Minds Fading Away : Alzheimer's And Dementia Guide

By Sabry Fattah

Dementia is the most challenging health problem facing our modern societies. Alzheimer's disease is just one of many other forms of dementia. Of course, it is the most common type of dementia and its story, detailed in this book, is quite intriguing. The media has cast light extensively on Alzheimer's disease because of its impact on the life of millions of people and its economic and social impact.

 

This book is a general guide to the problem of dementia, in particular Alzheimer's disease. The author is a consultant psychiatrist who has expertise and experience assessing and managing dementia and Alzheimer's patients.

 

In this book, Dr Sabry Fattah clarifies the nature of dementia and what we mean by it? What are the differences between various kinds of dementia?. The book goes through the contribution of science to our perception of that ailment. How can we be sure of the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and how to differentiate it from other dementia?. What are the laboratory and psychological tests to diagnose dementia? What changes to see in the brain under the microscope and in the brain scan? What are the sort of questions to ask a patient to confirm dementia?

 

Research has uncovered a lot about the chemical changes in the brain during the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Many drugs enhance and boost functions in Alzheimer's. The book explains how these drugs work and what benefits we may get from them. Psychological and social interventions by multiple professionals in the care team make life more tolerable for patients with Alzheimer's disease and their families.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr Sabry Fattah
• Release date: Jan 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201141790

Sabry Fattah

د. صبري عبد الفتاح يعمل استشاري للطب النفسي في انجلترا . تدرب ومارس الطب النفسي بإنجلترا منذ عام1990 وحصل على زمالة الكلية الملكية البريطانية للأطباء النفسيين ودرس بجامعة لندن وأجري ونشرأبحاث بجامعة ادنبره باسكتلندا وهو حاليا مقيم بالمملكة المتحدة.

Book preview

Introduction

We must make haste then, not only because we are daily nearer death, but also because the conception of things and the understanding of them cease first.

Marcus Aurelius, The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius

Here is a book about dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Many people mix the two and believe that they are the same. There are many forms of dementia, and Alzheimer's disease is just one of them. Of course, it is the most common type of dementia, and its story is quite intriguing. The media has cast light extensively on Alzheimer's disease because of its impact on the life of millions of people and its economic and social impact. In older people, when memory fails few times, many fear the prospect of Alzheimer's. There are many reasons for failing to recall names, events or even facts. Memory declines naturally to some degree in the elderly. However, not any memory problem is a sign of dementia. A clear understanding of dementia, and its various forms, will help reassure us about our mental health. It will also answer many of our questions about a definite illness in someone we love.

This book aims to give guidance on the problem of dementia, in particular, Alzheimer's disease. It is written by a qualified psychiatrist who has long experience assessing and managing patients with various dementia types and other problems of the nervous system.

With the increase in life expectancy and low fertility in developed societies, the number of ageing populations reached its highest in human history. Most countries have to face the reality of giving the right health care to the soaring number of their senior citizens. The decline in mental abilities is a major health problem, and dementia is one of those health problems of which Alzheimer's disease is the most common form.

In this book, I am going to clarify: what is dementia? what do we mean by it? and what are the differences between various kinds of dementia. We will go through the contribution of science to our perception of that ailment. How can we be sure of the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and how to differentiate it from another dementia. What are the laboratory and psychological tests to diagnose dementia? What changes we may see in the brain under the microscope and in the brain scan, and what sort of questions to ask a patient to confirm diagnosis?

Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, there are many things to help patients, caregivers and families of afflicted persons. Research has uncovered a lot about the chemical changes in the brain during the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Many drugs enhance and boost functions in Alzheimer's. We will explain how these drugs work and what benefits we may get from them.

Psychological and social measures are available to improve the life quality of people with Alzheimer regardless of the stage in which the patient is. Support to the patient in activities of daily living and correcting mood, alertness and interest is needed. Families require help to understand the drastic change in the personality and behaviour of their relatives. They have many questions which need answering, and they crave emotional support to face the grief and agony as they see the mind of someone they love fading away. This book is one such attempt to explain, guide and reassure. Psychiatric expertise, with the contribution of other members of the mental health team, as well as the care team, makes life more tolerable for dementia patients and their families.

This book starts by examining what is dementia and what is its history. The nature of various types of dementia is explained, and features of the cognitive impairment in those dementias is detailed. We will take a quick look at how the brain in dementia appears to the naked eyes, under the microscope or in a brain scan. The changes which affect the dying brain cells are commented on, both chemical and structural.

The book is a valuable introduction to an important and increasingly complex problem that faces our modern society. Caregivers and families will find it beneficial to understand what happens to their loved ones and what to do to assist them. The progress of dementia is slow and there is plenty of time to adapt to the gradual changes in the person's life. There are many resources in the community: the health care system, organisations and charities which provide more assistance to patients and families. Scientific research is uncovering more facts and advances in the field are made every year. The future will bring about a breakthrough to prevent and stop any loss in cognitive power with advancing age.

We are now in possession of knowledge of potential risks, protective factors and preventive strategies. The medical profession has attained new approaches for accurate diagnosis, symptomatic treatments, and interventions to minimize the suffering of dementia patients and support their family members. I hope that this book is a fruitful contribution in this effort.

What is Dementia?

For centuries, many societies realised that advanced age accompanies changes in mental abilities. Senility incurred deterioration, not only of physical competence but also of mental faculties. That was not always true, as many senior citizens maintained a productive, independent and wise mind. In the past, mental health problems in the elderly were lumped together under the title of senile dementia. By the 19th century, doctors started to distinguish dementia from other mental health problems in old age like depression or psychosis.

Dementia is a term that covers many conditions that cause deterioration in memory, language, thinking, emotions, judgement and daily living activities without a change in alertness or consciousness.

There are several types of dementia. The most common and well-known type is Alzheimer's Disease. The second commonest type is vascular dementia which arises from problems in the blood vessels of the brain. In Vascular Dementia, multiple tiny strokes clog small vessels in the brain with blood clots. This dementia may burst in by partial paralysis, sudden loss of movement or lack of sensation in a limb, a drop in the face or unexpected impaired speech. Vascular dementia is rightly called Multi-Infarct Dementia.

Memory decline is not the only trouble in dementia, though the inability to register recent information is the most distinctive feature. The person starts to be forgetful about recent events, but soon other signs of change in higher mental abilities appear. Emotional problems like depression or