What is Dementure?

Question

( think my dad just has opld age forgetfulness. Since he got on Aricept he is 75% worse,and is 75% better around the family then at home with my mom. I need help understanding this subject.

Answer 1

I think you mean Dementia. It is a development of multiple cognitive deficits, which can be caused by a variety of a number of different medical problems.

See the DSM-IV-RT. It will list a variety of types of Dementia.

I would also suggest going to:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dementia.html

Answer 2

It's actually called dementia, and it's very common as people age. Aricept is a great drug for improvement of dementia, but there is NO cure. Sometimes Aricept can make the person worse, but it does take several weeks to show it's true effect on the person. The body has to build up a certain amount in the system before it really starts to show any improvement. Dementia causes people to be completely confused,they may not understand where they are, who they are, who there loved ones are, and trying to pressure them to remember, or frequently correcting them when they are acting out of it only worsens the persons confusion. The best think to do, is go along with them. If your dad thinks you are his sister, by all means play along, in an hour or two he may recognize you for you, and be acting lucid again. The more you press them, or get annoyed and angry, the worse and more irritable they will become. Good luck, it's difficult to watch a loved one go through this,but the stronger you are, the better for the other person. Also if you don't see some improvement within a few weeks on the Aricept, call the doctor to speak about alternatives, just remember it's not a cure, just a treatment of symptoms

Answer 3

Dementia, a progressive brain dysfunction, leads to a gradually increasing restriction of daily activities. The most well-known type of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. Dementia not only affects patients, but also those surrounding them, as most patients require care in the long-term.Forgetfulness with effects at work:

Most people sometimes forget names or appointments. If this happens more frequently and inexplicable states of confusion also occur, this might be an indication for a decline in memory function.

2. Difficulties with familiar activities:

People who are very busy are sometimes absent-minded and for example forget the pot on the stove. People with dementia possibly not only forget the pot on the stove but also that they have cooked at all.

3. Language problems:

Most people sometimes experience difficulties in finding the right words. Dementia sufferers often cannot remember simple words and instead they use inappropriate fillers which makes it difficult to understand the sentences.

4. Problems with spatial and temporal orientation:

A lot of people sometimes forget e.g. the day of the week or they get lost in unfamiliar surroundings. Dementia sufferers might be in their own street and no longer know where they are, how they got there and how to get home again.

5. Impaired capacity of judgement:

People not always choose clothes suitable for the weather. Dementia sufferers sometimes wear totally inappropriate clothes. For example, they wear a bathrobe while shopping or several blouses on top of each other on a hot summer day.

6. Problems with abstract thinking:

For many people running a bank account is a challenge. Dementia patients can often neither recognise numbers nor carry out simple calculations.

7. Leaving things behind:

From time to time almost everybody leaves their keys or a wallet behind. Dementia sufferers however might put things in completely inappropriate places, such as for example the iron in the fridge or a watch in the sugar bowl. Afterwards they do not remember where they put them.

8. Mood swings and behavioural changes

Everybody has mood swings. People with dementia may have very sudden mood swings, often without discernible cause.

9. Personality changes:

With advancing age the personality of most people changes a little. People affected by dementia may experience a very pronounced personality change suddenly or over a longer period of time. Somebody who is generally friendly, for example, becomes unexpectedly angry, jealous or timid.

10. Loss of initiative:

Nobody continuously works with the same motivation. Dementia patients sometimes loose the zest in their work and the interest in their hobbies completely without enjoying new activities.

Answer 4

Dementia you mean to ask. right? Well I have worked with a few elderly folks that have this and it is basically something like alzheimers but not to that level. They forget things a lot sometimes repeat or ask the same questions over and over agian. If it gets worse it can progress into alzheimers, which has i think 4 levels of brain deterioration. First usually is forgetfullness, tends to get worse until they don't fully understand things anymore. They might need help in goin to the restroom or even need help dressin. This is a very sad mental disease for the elderly and the family.

Answer 5

Alzheimer's and Your Loved One
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is a term that is used to describe a group of brain disorders. These brain disorders make it harder to carry out daily tasks. Alzheimer’s involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. The disease affects the brain in different ways. One effect is that a key brain chemical is lost. It is called acetylcholine. In part, this loss can contribute to some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's.

The cause of Alzheimer's is not yet known. Age is the main known risk factor. Today, it is thought that more than 4.5 million people in the US have Alzheimer's. It mostly affects those aged 65 or older. At age 65 to 74, up to 5% of people have it. Up to half of those aged 85 and up have the disease.

Things to look for
When a loved one has Alzheimer's disease, there are some things you may see:

Memory loss
Repeating the same thing over and over
Difficulty naming items
Losing things or getting lost more often
You may also see changes in the way they behave. These changes may become more pronounced with time.

Your loved one may have a hard time with other tasks:

Using the phone
Dressing appropriately
Planning or preparing meals
Playing a game
You may know that there is no cure for Alzheimer's. But, there are treatments that may help. One such treatment is Aricept. Studies showed Aricept helps maintain overall function in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. This may include effects on memory and behavior. And, it has helped people with Alzheimer's to be more like themselves longer.

Aricept is the #1 prescribed Alzheimer's drug. Worldwide, more than 3.8 million people have been treated with Aricept.

Symptoms
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It’s a progressive disease that gets worse with time. Alzheimer's does not affect each person the same way. But, there are some symptoms that usually happen as the disease progresses. Here is a list of some of the symptoms:

Mild Alzheimer's disease
People with mild Alzheimer's disease may:

Have memory loss
Have trouble naming common items
Ask or say the same thing over and over
Get lost easily
Lose interest in things they once liked to do
Lose things more often than normal
Have personality changes
Moderate Alzheimer's disease
People with moderate Alzheimer's disease may:

Have poor memory of recent events
Have trouble with tasks such as washing dishes or setting the table
Have a hard time dressing for the weather or occasion
Forget to shave or shower
Argue more often
Believe things are real when they are not
Wander, often at night
Be worried or depressed
Need close supervision
Severe Alzheimer's disease*
People with severe Alzheimer's disease may:

Have problems with eating
Have problems with speech or not speak at all
Not recognize you or other family members
Not be able to control bowels or urine
Have problems with walking

Answer 6

Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia, a term used to describe a group of brain disorders that cause memory loss and a decline in mental function, over time. In fact, Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting about 4.5 million men and women in the United States.

Answer 7

Do you mean dementia?

de·men·tia Audio pronunciation of "dementia" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (d-mnsh)
n.

1. Deterioration of intellectual faculties, such as memory, concentration, and judgment, resulting from an organic disease or a disorder of the brain. It is sometimes accompanied by emotional disturbance and personality changes.
2. Madness; insanity. See Synonyms at insanity.

Answer 8

Dementia is an old age complaint, it just means he is slowl;y loosing his memory, it's very common these days as more people are living till a much older age. He may need more help, because he may forget where he put things, or forget to feed himself, but like you say it might just be old age forgetfulness.

Answer 9

My grandma had a major stroke a few years back and dementure was one of the effects of the stroke. I don't know the technical medical definition o termonology, but with grandma it caused her to lose a lot of her short term memory as well as it being difficult to speak. She knows what she wants to say but the signal between her brain and mouth gets disrupted somehow. unless she's talking to my kids, she speaks very clearly then...crazy! Hope this helps!

Answer 10

It's actually Dementia because i am studying to become a Doctor!