WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
Dementia, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (DSM5) is a neurocognitive disorder. This disorder impairs memory and other executive function cognitive processes, especially as the syndrome progresses.
The behavioral and cognitive signs of dementia are not to be confused for possible treatable conditions such as general age-related memory decline, infections such as meningitis, toxicity (eg. toxic metal exposure), delirium, thyroid issues, along with other temporary conditions that may share some symptoms.
TYPE OF PROGRESSIVE DEMENTIAS:
- Alzheimer’s Disease: targets thinking, memory, and behavior
- Lewy Body Dementia: targets problem solving and reasoning
- Vascular Dementia: limits blood flow to the brain and affects a variety of cognitive functions
- Frontotemporal Dementia: occurs when neurons in frontal and temporal lobes are damaged
- Mixed dementia: a combination of many causes including Lewy body dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, etc.
Many disorders are related to dementia including traumatic brain injury (TBI), Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, etc.
AREAS OF DECLINE INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING:
1. Cognitive changes
- Impairment of memory
- Language/ communication challenges including difficulty finding the words
- Changes in spatial and visual perception
- Challenges with attention
- Motor function disturbances
- Executive functions (ex. organization, planning, prioritization, problem solving, reasoning, self control, time management)
- Confusion and disorientation
2. Psychological changes
- Loss of interest
- Mood lability: irritability/ rapid mood swings
- May experience delusions or unusual trains of thought
- Perceptual disturbances
- Paranoia, repetitiousness
3. Language and Communication Changes
(Living with dementia can be challenging as it can significantly affect day to day communication with others.)
- Weakened ability to produce meaningful language
- Slower language processing
- Grammatical errors and omission/ incorrect usage of words
- Reading comprehension difficulties
- Trouble following and maintaining conversations
- Difficulty finding the right words, using word substitutions
- Fewer ideas and less concise discourse
- Regression to primary language (bilingual individuals)
- Language comprehension challenges
- Difficulty with multi step commands
4. As dementia worsens, more significant declines may materialize such as:
- Disorientation
- Challenges with remembering recent events and ideas and eventually long term memory.
- Worsened ability to express thoughts and needs
- Eating and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) may include impaired ability to swallow and self-feed which can significantly increase the risk for choking, malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia.
TREATMENT
Seeking an evaluation for speech therapy is a great first step for someone experiencing the warning signs of dementia. A speech language pathologist can assist dementia patients by addressing communication, memory, safe eating, etc. For example, speech therapists can improve an individual’s ability to express their wants and needs, strengthen muscles in and around the face and neck, teach memory strategies, as well as provide trick and exercises for those with swallowing challenges (dysphagia) to make self-feeding safe.
CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE A EVALUATION
Activities That Promote Cognition In Dementia Patients:
- Playing games help with sequencing and following directions
- Modify and adapt games (make changes at each stage)
- Listening to stories
Tips For Communication With A Dementia Patient:
- Speak slowly and concisely
- Try to speak in a quiet place with minimal distractions
- Only ask one question at a time
- Maintain eye contact
- Write down important information for them to remember
- Be patient and encouraging
References: ASHA, Mayo Clinic (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352013), National Institute of Aging (https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/cognitive-health-and-older-adults)
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WRITTEN BY:
-BIANCA CASTUERAS, UCSD
-NICOLE BUTLER, M.A., CCC-SLP/L (ASHA Certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Founder and Executive Director of Speech Within Reach.)
SPEECH WITHIN REACH provides in person and virtual telehealth speech therapy for children and adults. We are happy to support your speech therapy needs. Please feel free to reach out to us.