About dementia:
01 What is dementia?
02 Diagnosing dementia
03 Diagnosis - informing the person with dementia
04 Information for family and friends
05 Information about dementia for young people
06 Information about dementia for parents and grandparents
07 Early planning
08 Next steps
09 Drug treatments and dementia
10 Genetics of dementia
11 Dementia research
12 Memory changes
13 Alzheimer's disease
14 Progression of Alzheimer's disease
15 Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease
16 Vascular dementia
17 Frontotemporal dementia
18 Alcohol related dementia and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
19 HIV associated dementia
20 Lewy body disease
21 Younger onset dementia
22 Posterior Cortical Atrophy
23 Dementia Terminology
Sleep Disturbance Forecasts b-Amyloid Accumulation across Subsequent Years Highlights
Impaired sleep is associated with a higher rate of future b-amyloid accumulation
Slow-wave activity and sleep efficiency both forecast this increase in b-amyloid
Sleep may serve as a marker of future Alzheimer’s disease risk and the speed of progression
https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0960-9822%2820%2931171-4
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Legal rights
A practical guide to help people diagnosed with dementia, and their families and carers, better understand the legal issues they may be faced with.
Read or download Dementia and your legal rights
"For the person diagnosed with dementia, a very important thing to consider is what might happen at the point where you no longer have the capacity to make your own decisions.
The legislation across Australia is based on the international principle of “presumption of capacity”. This means that you are assumed to have capacity to make your own decisions unless someone can prove that you do not. Just having a family member or nonprofessional person claiming that you do not have capacity, is not enough for you to be prevented from making your own decisions. Capacity is decision-specific so even if you have been diagnosed with dementia, you may still have capacity to make all or at least some of your own decisions, especially if you have been diagnosed with early dementia. Decision-making capacity may fluctuate over time and depend on the context such as the time of day, location, noise, stress or anxiety levels, medication, or infection.
In Australia, the legislation regarding a person’s capacity to make their own decisions differs in each State/Territory. The Queensland legislation sets out the definition very clearly. It states that capacity for a person for a matter (i.e. any matter you may need to make a decision about), means that the person is capable of:
(a) understanding the nature and effect of decisions about the matter; and
(b) freely and voluntarily making decisions about the matter; and
(c) communicating the decisions in some way."
https://www.dementia.org.au/sites/default/files/NATIONAL/documents/Dementia-and-your-legal-rights.pdf
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Superannuation and dementia
People with dementia and their families often ask whether they have a right to access their superannuation early to assist with their financial situation, given that they have a terminal illness.
Read or download Superannuation and dementia
Dementia Screening Test. Watch the video...
Occupational therapy and dementia - watch the video at
https://bsphn.org.au/primary-care-support/allied-health-professionals/
and the Standardized Mini-Mental (SMMSE)
with many thanks to Dementia Australia
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Specialist Dementia Care Program: Overview -
1 April 2019
The Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) is a Australian Government initiative. The program will provide a person-centred, multidisciplinary approach to care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, who are unable to be appropriately cared for by mainstream aged care services. The program will offer specialised, transitional residential support, focusing on reducing or stabilizing symptoms over time, with the aim of enabling people to move to less intensive care settings.
The SDCP will provide care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (which may also be referred to as responsive behaviours associated with dementia), who are unable to be appropriately cared for by mainstream aged care services. It is estimated that up to 1 per cent of all people living with dementia would be in the target group. A nationally consistent assessment methodology will be used to ensure the program benefits those most in need.
Key features of the SDCP:
The SDCP provides a new approach to care and will be rolled out in two phases. The department will work with key stakeholders to evaluate and refine the model to ensure the model provides optimal care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
The SDCP will provide intensive, specialised care in a dementia friendly environment, generally a dedicated unit within a broader residential aged care service. The SDCP will provide transitional support with the aim of enabling people to move to less intensive care settings. Specialist clinical support will be a key feature of the model. The SDCP will complement state and territory government services and supports for people with very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
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What you should know about Dementia - in more detail...
for a greater understanding of the various forms of Dementia click.
Queensland-Wide Telephone Support Group
This group is hosted by Alzheimer’s Queensland last Wednesday of every month. The group is held from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. Alzheimer’s Queensland organizes telephone link up at no cost to members. Carer Support Groups provide information and support for those caring for a friend or family member with dementia. Please ring 1800 639 331 or email [email protected] for more information, to register or to be placed/removed from the mailing list.
AQ Helpline Freecall 1800 639 331
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD)
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 50% - 60% of all cases. It destroys brain cells and nerves disrupting the transmitters which carry messages in the brain, particularly those responsible for storing memories. AD was first described by the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1907. He wrote of a physical disease in which brain cells are destroyed. The appearance of this destruction is referred to as "plaques and tangles".
During the course of Alzheimer's disease, nerve cells die in particular regions of the brain. The brain shrinks as gaps develop in the temporal lobe and hippocampus, which are responsible for storing and retrieving new information. This in turn affects people's ability to remember, speak, think and make decisions. The production of certain chemicals in the brain, such as acetylcholine is also affected. It is not known what causes nerve cells to die but there are characteristic appearances of the brain after death. In particular, 'tangles' and 'plaques' made from protein fragments are observed under the microscope in damaged areas of brain. This confirms the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
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The number of people living with dementia around the world has more than doubled to almost 44 million since 1990, according to a global study.
The figure, which the report says is mainly a reflection of the growth and ageing of the world’s population, is estimated to reach around 100 million by 2050.
25 January 2019
Alzheimer’s researchers have proposed a radical change in the way the disease is defined, focusing on biological changes in the body rather than clinical symptoms such as memory loss and cognitive decline. The new research framework, released on Tuesday by the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institute on Aging, is meant to provide scientists with a common language for describing the disease in research studies based on measurable changes in the brain that set Alzheimer’s apart from other causes of dementia.
“Much of the general public views the terms dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as interchangeable, but they are not,” said Dr Clifford Jack of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who helped craft the guidelines. The proposed changes follow guidance announced earlier this year by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency to encourage the testing of new Alzheimer’s medicines based on biomarkers, rather than on clinical symptoms.
The moves would allow companies to test drugs in people before symptoms appear, offering a better chance of intervening before the disease has destroyed too many brain cells. Under the proposed research framework, Alzheimer’s would be characterised by three factors: evidence of two abnormal proteins associated with Alzheimer’s – beta amyloid and tau – and evidence of neurodegeneration or nerve cell death, all of which can be seen through brain imaging or tests of cerebral spinal fluid. It also incorporates measures of severity using biomarkers and a grading system for cognitive impairment.
13 April 2018
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CLINICAL TRIALS IN ALZHEIMER’S AND PARKINSON’S DISEASES ARE FAILING: WHAT CAN BE DONE?
With no drugs that can stop the progression of the disease and hundreds of clinical trials failing, where is the hope for people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s?
As the global population is living longer, diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s have become the biggest diseases of the 21st century. But despite the efforts of science, as of today, no drug is available that can stop the progression of the disease.
28 February 2019
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Medicines and dementia: what you need to know
The government-funded Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) is available for nursing homes that are having trouble coping with a resident acting out their frustrations. DBMAS has a fast response team. Challenging behaviours? 1800 699 799.
Our clients are people living with dementia, care workers, health professionals and family carers who are supporting a person with dementia and behavioural and psychological changes.
Our clients include:
Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) have a significant impact on the quality of life for patients and their carers. Such symptoms are almost invariable in terms of frequency, occurring in over 95% of people with dementia at some point (Kales, Gitlin, Lykestos, 2015).
The first-line approach to management of BPSD is a person-centred, psychosocial, multidisciplinary treatment plan, as recommended by expert consensus guidelines.
Pharmacological approaches are considered where symptoms are:
Indications for antipsychotic medications in patients with dementia include:
severe agitation and aggression associated with risk of harm
delusions and hallucinations
comorbid pre-existing mental health conditions.
"Medicines do not have to be part of your care plan for dementia, and if they are, they do not have to play a large role in your life.
Professional Practice Guideline 10
Antipsychotic medications as a treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia."
https://www.ranzcp.org/files/resources/college_statements/practice_guidelines/pg10-pdf.aspx
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NPS MedicineWise and Alzheimer’s Australia have prepared downloadable materials to help you ask questions and talk with people close to you and the health professionals involved in your care about how you would like to be supported.
The main resource is an information booklet, designed to help you:
Dementia Q&A:
01 Drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease - Cholinesterase inhibitors
02 PBS subsidies for cholinesterase inhibitors what are the conditions?
03 Drug treatments for Alzheimer’s disease - Memantine
04 Drugs used to relieve behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
05 Risperidone for treatment of behavioural symptoms in dementia
06 Mental exercise and dementia
07 What you eat and drink and your brain
08 Physical exercise and dementia
09 Safer walking for people with dementia approaches and technologies
10 Tests used in diagnosing dementia
11 Diagnostic criteria for dementia
12 Genetics of dementia
13 Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
14 Vascular Cognitive Impairment
15 Depression and dementia
16 Pain and dementia
17 Brain donation
18 Rights to health information
19 Aluminium and Alzheimer's disease
20 Anaesthesia for older people and people with dementia
21 Delirium and dementia
22 Preventing financial abuse of people with dementia
23 Souvenaid
24 Anticholinergic drugs
25 Benzodiazepines
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Be aware also that sometimes you may not be able to speak about your pain, especially if you have an illness or injuries like dementia, brain damage, or a stroke. All of these make it very hard for your carer and family to know you are in pain. They are watching for the recognized signs of physical pain. When you have dementia and have had pain for awhile, you may also adapt or get used to the pain. This means you may act normal or opposite of how your family thinks you should act even though you are having very bad pain.
Abbey pain scale
The Abbey Pain Scale is used for people with dementia or who cannot verbalise.
https://www.apsoc.org.au/PDF/Publications/APS_Pain-in-RACF-2_Abbey_Pain_Scale.pdf
You can help your loved one by filling this out. It will give you a greater understanding of just 'what is going on'.
The onset of the disease is usually quite gradual. Likewise, symptoms appear gradually, but progressively worsen as the disease spreads. Typically, Alzheimer's disease begins with lapses of memory, difficulty in finding the right words for everyday objects or mood swings. As Alzheimer's progresses, the person may:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJObR8TqBIM
Dementia: A month in the life (FULL documentary) - BBC News
Published on Apr 8, 2015
Wendy, Keith and Christopher are three of more than 500,000 people with dementia in the UK living at home.
Communication - Communication relating to feelings and attitudes is made up of three parts:
Cognitive – memory, language, insight, judgement, planning, reasoning;
Function – inability to perform household and other tasks and ultimately person care;
Psychiatric – commonly delusions, hallucinations and depression;
Behavioural – aggression, screaming, following, calling out; and
Physical – swallowing, continence, mobility and eating.
10 tips for communicating with a person with dementia: http://parkinsonsresource.org/news/articles/10-tips-for-communicating-with-a-person-with-dementia/
28 February 2019
Dementia Support Australia (DSA) is a partnership led by HammondCare that brings together dementia expertise from across the aged care industry. It provides the Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) and Severe Behaviour Response Teams (SBRT) nationwide. Supported by the Australian Government under the Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund, Dementia Support Australia offers a free national service operating 24/7 365 days a year.
Our clients are people living with dementia, care workers, health professionals and family carers who are supporting a person with dementia and behavioural and psychological changes.
Our clients include:
Our role is to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their carers. We do this by working in partnership with the person living with dementia and their care network to understand the causes and/or triggers that led to changes in behaviour. These behaviours can be a reasonable response to the environment, stimuli, and the interaction between people or a more complex interplay of medical issues as a result of their diagnosis. Dementia is experienced differently by each person and our work seeks to recognise and respond individually to these changes.
Dementia Support Australia is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund.
Who is eligible?
We provide services to:
How do I refer?
Referrals can be made 24 hours a day through any of the following methods.
24 HOUR HELPLINE 1800 699 799
Families and carers can help their loved one best when they know some of the path ahead. When these symptoms of dementia arise, families should not be surprised and need to be able to recognise these as manifestations of the disease.
Our clients are people living with dementia, care workers, health professionals and family carers who are supporting a person with dementia and behavioural and psychological changes.
Our clients include:
For further information, or to determine if you are eligible for help from the DSA team, call us on 1800 699 799.
Dementia is a relentlessly progressive terminal illness. The behaviour and psychological symptoms of dementia are common, and yet they are poorly understood by many of us.
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Dementia as Social Experience: Valuing Life and Care, Edited by Gaynor Macdonald and Jane Mears, is published by Routledge. Available as hardback or eBook here.
This book is a fresh and quite radical addition to the existing literature on dementia. It’s written with academic rigour but is also a compelling and easy read, making it an invaluable resource for researchers, the aged care industry and the 1.2 million Australians involved in the care of someone with dementia.
Early Stage Dementia:
The start of dementia is very gradual and often this stage of dementia is only apparent when looking back. At the time it may be missed or put down to old age or stress at work. The person may still be living an active, independent lifestyle.
Symptoms of early stage dementia may include:
In advanced cases people may also:
A new consumer guide that sets out the level of care that people with dementia and their carers and families should expect is now available.
One of the first of its kind, the Consumer Companion Guide – Diagnosis, treatment and care for people with dementia, was developed by people living with dementia, carers, researchers and clinicians from the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre (CDPD).
30 November 2016
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RESEARCH ARTICLE: Open Access
Stability in BMI over time is associated with a better cognitive trajectory in older adults
Michal Schnaider Beeri, Amir Tirosh, Hung-Mo Lin, Sapir Golan, Ethel Boccara, Mary Sano, Carolyn W. Zhu
First published: 20 January 2022
https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/alz.12525
https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12525
It is important to note that in studies examining associations of change in BMI with health outcomes, including cognitive impairment, the comparison is typically to individuals who had a stable BMI. Because in our study we showed that both decrease and increase in BMI over time were associated with accelerated cognitive decline, irrespective of the BMI at baseline, it is plausible that conceptually, in old age, BMI stability over time is associated with reduced risk of poor cognitive outcomes. The mechanisms underlying the potential health benefits of BMI stability are unknown. Aging leads to numerous physiological, endocrine, and metabolic changes, which manifest in changes in body composition, reflected in loss of bone, loss of muscle mass and strength, and increased body fat and fat redistribution.9, 42, 43 These changes are accompanied by an increased low-grade chronic inflammation,44-46 which has been consistently associated with poor health outcomes47, 48 and with poor cognitive outcomes and incident dementia.49, 50
Indeed, BMI stability over time is associated with fewer comorbidities in late life.12, 13 Our results suggest that BMI stability is also associated with a healthier cognitive trajectory.
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=270431&ecd=mnl_men_012622
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An Absolute Must Read. From one who Actually Has Dementia...
Time To Tell The Truth About Dementia….From Someone Living With Dementia By Norrms McNamara. Jan 22, 2018
Things YOU always wanted to know, or SHOULD know about dementia, but THEY were too AFRAID to TELL YOU, and I am sure many others were horrified around the world to learn that THIS information is not being given out, this is “MY ANSWER TO THEM”.
These are just 15 points of what you MAY come to expect after a diagnosis of dementia, WHY don’t they tell you this? and WHY has it taken so long to be told this? especially by a person who is LIVING with this disease ?? I have NO IDEA !!
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Alzheimer's disease is a physical disease, not a mental disorder. The brain controls everything we think, say, feel and do. So when the brain becomes diseased, our thoughts, abilities and behaviours are all affected.
The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are often mistaken as just a normal part of getting older. Many of us feel that as we age we forget things more easily. But the forgetfulness of old age is vastly different to the memory loss of Alzheimer's disease.
VASCULAR DEMENTIA
https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/types-of-dementia/vascular-dementia
Vascular dementia accounts for about 20% of all cases of dementia. Vascular disease occurs where blood vessels are damaged and the supply of oxygen is at risk. If oxygen supply fails in the brain, brain cells are likely to die leading to a series of mini strokes (infarcts) and possible vascular dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Association considers vascular dementia to be the second most common form of dementia. (Statistics vary widely, but it’s estimated that it affects one to four percent of people over 65.) This disorder, which often begins abruptly, is caused by poor blood flow to the brain, resulting from any number of conditions that narrow the blood vessels, including stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Usually the culprit is multiple small strokes (infarcts) caused by blood clots or thickened or ruptured small arteries that connect to the center of the brain. (This is called multi-infarct dementia.) The type of dementia may also be caused by one big stroke (which would be referred to as post-stroke dementia). The mini strokes that cause vascular dementia are often so slight that they cause no immediate symptoms, or they may cause some temporary confusion. However, each stroke destroys a small area of cells in the brain by cutting off its blood supply and the cumulative effect of a number of mini strokes is often sufficient to cause vascular dementia. Vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease frequently occur together and they may often act in combination to cause dementia.
Symptoms of vascular dementia include confusion, disorientation and trouble following directions. Recall of day-to-day events (episodic memory) becomes impaired, but recognition–of people, for example–doesn’t. Vascular dementia loss may progress to hallucinations, agitation, or withdrawal and symptoms may clearly worsen after each successive stroke.
Medications used for Alzheimer’s disease are sometimes prescribed to help cognitive symptoms, with mixed results. (In 2006, Aricept was linked to 11 deaths in a clinical trial evaluating its use for vascular dementia, compared with none in the control group.)
With vascular dementia, a mental decline is likely to have a clear start date and symptoms tend to progress in a series of steps following each attack, suggesting that small strokes have been occurring. Symptoms may include severe depression, mood swings and epilepsy. Some areas of the brain may be more affected than others. Consequently, some mental abilities may be relatively unaffected.
DEMENTIA WITH LEWY BODIES
Dementia with Lewy bodies is the third most common cause of dementia and may occur in up to 20% of cases confirmed at autopsy. Dementia with Lewy bodies is similar to Alzheimer's disease in that it is caused by the degeneration and death of nerve cells in the brain. It takes its name from the abnormal collections of protein, known as Lewy bodies, which occur in the nerve cells of the brain.
Half or more of people with Lewy body disease also develop signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease. People with Lewy body disease are very sensitive to some tranquillisers known as antipsychotic or neuroleptic drugs and their use should be avoided if at all possible.
Dementia with Lewy body affects:
FRONTO-TEMPORAL DEMENTIA'S (INCLUDING PICK'S DISEASE)
Fronto-temporal dementias are a relatively rare cause of dementia and typically develop at an earlier age than Alzheimer's disease, usually in a person in their forties or fifties. The frontal lobe of the brain is particularly affected in early stages.
Frontal lobe dementia is caused in a similar way to Alzheimer's disease in that it involves a progressive decline in a person's mental abilities over a number of years. Damage to brain cells is more localised than in Alzheimer's disease and usually begins in the frontal lobe part of the brain.
The frontal lobe of the brain governs people's mood and behaviour. The person's mood and behaviour may become fixed and difficult to change, making them appear selfish and unfeeling. A person with this type of dementia does not usually have sudden lapses of memory which are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
Dementia Australia and the Australian Frontotemporal Dementia Association (AFTDA) have joined forces to increase access to support for people living with frontotemporal dementia, their families and carers. Key to the agreement between the two organisations is the transfer of the operation of existing carer support groups to be managed and delivered by Dementia Australia.
Ian McRae AO, Chair Australian Frontotemporal Dementia Association said combining the expertise of the two organisations, this transition will ensure people living with frontotemporal dementia, their families and carers will become more aware of the services and support programs offered by Dementia Australia to people with the disease, their families and carers, all over Australia.
04 November 2018
ALCOHOL-RELATED DEMENTIA (INCLUDING KORSAKOFF'S SYNDROME)
People who drink too much alcohol do seem to be at risk of developing problems with their memory. Some have a specific problem of loss of short-term memory known as Korsakoff's syndrome which develops because of vitamin B1 deficiency. Others develop a wider range of problems that resemble Alzheimer's disease.
AIDS-RELATED DEMENTIA
HIV, the virus which leads to AIDS, can be a cause of dementia. The virus has been found in the brain of people with HIV as early as two days after initial infection. This condition is usually referred to as AIDS dementia complex (ADC).
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Specialist Dementia Care Program
The Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) is a new Australian Government initiative. The program will provide a person-centred, multidisciplinary approach to care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, who are unable to be appropriately cared for by mainstream aged care services. The program will offer specialised, transitional residential support, focussing on reducing or stabilising symptoms over time, with the aim of enabling people to move to less intensive care settings.
06 December 2018
Target Group:
The SDCP will provide care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (which may also be referred to as responsive behaviours associated with dementia), who are unable to be appropriately cared for by mainstream aged care services. It is estimated that up to 1 per cent of all people living with dementia would be in the target group. A nationally consistent assessment methodology will be used for all assessments to ensure the program benefits those most in need.
Key Features:
The SDCP provides a new approach to care and will be rolled out in two phases. The department will work with key stakeholders to evaluate and refine the model as it rolls out nationally, to ensure the model provides optimal care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
The SDCP will provide intensive, specialised care in a dementia friendly environment, generally a dedicated unit within a broader residential aged care service. The SDCP will provide transitional support with the aim of enabling people to move to less intensive care settings. Specialist clinical support will be a key feature of the model. The SDCP will complement state and territory government services and supports for people with very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
At full rollout in 2022-23 it is expected that there will be at least one specialist dementia care unit (within a broader residential aged care service) operating in each of the 31 Primary Health Networks.
06 December 2018
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Free Dementia Programs on the Gold Coast
Living with dementia program - 17 March - Gold CoastDate: Tuesday,17 March 2020 - 9:30am to 2:30pm
Address: Gold CoastThis program provides an overview of dementia and how to proceed after a diagnosis. It covers coping with change, relationships and communication, planning for the future and staying healthy.
17, 18, 19 March, 9:30am- 2.30pm
Register
Event type: Living with dementia program - for clients
MUSIC THERAPY Music Therapy provides great social engagement and an opportunity to reminisce and sing along to old favourites.
When: 3rd Monday of each month, 11am – 12pm
Where: Taking expressions of interest for the Gold Coast now 1800 588 699.
21 April 2022
01 What is dementia?
02 Diagnosing dementia
03 Diagnosis - informing the person with dementia
04 Information for family and friends
05 Information about dementia for young people
06 Information about dementia for parents and grandparents
07 Early planning
08 Next steps
09 Drug treatments and dementia
10 Genetics of dementia
11 Dementia research
12 Memory changes
13 Alzheimer's disease
14 Progression of Alzheimer's disease
15 Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease
16 Vascular dementia
17 Frontotemporal dementia
18 Alcohol related dementia and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
19 HIV associated dementia
20 Lewy body disease
21 Younger onset dementia
22 Posterior Cortical Atrophy
23 Dementia Terminology
Sleep Disturbance Forecasts b-Amyloid Accumulation across Subsequent Years Highlights
Impaired sleep is associated with a higher rate of future b-amyloid accumulation
Slow-wave activity and sleep efficiency both forecast this increase in b-amyloid
Sleep may serve as a marker of future Alzheimer’s disease risk and the speed of progression
https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0960-9822%2820%2931171-4
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Legal rights
A practical guide to help people diagnosed with dementia, and their families and carers, better understand the legal issues they may be faced with.
Read or download Dementia and your legal rights
"For the person diagnosed with dementia, a very important thing to consider is what might happen at the point where you no longer have the capacity to make your own decisions.
The legislation across Australia is based on the international principle of “presumption of capacity”. This means that you are assumed to have capacity to make your own decisions unless someone can prove that you do not. Just having a family member or nonprofessional person claiming that you do not have capacity, is not enough for you to be prevented from making your own decisions. Capacity is decision-specific so even if you have been diagnosed with dementia, you may still have capacity to make all or at least some of your own decisions, especially if you have been diagnosed with early dementia. Decision-making capacity may fluctuate over time and depend on the context such as the time of day, location, noise, stress or anxiety levels, medication, or infection.
In Australia, the legislation regarding a person’s capacity to make their own decisions differs in each State/Territory. The Queensland legislation sets out the definition very clearly. It states that capacity for a person for a matter (i.e. any matter you may need to make a decision about), means that the person is capable of:
(a) understanding the nature and effect of decisions about the matter; and
(b) freely and voluntarily making decisions about the matter; and
(c) communicating the decisions in some way."
https://www.dementia.org.au/sites/default/files/NATIONAL/documents/Dementia-and-your-legal-rights.pdf
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Superannuation and dementia
People with dementia and their families often ask whether they have a right to access their superannuation early to assist with their financial situation, given that they have a terminal illness.
Read or download Superannuation and dementia
Dementia Screening Test. Watch the video...
Occupational therapy and dementia - watch the video at
https://bsphn.org.au/primary-care-support/allied-health-professionals/
- Download fact sheet (PDF)
- Occupational Therapy Australia website www.otaus.com.au
and the Standardized Mini-Mental (SMMSE)
with many thanks to Dementia Australia
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Specialist Dementia Care Program: Overview -
1 April 2019
The Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) is a Australian Government initiative. The program will provide a person-centred, multidisciplinary approach to care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, who are unable to be appropriately cared for by mainstream aged care services. The program will offer specialised, transitional residential support, focusing on reducing or stabilizing symptoms over time, with the aim of enabling people to move to less intensive care settings.
The SDCP will provide care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (which may also be referred to as responsive behaviours associated with dementia), who are unable to be appropriately cared for by mainstream aged care services. It is estimated that up to 1 per cent of all people living with dementia would be in the target group. A nationally consistent assessment methodology will be used to ensure the program benefits those most in need.
Key features of the SDCP:
The SDCP provides a new approach to care and will be rolled out in two phases. The department will work with key stakeholders to evaluate and refine the model to ensure the model provides optimal care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
The SDCP will provide intensive, specialised care in a dementia friendly environment, generally a dedicated unit within a broader residential aged care service. The SDCP will provide transitional support with the aim of enabling people to move to less intensive care settings. Specialist clinical support will be a key feature of the model. The SDCP will complement state and territory government services and supports for people with very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
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What you should know about Dementia - in more detail...
for a greater understanding of the various forms of Dementia click.
Queensland-Wide Telephone Support Group
This group is hosted by Alzheimer’s Queensland last Wednesday of every month. The group is held from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. Alzheimer’s Queensland organizes telephone link up at no cost to members. Carer Support Groups provide information and support for those caring for a friend or family member with dementia. Please ring 1800 639 331 or email [email protected] for more information, to register or to be placed/removed from the mailing list.
AQ Helpline Freecall 1800 639 331
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE (AD)
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and accounts for 50% - 60% of all cases. It destroys brain cells and nerves disrupting the transmitters which carry messages in the brain, particularly those responsible for storing memories. AD was first described by the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer in 1907. He wrote of a physical disease in which brain cells are destroyed. The appearance of this destruction is referred to as "plaques and tangles".
During the course of Alzheimer's disease, nerve cells die in particular regions of the brain. The brain shrinks as gaps develop in the temporal lobe and hippocampus, which are responsible for storing and retrieving new information. This in turn affects people's ability to remember, speak, think and make decisions. The production of certain chemicals in the brain, such as acetylcholine is also affected. It is not known what causes nerve cells to die but there are characteristic appearances of the brain after death. In particular, 'tangles' and 'plaques' made from protein fragments are observed under the microscope in damaged areas of brain. This confirms the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.
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The number of people living with dementia around the world has more than doubled to almost 44 million since 1990, according to a global study.
The figure, which the report says is mainly a reflection of the growth and ageing of the world’s population, is estimated to reach around 100 million by 2050.
25 January 2019
Alzheimer’s researchers have proposed a radical change in the way the disease is defined, focusing on biological changes in the body rather than clinical symptoms such as memory loss and cognitive decline. The new research framework, released on Tuesday by the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institute on Aging, is meant to provide scientists with a common language for describing the disease in research studies based on measurable changes in the brain that set Alzheimer’s apart from other causes of dementia.
“Much of the general public views the terms dementia and Alzheimer’s disease as interchangeable, but they are not,” said Dr Clifford Jack of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who helped craft the guidelines. The proposed changes follow guidance announced earlier this year by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency to encourage the testing of new Alzheimer’s medicines based on biomarkers, rather than on clinical symptoms.
The moves would allow companies to test drugs in people before symptoms appear, offering a better chance of intervening before the disease has destroyed too many brain cells. Under the proposed research framework, Alzheimer’s would be characterised by three factors: evidence of two abnormal proteins associated with Alzheimer’s – beta amyloid and tau – and evidence of neurodegeneration or nerve cell death, all of which can be seen through brain imaging or tests of cerebral spinal fluid. It also incorporates measures of severity using biomarkers and a grading system for cognitive impairment.
13 April 2018
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CLINICAL TRIALS IN ALZHEIMER’S AND PARKINSON’S DISEASES ARE FAILING: WHAT CAN BE DONE?
With no drugs that can stop the progression of the disease and hundreds of clinical trials failing, where is the hope for people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s?
As the global population is living longer, diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s have become the biggest diseases of the 21st century. But despite the efforts of science, as of today, no drug is available that can stop the progression of the disease.
28 February 2019
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Medicines and dementia: what you need to know
The government-funded Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) is available for nursing homes that are having trouble coping with a resident acting out their frustrations. DBMAS has a fast response team. Challenging behaviours? 1800 699 799.
Our clients are people living with dementia, care workers, health professionals and family carers who are supporting a person with dementia and behavioural and psychological changes.
Our clients include:
- People living with dementia;
- Family carers of people living with dementia;
- Staff and volunteers working with people with dementia (e.g. community and residential aged care staff, general practitioners, staff of mental health services for older persons, hospital staff).
Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) have a significant impact on the quality of life for patients and their carers. Such symptoms are almost invariable in terms of frequency, occurring in over 95% of people with dementia at some point (Kales, Gitlin, Lykestos, 2015).
The first-line approach to management of BPSD is a person-centred, psychosocial, multidisciplinary treatment plan, as recommended by expert consensus guidelines.
Pharmacological approaches are considered where symptoms are:
- severe,
- disabling,
- or syndromal and
- where a risk of significant harm exists.
Indications for antipsychotic medications in patients with dementia include:
severe agitation and aggression associated with risk of harm
delusions and hallucinations
comorbid pre-existing mental health conditions.
"Medicines do not have to be part of your care plan for dementia, and if they are, they do not have to play a large role in your life.
Professional Practice Guideline 10
Antipsychotic medications as a treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia."
https://www.ranzcp.org/files/resources/college_statements/practice_guidelines/pg10-pdf.aspx
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NPS MedicineWise and Alzheimer’s Australia have prepared downloadable materials to help you ask questions and talk with people close to you and the health professionals involved in your care about how you would like to be supported.
The main resource is an information booklet, designed to help you:
- plan a conversation about dementia with the people you choose, for example, your family and friends and health professionals involved in your care (eg, GPs, pharmacists, specialists, nurses)
- find out about advanced care planning
- find out what support is available to manage your symptoms
- find information on what treatment options may be best for you
- record details about symptoms, medicines, values and wishes when it comes to your care
- find out about support services available to help you and those closest to you
Dementia Q&A:
01 Drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease - Cholinesterase inhibitors
02 PBS subsidies for cholinesterase inhibitors what are the conditions?
03 Drug treatments for Alzheimer’s disease - Memantine
04 Drugs used to relieve behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia
05 Risperidone for treatment of behavioural symptoms in dementia
06 Mental exercise and dementia
07 What you eat and drink and your brain
08 Physical exercise and dementia
09 Safer walking for people with dementia approaches and technologies
10 Tests used in diagnosing dementia
11 Diagnostic criteria for dementia
12 Genetics of dementia
13 Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
14 Vascular Cognitive Impairment
15 Depression and dementia
16 Pain and dementia
17 Brain donation
18 Rights to health information
19 Aluminium and Alzheimer's disease
20 Anaesthesia for older people and people with dementia
21 Delirium and dementia
22 Preventing financial abuse of people with dementia
23 Souvenaid
24 Anticholinergic drugs
25 Benzodiazepines
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Be aware also that sometimes you may not be able to speak about your pain, especially if you have an illness or injuries like dementia, brain damage, or a stroke. All of these make it very hard for your carer and family to know you are in pain. They are watching for the recognized signs of physical pain. When you have dementia and have had pain for awhile, you may also adapt or get used to the pain. This means you may act normal or opposite of how your family thinks you should act even though you are having very bad pain.
Abbey pain scale
The Abbey Pain Scale is used for people with dementia or who cannot verbalise.
https://www.apsoc.org.au/PDF/Publications/APS_Pain-in-RACF-2_Abbey_Pain_Scale.pdf
You can help your loved one by filling this out. It will give you a greater understanding of just 'what is going on'.
The onset of the disease is usually quite gradual. Likewise, symptoms appear gradually, but progressively worsen as the disease spreads. Typically, Alzheimer's disease begins with lapses of memory, difficulty in finding the right words for everyday objects or mood swings. As Alzheimer's progresses, the person may:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJObR8TqBIM
Dementia: A month in the life (FULL documentary) - BBC News
Published on Apr 8, 2015
Wendy, Keith and Christopher are three of more than 500,000 people with dementia in the UK living at home.
- People lose functional abilities in the opposite order to which they acquire them
- ‘Early loss’ ADLs like housework, transport, handling money, managing medicines (domestic functioning) are gained last and lost first
- ‘Late loss’ ADLs like dressing, toileting, feeding and bed mobility (self-care) are gained 1st and lost last
- It is reasonable to assume that, if a person can do early loss ADLs, they can also do late loss (supports screening)
- Routinely forget recent events, names and faces and have difficulty in understanding what is being said
- Become confused when handling money or driving a car
- Undergo personality changes, appearing to no longer care about those around them
- Experience mood swings and burst into tears for no apparent reason, or become convinced that someone is trying to harm them
- Dementia is about a range of domains, including:
Communication - Communication relating to feelings and attitudes is made up of three parts:
- • 55% is body language which is the message we give out by our facial expression, posture and gestures
- • 38% is the tone and pitch of our voice
- • 7% is the words we use.
Cognitive – memory, language, insight, judgement, planning, reasoning;
Function – inability to perform household and other tasks and ultimately person care;
Psychiatric – commonly delusions, hallucinations and depression;
Behavioural – aggression, screaming, following, calling out; and
Physical – swallowing, continence, mobility and eating.
10 tips for communicating with a person with dementia: http://parkinsonsresource.org/news/articles/10-tips-for-communicating-with-a-person-with-dementia/
28 February 2019
Dementia Support Australia (DSA) is a partnership led by HammondCare that brings together dementia expertise from across the aged care industry. It provides the Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) and Severe Behaviour Response Teams (SBRT) nationwide. Supported by the Australian Government under the Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund, Dementia Support Australia offers a free national service operating 24/7 365 days a year.
Our clients are people living with dementia, care workers, health professionals and family carers who are supporting a person with dementia and behavioural and psychological changes.
Our clients include:
- People living with dementia;
- Family carers of people living with dementia;
- Staff and volunteers working with people with dementia (e.g. community and residential aged care staff, general practitioners, staff of mental health services for older persons, hospital staff).
Our role is to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their carers. We do this by working in partnership with the person living with dementia and their care network to understand the causes and/or triggers that led to changes in behaviour. These behaviours can be a reasonable response to the environment, stimuli, and the interaction between people or a more complex interplay of medical issues as a result of their diagnosis. Dementia is experienced differently by each person and our work seeks to recognise and respond individually to these changes.
Dementia Support Australia is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund.
Who is eligible?
We provide services to:
- People living with dementia
- Care workers
- Health professionals
- Family carers
How do I refer?
Referrals can be made 24 hours a day through any of the following methods.
24 HOUR HELPLINE 1800 699 799
Families and carers can help their loved one best when they know some of the path ahead. When these symptoms of dementia arise, families should not be surprised and need to be able to recognise these as manifestations of the disease.
Our clients are people living with dementia, care workers, health professionals and family carers who are supporting a person with dementia and behavioural and psychological changes.
Our clients include:
- People living with dementia;
- Family carers of people living with dementia; Supporting those in need of assistance for the care of people living with dementia.
- Staff and volunteers working with people with dementia (e.g. community and residential aged care staff, general practitioners, staff of mental health services for older persons, hospital staff).
For further information, or to determine if you are eligible for help from the DSA team, call us on 1800 699 799.
Dementia is a relentlessly progressive terminal illness. The behaviour and psychological symptoms of dementia are common, and yet they are poorly understood by many of us.
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Dementia as Social Experience: Valuing Life and Care, Edited by Gaynor Macdonald and Jane Mears, is published by Routledge. Available as hardback or eBook here.
This book is a fresh and quite radical addition to the existing literature on dementia. It’s written with academic rigour but is also a compelling and easy read, making it an invaluable resource for researchers, the aged care industry and the 1.2 million Australians involved in the care of someone with dementia.
Early Stage Dementia:
The start of dementia is very gradual and often this stage of dementia is only apparent when looking back. At the time it may be missed or put down to old age or stress at work. The person may still be living an active, independent lifestyle.
Symptoms of early stage dementia may include:
- Not being able to recall details of recent events and conversations.
- Become slower at grasping new ideas, or lose the thread of what is being said.
- Taking longer to do routine jobs.
- Difficulty adapting to change and an unwillingness to try new things.
- Losing interest in hobbies and activities.
- Being irritable and easily upset.
- May have difficulty finding the right words.
- Showing poor judgment and making poor decisions.
- May blame others for mislaid items.
- Become disorientated on occasions.
In advanced cases people may also:
- Adopt unsettling behaviour like getting up in the middle of the night or wander off and become lost
- Lose their inhibitions and sense of suitable behaviour, undress in public or make inappropriate sexual advances.
A new consumer guide that sets out the level of care that people with dementia and their carers and families should expect is now available.
One of the first of its kind, the Consumer Companion Guide – Diagnosis, treatment and care for people with dementia, was developed by people living with dementia, carers, researchers and clinicians from the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre (CDPD).
30 November 2016
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RESEARCH ARTICLE: Open Access
Stability in BMI over time is associated with a better cognitive trajectory in older adults
Michal Schnaider Beeri, Amir Tirosh, Hung-Mo Lin, Sapir Golan, Ethel Boccara, Mary Sano, Carolyn W. Zhu
First published: 20 January 2022
https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/alz.12525
https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12525
- Interpretation: Our study provides new evidence that greater changes in BMI over time are associated with a faster rate of cognitive decline, suggesting that in initially non-demented older adults, stability in BMI predicts a better cognitive trajectory.
It is important to note that in studies examining associations of change in BMI with health outcomes, including cognitive impairment, the comparison is typically to individuals who had a stable BMI. Because in our study we showed that both decrease and increase in BMI over time were associated with accelerated cognitive decline, irrespective of the BMI at baseline, it is plausible that conceptually, in old age, BMI stability over time is associated with reduced risk of poor cognitive outcomes. The mechanisms underlying the potential health benefits of BMI stability are unknown. Aging leads to numerous physiological, endocrine, and metabolic changes, which manifest in changes in body composition, reflected in loss of bone, loss of muscle mass and strength, and increased body fat and fat redistribution.9, 42, 43 These changes are accompanied by an increased low-grade chronic inflammation,44-46 which has been consistently associated with poor health outcomes47, 48 and with poor cognitive outcomes and incident dementia.49, 50
Indeed, BMI stability over time is associated with fewer comorbidities in late life.12, 13 Our results suggest that BMI stability is also associated with a healthier cognitive trajectory.
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=270431&ecd=mnl_men_012622
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An Absolute Must Read. From one who Actually Has Dementia...
Time To Tell The Truth About Dementia….From Someone Living With Dementia By Norrms McNamara. Jan 22, 2018
Things YOU always wanted to know, or SHOULD know about dementia, but THEY were too AFRAID to TELL YOU, and I am sure many others were horrified around the world to learn that THIS information is not being given out, this is “MY ANSWER TO THEM”.
These are just 15 points of what you MAY come to expect after a diagnosis of dementia, WHY don’t they tell you this? and WHY has it taken so long to be told this? especially by a person who is LIVING with this disease ?? I have NO IDEA !!
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Alzheimer's disease is a physical disease, not a mental disorder. The brain controls everything we think, say, feel and do. So when the brain becomes diseased, our thoughts, abilities and behaviours are all affected.
The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are often mistaken as just a normal part of getting older. Many of us feel that as we age we forget things more easily. But the forgetfulness of old age is vastly different to the memory loss of Alzheimer's disease.
VASCULAR DEMENTIA
https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/types-of-dementia/vascular-dementia
Vascular dementia accounts for about 20% of all cases of dementia. Vascular disease occurs where blood vessels are damaged and the supply of oxygen is at risk. If oxygen supply fails in the brain, brain cells are likely to die leading to a series of mini strokes (infarcts) and possible vascular dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Association considers vascular dementia to be the second most common form of dementia. (Statistics vary widely, but it’s estimated that it affects one to four percent of people over 65.) This disorder, which often begins abruptly, is caused by poor blood flow to the brain, resulting from any number of conditions that narrow the blood vessels, including stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Usually the culprit is multiple small strokes (infarcts) caused by blood clots or thickened or ruptured small arteries that connect to the center of the brain. (This is called multi-infarct dementia.) The type of dementia may also be caused by one big stroke (which would be referred to as post-stroke dementia). The mini strokes that cause vascular dementia are often so slight that they cause no immediate symptoms, or they may cause some temporary confusion. However, each stroke destroys a small area of cells in the brain by cutting off its blood supply and the cumulative effect of a number of mini strokes is often sufficient to cause vascular dementia. Vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease frequently occur together and they may often act in combination to cause dementia.
Symptoms of vascular dementia include confusion, disorientation and trouble following directions. Recall of day-to-day events (episodic memory) becomes impaired, but recognition–of people, for example–doesn’t. Vascular dementia loss may progress to hallucinations, agitation, or withdrawal and symptoms may clearly worsen after each successive stroke.
Medications used for Alzheimer’s disease are sometimes prescribed to help cognitive symptoms, with mixed results. (In 2006, Aricept was linked to 11 deaths in a clinical trial evaluating its use for vascular dementia, compared with none in the control group.)
With vascular dementia, a mental decline is likely to have a clear start date and symptoms tend to progress in a series of steps following each attack, suggesting that small strokes have been occurring. Symptoms may include severe depression, mood swings and epilepsy. Some areas of the brain may be more affected than others. Consequently, some mental abilities may be relatively unaffected.
DEMENTIA WITH LEWY BODIES
Dementia with Lewy bodies is the third most common cause of dementia and may occur in up to 20% of cases confirmed at autopsy. Dementia with Lewy bodies is similar to Alzheimer's disease in that it is caused by the degeneration and death of nerve cells in the brain. It takes its name from the abnormal collections of protein, known as Lewy bodies, which occur in the nerve cells of the brain.
Half or more of people with Lewy body disease also develop signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease. People with Lewy body disease are very sensitive to some tranquillisers known as antipsychotic or neuroleptic drugs and their use should be avoided if at all possible.
Dementia with Lewy body affects:
- Concentration and attention
- Memory
- Language
- The ability to judge distances
- The ability to reason
- People with Lewy body disease can experience visual hallucinations
FRONTO-TEMPORAL DEMENTIA'S (INCLUDING PICK'S DISEASE)
Fronto-temporal dementias are a relatively rare cause of dementia and typically develop at an earlier age than Alzheimer's disease, usually in a person in their forties or fifties. The frontal lobe of the brain is particularly affected in early stages.
Frontal lobe dementia is caused in a similar way to Alzheimer's disease in that it involves a progressive decline in a person's mental abilities over a number of years. Damage to brain cells is more localised than in Alzheimer's disease and usually begins in the frontal lobe part of the brain.
The frontal lobe of the brain governs people's mood and behaviour. The person's mood and behaviour may become fixed and difficult to change, making them appear selfish and unfeeling. A person with this type of dementia does not usually have sudden lapses of memory which are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.
Dementia Australia and the Australian Frontotemporal Dementia Association (AFTDA) have joined forces to increase access to support for people living with frontotemporal dementia, their families and carers. Key to the agreement between the two organisations is the transfer of the operation of existing carer support groups to be managed and delivered by Dementia Australia.
Ian McRae AO, Chair Australian Frontotemporal Dementia Association said combining the expertise of the two organisations, this transition will ensure people living with frontotemporal dementia, their families and carers will become more aware of the services and support programs offered by Dementia Australia to people with the disease, their families and carers, all over Australia.
04 November 2018
ALCOHOL-RELATED DEMENTIA (INCLUDING KORSAKOFF'S SYNDROME)
People who drink too much alcohol do seem to be at risk of developing problems with their memory. Some have a specific problem of loss of short-term memory known as Korsakoff's syndrome which develops because of vitamin B1 deficiency. Others develop a wider range of problems that resemble Alzheimer's disease.
AIDS-RELATED DEMENTIA
HIV, the virus which leads to AIDS, can be a cause of dementia. The virus has been found in the brain of people with HIV as early as two days after initial infection. This condition is usually referred to as AIDS dementia complex (ADC).
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Specialist Dementia Care Program
The Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) is a new Australian Government initiative. The program will provide a person-centred, multidisciplinary approach to care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, who are unable to be appropriately cared for by mainstream aged care services. The program will offer specialised, transitional residential support, focussing on reducing or stabilising symptoms over time, with the aim of enabling people to move to less intensive care settings.
06 December 2018
Target Group:
The SDCP will provide care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (which may also be referred to as responsive behaviours associated with dementia), who are unable to be appropriately cared for by mainstream aged care services. It is estimated that up to 1 per cent of all people living with dementia would be in the target group. A nationally consistent assessment methodology will be used for all assessments to ensure the program benefits those most in need.
Key Features:
The SDCP provides a new approach to care and will be rolled out in two phases. The department will work with key stakeholders to evaluate and refine the model as it rolls out nationally, to ensure the model provides optimal care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
The SDCP will provide intensive, specialised care in a dementia friendly environment, generally a dedicated unit within a broader residential aged care service. The SDCP will provide transitional support with the aim of enabling people to move to less intensive care settings. Specialist clinical support will be a key feature of the model. The SDCP will complement state and territory government services and supports for people with very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
At full rollout in 2022-23 it is expected that there will be at least one specialist dementia care unit (within a broader residential aged care service) operating in each of the 31 Primary Health Networks.
06 December 2018
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Free Dementia Programs on the Gold Coast
Living with dementia program - 17 March - Gold CoastDate: Tuesday,17 March 2020 - 9:30am to 2:30pm
Address: Gold CoastThis program provides an overview of dementia and how to proceed after a diagnosis. It covers coping with change, relationships and communication, planning for the future and staying healthy.
17, 18, 19 March, 9:30am- 2.30pm
Register
Event type: Living with dementia program - for clients
MUSIC THERAPY Music Therapy provides great social engagement and an opportunity to reminisce and sing along to old favourites.
When: 3rd Monday of each month, 11am – 12pm
Where: Taking expressions of interest for the Gold Coast now 1800 588 699.
21 April 2022