Dementia Health Article

Definition

Dementia is a condition characterized by a progressive, irreversible decline in mental ability, accompanied by changes in behavior and personality. There is commonly a loss of memory and skills that are required to carry out activities of daily living.

Description

Dementia is a group of symptoms caused by the gradual death of brain cells. The loss of cognitive abilities that occurs with dementia leads to impairments in memory, reasoning, planning, and personality. Dementia can occur at any age and may affect younger people as the result of disease such as AIDS, hypoxia (a deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body), or injury. However, it is primarily a disease of the elderly, affecting more than 15% of those over 65 years of age, and as many as 40% of those over the age of 80. The condition is somewhat more common among women than men. Some studies suggest that the risk for dementia is higher for African Americans and Hispanic Americans than it is for Caucasians. More than half of all nursing home admissions occur because of dementia.

While the overwhelming majority of people with dementia are elderly, it is not an inevitable part of aging. One of the challenges for health care professionals is to differentiate the early-stage cognitive deficits of dementia from normal age-related memory impairment. Persons with age-related memory impairment may tend to learn new information more slowly; but, if they are given additional time, their cognitive performance is usually adequate. Other problems that may be mistakenly labeled dementia include delirium, psychosis, depression, and the side effects of various medications.

Dementia presents a major health problem for the United States because of its huge impact on individuals and their families, the health care system, and society overall. The costs of dementia are considerable. While most people with the disease are retired and do not suffer income losses, the cost of care is often enormous. Financial burdens include lost wages for family caregivers, medical supplies and drugs, and home modifications to ensure safety. Nursing home care may cost several thousand dollars a month or more. As of 1998, the cost of caring for Alzheimer's dementia patients alone was estimated to be slightly over $50 billion. The psychological costs are not as easily quantifiable, but can be even more profound. The person with dementia loses control of many of the essential features of life and personality, and loved ones lose a family member even as they continue to cope with the burdens of increasing dependence and unpredictability.