How Does Dementia Cause Death – Dementia is a decrease in brain function. It’s often thought of as “memory loss,” but dementia affects brain activity and control of behavior.
It is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 5 for those 65 and older
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How Does Dementia Cause Death
Learning more about the end stages of dementia before death can help you understand how dementia contributes to the cause of death.
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At the time of diagnosis, most people are in the early or middle stages of dementia. People with early-stage dementia may be somewhat forgetful, but they can still function in everyday life. They live independently. Many are still working.
Memory and thinking problems become more apparent in middle-aged dementia. Others have indicated that affected individuals are no longer functioning at their peak. Symptoms become more pronounced as this stage progresses. Affected individuals may forget what they have eaten. They get lost or lost when walking on familiar paths. Their sleep patterns may change. People with moderate dementia rarely sleep during the day and wake up often.
Eventually, dementia progresses to the point where the individual can no longer control their bowel and bladder functions. This loss of control is directly related to the damage that occurs in the brain. Normally the cells that control these functions die. As more cells die, symptoms worsen. In late-stage dementia, the individual may lose the ability to walk and talk. Self-care becomes impossible, and as the disease progresses, many people have difficulty swallowing food or drink.
When someone dies of dementia, the death is usually the result of another illness or disease rather than dementia.
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People with end-stage dementia are prone to infections. People who cannot go to the bathroom have a higher rate of urinary tract infections. For most young people, UTIs are not particularly problematic. Infection is easier than anything else. But detecting a UTI in an adult with dementia can be difficult, especially if the person has lost the ability to communicate. Sometimes the infection spreads beyond the urinary system, causing systemic infection and diarrhea. Sepsis can cause organ failure. Sepsis can be fatal.
Difficulty swallowing saliva, which is common in late-stage dementia, increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia, or pneumonia, caused by inadvertent inhalation of food or liquid into the lungs. Pneumonia can also develop and cause death. Most people who die from Alzheimer’s die from pneumonia.
Infectious bed sores can also be fatal. Because people with dementia have lost the ability to move, they are confined to a bed or wheelchair. Can’t move on its own, prone to fractures and stress fractures. If these wounds become infected, they can cause pneumonia and death.
Good care and treatment can prevent and manage many of these problems. Early diagnosis of UTI and pneumonia can prevent pregnancy. Breastfeeding procedures prevent pneumonia by inhaling air, and frequent skin grafts and maintenance prevent bed sores. However, as dementia progresses, it becomes more difficult to prevent all infections, and in some cases, treating the infection is more stressful than promoting the infection while on medication.
Dementia As A Cause Of Death
People with end-stage dementia who avoid infection may die from dehydration. However, it should be noted that dehydration at this stage is not negligible. Cravings for food and water are perfectly normal as death approaches. Individuals do not feel hungry or thirsty. The body is closed and they may not respond. According to a 2007 study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, dehydration and general malnutrition are the most common causes of late-life dementia.
Many people with dementia have other co-morbidities, such as diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease. Some people die from these underlying diseases rather than the effects of dementia on the brain.
Jennifer L.W. Fink, RN, BSN is a registered nurse turned writer. He is also the founder of BuildingBoys.net and co-creator/co-host of the podcast On Boys: Telling the Truth About Parenting, Teaching and Connecting with the Men of Tomorrow. She is now the author of The First-Time Mom’s Guide to Raising Sons: Practical Advice for Your Son’s Formative Years.
Our editorial team strives to create comprehensive health information, purpose, and meaning to help people choose the right doctor, the right hospital, and the right care. Our authors include registered physicians, pharmacists and nurses with hands-on experience. All medical and health conditions are reviewed by at least one medical professional to ensure the most accurate information. Learn more about our editorial process.
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This tool does not provide medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Do not ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of what you read on the web. If you think you are having an emergency, call your doctor right away or call 911. Alzheimer’s disease causes a decline in memory, thinking, learning and organizational skills over time. It is the most common cause of dementia and usually affects people over the age of 65. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but some medications and treatments can help temporarily manage symptoms.
Alzheimer’s disease (pronounced “alz-HAI-mirs”) is a brain disorder that causes a progressive decline in the ability to remember, think, learn, and organize. Finally, it affects a person’s ability to perform basic daily activities. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia.
Alzheimer’s symptoms worsen over time. Researchers believe symptoms may begin 10 years or more before the first symptoms appear. AD mostly affects people over the age of 65.
Dementia describes a condition of a person’s mental capacity. It is not a specific disease. It is a decline in mental performance from a previously high level that interferes with daily life.
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People with dementia have two or more specific difficulties, such as changes or declines.
Insanity is limited in severity. In the mildest phase, you may feel that your mental abilities are a little slower and you may need a little help with everyday tasks. At worst, completely dependent on others for help with simple daily tasks.
Dementia occurs when an infection or disease affects the part of your brain involved in learning, memory, decision-making, or language. Dementia is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for at least two-thirds of dementia cases in people age 65 and older.
Alzheimer’s disease mainly affects people over the age of 65. The older you get, the more likely you are to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
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Some people develop dementia before the age of 65 – usually in their 40s or 50s. This is called early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. It is extremely rare. Less than 10% of AD has early onset.
Alzheimer’s disease is common. It affects approximately 24 million people worldwide. One in 10 people over the age of 65 and one in three people over the age of 85 have the disease.
Dementia organizations and health care professionals use different terms to describe the stages of dementia based on symptoms.
As conditions change, all stages follow the same pattern – AD symptoms worsen over time.
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No two people experience AD ​​in the same way. Each person with Alzheimer’s develops at different stages. Not all changes happen to everyone. Sometimes it can be difficult for providers to put someone in a certain phase with AD because the phases overlap.
Don’t be afraid to ask your healthcare provider or loved one what they mean when they use specific words to describe the stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Providers typically refer only to the early stages of Alzheimer’s research. People with AD in the early stages are usually asymptomatic (without symptoms).
However, their brains are changing. This phase may last for years or decades. People in this stage do not develop dementia because they are still functioning at a high level.
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There are now brain imaging tests that can detect concentrations of proteins called aloids that disrupt communication systems in your brain before symptoms begin.
When memory loss is noticeable, health care providers often identify it as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Mental performance is slightly reduced compared to others of the same age.
If you’re in the early stages of dementia, you may notice a slight decrease in your abilities. Others around you may notice these changes and point them out. But the changes are not severe enough to disrupt daily life and activities.
In some cases, a disease or a complication of a treatable disease causes mild cognitive impairment. However, for most people with MCI, it is a pathway to dementia.
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Researchers have defined MCI as a stage between the psychological changes seen in normal aging and early onset dementia. There will be other diseases
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