings to the family.
There are currently about 50 million people who have dementia globally.
The number keeps increasing by almost 10 million each year.
Thus, the topic is rapidly becoming more and more relevant, both on a daily basis and in children’s literature. Changes that come with the disease touch all family members.
Furthermore, everyone accepts the effects of dementia differently, so studying the condition carefully is very important, especially in children.
Children’s world
The book is dedicated to all families, but especially to the grandchildren of grandparents who think differently.
The heartiness and patience of Anna, the granddaughter of grandmother Mary, will invite you to the children’s world, which is often ignored and overlooked when we face illness – dementia – in the family.
By talking to a child in an understandable and acceptable way, we make them aware and influence the recognition and understanding of dementia in society.
Dear Grandma, Grandpa
Even if you forget everything, you will not be forgotten. Let this children’s book on dementia be a display of love that gives us the strength and courage to face change.
Dementia changes a person, but it does not change the family and the love that embraces it.
Dear Granddaughter, Grandson
Let the book be a consolation to you when the days are hard and when you don’t understand your grandmother or grandfather due to their challenging condition.
Remember that the illness needs love. Your help and warmth are always valuable. Ask any question you may have and seek knowledge.
Reviews & Comments – Granny Mary Thinks Differently
Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA
“This is a very helpful resource designed to help children better understand why someone they love is changing and seems so different. Petra Boh has done an excellent job of comparing the normal role and relationship of a special Grandma with what might be a new possibility after significant symptoms have started to appear. The illustrator, Andreja Karba, has done terrific work creating a mix of scenes that have action in them, while also highlighting some of the objects or emotions that could be identified by children. This is so needed by families around the world who are coping with these very real situations.” – Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, Founder of Positive Approach to Care®
Cameron J. Camp, Ph.D., Director of Research and Development, Center for Applied Research in Dementia
“In Granny Mary Thinks Differently we are given the opportunity to see a woman with dementia through the eyes of her granddaughter, Anna. A strong message throughout is the power of love to maintain our humanity. As her granddaughter sees changes in her grandmother, the little girl also learns how to adapt to these changes so that she can maintain their positive and loving relationship. This is a powerful and important lesson to learn, for Anna and for all of us.”
Zvezdan Pirtosek, M.D., Ph.D.
“Dementia – a word that a doctor wrote in grandmother’s medical record. In front of little Anna, curious and playful, a new world has unfolded, in which her beloved grandmother thinks and behaves differently than before. In “Granny Mary Thinks Differently,” Anna reveals her wonder and her sadness, but also her acceptance, understanding, and finally, the realization that touches us deeply – especially when expressed by a child. The body can become numb, the mind tiresome, and the memory fades – but not the friendship and love that Anna will always feel for her grandmother.”
Laura Herman, Elder and Dementia Care Professional
“My kids are ages 7 and 8, and I was curious as to how they’d react to Petra Boh’s new children’s book about dementia: ‘Granny Mary Thinks Differently.’ We sat down to read it together. They were immediately drawn in by Andreja Karba’s sweet and colorful illustrations. They delighted in small details, like the framed rabbit portraits that appear throughout the pages. Both kids enjoyed reading about how 7-year-old Anna and Granny Mary spent their time together. They instantly related, and imagined sharing these activities with their own grandmother.”
“They found themselves very engaged in the story. As Granny Mary started to decline, my 8 year old boy choked up, commenting that he didn’t know what he’d do if his Memaw started feeling and acting like that. He especially appreciated the pages about how Anna and the doggie could help Granny Mary feel better when she was having a hard time.”
Teodora Ghiur, Cognitive Neuroscience
“Informative, engaging, and accurate, this e-book is an excellent educational tool for all children. Unfortunately, memory degeneration has become a part of life for many of us growing and living with grandparents. Using story-telling and strong visual imagery, this short e-book explains topics that are often painful to put into words, like Alzheimer’s and Dementia in an easy-to-understand and dynamic format. Written into a compassionate tone of voice, this e-book offers excellent science-based information in a language accessible to the little ones.”
Jana Mali, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Work
“The main narrator of the story is seven-year-old Anna, who describes how she experiences Granny Mary’s changes due to dementia. This children’s book is a good example of how parents can approach the world of dementia with their child by reading Anna’s story. A child’s perspective on understanding dementia; a world that is different from ours because thinking happens in a special way.
It’s important that Granny Mary remains the main character of the story from beginning to end, as the perspective of people with dementia is still too often overlooked in everyday practices. The recording of the story through the view of a person with dementia represents a great signpost for a change in the relationship we have with people experiencing dementia. We expect changes in a better understanding of dementia, most from the young and middle generation representatives, who will also be the most likely to pick up the book. Let’s take the time to share this children’s book with our kids and consider the next steps for a healthy relationship with people with dementia.”
Among them include the ability of a person to drive safely.
How Does Dementia Affect Driving?
You will notice that many people who have dementia can no longer drive, especially if the disease has progressed to the later stages.
This can be very upsetting, particularly to the persons who feel like driving defines freedom and autonomy.
In addition to memory loss that is synonymous with dementia, other causes can also affect a person’s driving ability.
These include medical conditions that a person with dementia might be suffering from. The most common in seniors are hearing and vision problems.
Arthritis can also affect head-turning.
A fraction of older people with dementia have weaker muscles, which makes physical tasks like braking or steering rather difficult.
Medications, a person is taking, can also contribute to driving problems. Various depression drugs, as well as night sedatives, may affect how a person drives.
Individuals with dementia and their caregivers can benefit from our guidelines that can offer helpful pointers on the whole driving and dementia issue.
Read on to uncover important information about driving for people with dementia.
When Does a Person Become a Traffic Risk?
In some cases, though not all, a dementia diagnosis does not mean that a person immediately loses their driving skills.
Some people, particularly in the early stages of the disease, can go about their driving business without any complications.
However, due to the nature of the illness, everyone HAS TO STOP driving eventually.
This is because the disease becomes worse over time, which means that symptoms like a decrease in cognitive functioning, memory loss, and visual-spatial disorientation become more pronounced.
Some individuals will stop driving voluntarily after identifying the risks involved. Others may need intervention from relatives and caregivers.
Because everyone experiences the illness differently, it is not easy to pinpoint the right time a person should no longer be on the road as a driver.
As a general rule, persons with mild or early dementia should undergo an evaluation to know if they can continue driving.
Those who have moderate or severe dementia SHOULD keep off the wheel.
It may also help if the affected individuals and those around them are keen on the developing symptoms to make the decision at the right time.
Going For Independent Driving Evaluation
Independent driving evaluations are some of the safest options to determine a person’s driving capability.
These are usually available through State Departments of Motor Vehicles or driver rehabilitation programs.
Remember to inform the examiners that the individual going through evaluation has dementia. These individuals usually sit for a behind-the-wheel driver re-examination.
This will determine whether the candidate will RETAIN their driving license or whether it will be revoked.
Because dementia is a progressive disease, it is recommended that drivers with dementia go through the evaluation often say after every six months or so.
If anyone FAILS the test, they must discontinue driving instantly.
Signs That Indicate It Is No Longer Safe to Drive
A person’s behavior outside their car can tell if they can drive properly or not.
Some of the signs that a person may show signifying that they will not be good drivers include:
Has a hard time multitasking
Has a problem judging space and distance
Becomes less coordinated
Feels disoriented or gets lost in familiar environments
Is not as alert to things that are happening around them
Memory loss specifically for recent events increases
Has a hard time processing information
Has challenges with problem-solving and decision-making
Becomes more irritable, confused, and has mood swings
Needs prompting when it comes to personal care, etc.
It is advisable to compare previous behavior (before dementia onset) to current behavior to get an accurate picture of the transformation a person is going through.
Behavioral changes are usually noticeable to people who closely interact with the person with dementia over time.
The observations can then be shared with other friends, family members, and health care professionals.
Checking Driving Behaviors
If the person with dementia gets the green light to continue driving, friends and family must continue to monitor their driving.
An individual’s driving skills can decrease in a short period. Observing driving conduct is crucial because it allows early problem detection before it becomes a crisis.
Some of the warning signs may consist of:
Ignoring traffic lights or confusion over road rules, colors, and words
Driving too slowly
Hitting curbs
Stopping in the middle of the road for no reason
Having challenges with highway exits, turns, or lane changes
Lacking good judgment
Driving at inappropriate speeds
Getting lost on familiar routes
Driving on the wrong streets
Drifting into other lanes unintentionally
Getting drowsy or falling asleep while driving
Confusing gas and brake pedals
Refusing to strap on seat belts
Parking at the wrong places
Coming back from routines drives later than usual
Getting tickets often for multiple violations
Having accidents or too many “near-misses”
Easily distractibility by road signs, pedestrians, or pets they may see while driving
Refusing to drive with other people in the car
Becomes irritated or nervous when driving, etc.
What To Do To Improve Driving Skills
Unfortunately, because of the declining nature of dementia, there is nothing that can be done to enhance driving skills.
As the disease becomes worse, many people become a hazard on the road. This implies that caregivers and doctors must take charge.
The affected individuals, doctors, and persons offering care must also familiarize themselves with the laws that govern driving and dementia.
In some locations, doctors must report any medical conditions that may get in the way of a person’s driving ability.
Getting “Difficult Persons” To Stop Driving
Blood relatives and caregivers may, at times, be faced with a situation where an individual with dementia blatantly refuses to stop driving even when it is dangerous.
This is because most of them feel as though they lose a great deal of independence if they cannot drive themselves around.
Such circumstances call for a lot of wisdom when dealing with this aspect of driving and dementia.
The persons dealing with the topic can start by calmly and sympathetically talking to the affected individual, letting them know why driving is not a good idea.
Remember that the talks should be given out in small doses to give the affected individual time to process what lays ahead.
Be ready to listen and encourage the person to talk freely about how the changes make them feel.
Mention the positives, not the negatives
Stressing about the positives of quitting driving might drive the point home.
Try and appeal to the individual’s sense of responsibility all the time, reaffirming support and unconditional love.
Alternative transportation must also be offered so that the ill individual does not feel like they will not have the freedom of movement anymore.
If the people around cannot come up with a solution, it may be time to join a support group.
These offer a GREAT platform for caregivers and persons with dementia to talk to other individuals who are in a similar situation.
Seek help if necessary
They act as an excellent resource center to get tips on how to get the person to stop driving.
Experts believe that people will adjust better if they are involved in the discussions and decisions on when they should retire when it comes to driving.
Care managers and physicians might also help a person make the right timely decision. The professionals can tactfully bring up the driving topic during health visits.
A financial planner or lawyer may also step in to DISCUSS driving as part of the ill person’s financial and legal planning.
Affected persons may respond better to the experts as compared to their relatives or friends.
It can also help if family members and caregivers can come up with ways that reduce the need of the person with dementia to drive all the time.
It can be things like having prescriptions, groceries, and meals delivered at home.
Beauticians and barbers can be contracted to make home visits. Loved ones can visit often so that the person does not feel the need to go out and look for them.
Friends and family can also organize to take the person on social outings.
Slowly limit their driving
Where possible, it is usually best to start early rather than bombard a person to stop driving immediately.
For instance, during the onset of the middle stages of the disease, caregivers can work with an individual to introduce the concept of limiting their driving.
During these times, there are a few beneficial tips the dementia drivers can work with like:
Avoiding driving in bad weather and at night
Driving on familiar roads only
Avoiding long-distance drives
Escaping roads that have huge traffic amounts
Asking the person to co-pilot might also make the transition from driver to passenger a little easier.
When all else fails, caregivers may be forced to take drastic measures to ensure that the individual who has dementia does not go driving when they are not supposed to.
Some of the methods that can keep weak people from accessing their cars include:
Hiding car keys or replacing them with a set that will not start the car
Ensuring the car is out of sight
Disabling the car by removing the battery cable so that it will not start. A mechanic can also install a “kill switch” that the driver must engage in before starting the car.
Selling the vehicle
Alternate Transport Solutions
When tackling the topic of driving and dementia, it is important to table alternative transport options for individuals who can no longer drive.
These help individuals to continue living active lives with minimal restrictions on their mobility. Common transport options are:
Public Transportation
This comes in handy, especially in the early stages of the disease. This is where a person can get familiar with the transportation system in their area so that they get by without too many problems.
The option may not work for people who are in the last stages of the disease. This is because they may not be in a position to figure out how to get to the trains or buses or even their schedules and routes.
Senior Transportation Services
Some organizations offer exclusive transportation services for people who have special needs. A quick online search can help you identify some of the companies that extend these services.
Compare a few to settle on the ones you feel will meet the transport needs of the person with dementia.
Taxi
Just like public transportation, this may be a solution for people who are in the middle or early stages of the disease and preferably do not have any extreme behavioral issues.
Families can choose to set a payment account with a specific company so that the affected individual does not have to deal with taxi bills.
It is also a good option if someone accompanies the person with dementia to the taxi and has another person waiting for them at the destination.
Friends and Family
Family members, neighbors, and friends can offer to drive the person to their appointments and social engagements.
To avoid overburdening one person, make a list of the people willing to provide transportation alongside their contacts and availability.
Driving and Dementia Closing Thoughts
Car accidents are the leading cause of death-related injuries in persons between ages 65-74, according to various studies.
They are also the 2nd commonest cause of death for people who are above the age of 85 after falls.
Experts reveal that the risk of getting into an auto accident doubles for persons who have dementia.
It is, therefore, important to do due diligence when caring for a person with the illness so that they do not go out there driving putting their lives and those of other road users in danger.
Always keep in mind that driving ability spans many cognitive domains, and requires executive function, visuospatial skills, motor skills, attention, and memory.
