1. Sanskar College of Pharmacy and Research,
NH-9, Jindal Nagar, Ghaziabad, India
Sneha Pandey, Vipin Kumar, Bhuvnesh Sharma,Dr. Shabnam Ain, Dr. Babita
Kumar
Dementia : Causes and treatment
Introduction
Dementia is a syndrome – usually of a chronic or progressive nature– that leads to
deterioration in cognitive function (i.e. the ability to process thought) . It affects
memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity,
language, and judgementjudgement[1].Dementia is caused by damage to brain
cells.This damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with
each other.The brain has many distinct regions, each of which is responsible for
different functions (for example, memory, judgment and movement). When cells in
a particular region are damaged, that region cannot carry out its functions
normally[2].There is currently no treatment available to cure dementia. Anti-
dementia medicines and disease-modifying therapies developed. As Alzheimer’s
disease is the most common cause of dementia medicine like Aduhelm and
lecanemab are used to slow down the degenerative process [3].
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Dementia is not itself a single disease but rather, a clinical syndrome [4].The
pathophysiology of major neurocognitive disorder, or dementia, varies depending
on the subtype. Most types of Dementia caused by accumulation of native proteins
in the brainbrain[5].
Alzheimer’s Disease: Characterized by atrophy of cortex & deposition of
Amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau protein[5].
Lewy body dementia and Parkinson disease dementia: characterized
accumulation of insoluble aggregates of alpha-synuclein protein[5].
Vascular dementia: Caused by ischemic injury to brain[5].
2. Frontotemporal dementia :Characterized by various mutations leading to the
deposiubiquitinated TDP-43 and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins in the frontal
and temporal lobes leading to dementia[5].
TREATMENT
There is currently no cure for dementia. But there are medicines and other
treatments that can help with dementia symptoms[6].
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Cholinesterase inhibitors work by increasing acetylcholine, may delay the
dementia-related symptomssymptoms[7].
Memantine
Used to delay increasing cognitive and behavioral symptoms[7].
Donepezil (Aricept),Galantamine (Razadyne), Rivastigmine (Exelon) : benefit
for people with LBD or vascular dementia[7].
Therapies
Several dementia symptoms and behavior problems might be treated initially using
nondrug approaches, such as:
(a)ccupational therapy[8], (b)Modifying the environment[8], (c) Simplifying
tasks[8], (d)Cognitive stimulation therapy[6], (e) Reminiscence and life story
work[6].
RESULT
There are over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia in 2020. This
number will almost double every 20 years, reaching 78 million in 2030 and 139
million in 2050.The total estimated worldwide cost of dementia was US$ 818
billion in 2015.Now above US$ 1.3 trillion and is expected to rise to US$ 2.8
trillion by 2030[9].
CONCLUSION
Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory,
thinking and social abilities. Consciousness is not affected It is the seventh leading
3. cause of death among all diseases and one of the major causes of disability and
dependency among older people worldwide. It is caused by damage to or loss of
nerve cells and their connections in the brain. Depending on the area of the brain
that’s damaged, dementia can affect people differently.There is currently no
treatment available to cure dementia. Anti-dementia medicines and disease-
modifying therapies developed to slow down the process.
REFERENCE
[1]www.who.int
[2] www.alz.org
[3] www.webmd.com
[4]Dening T, Sandilyan MB (2015) Dementia: definitions and types. Nursing
Standard. 29, 37, 38-42. Date of submission: March 2 2014; date of acceptance:
August 22 2014.
[5]ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[6]www.nhs.uk
[7] www.healthline.com
[8]www.mayoclinic.org
[9]www.alzint.org
![Sanskar College of Pharmacy and Research,
NH-9, Jindal Nagar, Ghaziabad, India
Sneha Pandey, Vipin Kumar, Bhuvnesh Sharma,Dr. Shabnam Ain, Dr. Babita
Kumar
Dementia : Causes and treatment
Introduction
Dementia is a syndrome – usually of a chronic or progressive nature– that leads to
deterioration in cognitive function (i.e. the ability to process thought) . It affects
memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity,
language, and judgementjudgement[1].Dementia is caused by damage to brain
cells.This damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with
each other.The brain has many distinct regions, each of which is responsible for
different functions (for example, memory, judgment and movement). When cells in
a particular region are damaged, that region cannot carry out its functions
normally[2].There is currently no treatment available to cure dementia. Anti-
dementia medicines and disease-modifying therapies developed. As Alzheimer’s
disease is the most common cause of dementia medicine like Aduhelm and
lecanemab are used to slow down the degenerative process [3].
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Dementia is not itself a single disease but rather, a clinical syndrome [4].The
pathophysiology of major neurocognitive disorder, or dementia, varies depending
on the subtype. Most types of Dementia caused by accumulation of native proteins
in the brainbrain[5].
Alzheimer’s Disease: Characterized by atrophy of cortex & deposition of
Amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau protein[5].
Lewy body dementia and Parkinson disease dementia: characterized
accumulation of insoluble aggregates of alpha-synuclein protein[5].
Vascular dementia: Caused by ischemic injury to brain[5].](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/shortintroductionondementia-230312052531-8f4f197e/85/short-introduction-on-dementia-docx-1-320.jpg)
![Frontotemporal dementia :Characterized by various mutations leading to the
deposiubiquitinated TDP-43 and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins in the frontal
and temporal lobes leading to dementia[5].
TREATMENT
There is currently no cure for dementia. But there are medicines and other
treatments that can help with dementia symptoms[6].
Cholinesterase inhibitors
Cholinesterase inhibitors work by increasing acetylcholine, may delay the
dementia-related symptomssymptoms[7].
Memantine
Used to delay increasing cognitive and behavioral symptoms[7].
Donepezil (Aricept),Galantamine (Razadyne), Rivastigmine (Exelon) : benefit
for people with LBD or vascular dementia[7].
Therapies
Several dementia symptoms and behavior problems might be treated initially using
nondrug approaches, such as:
(a)ccupational therapy[8], (b)Modifying the environment[8], (c) Simplifying
tasks[8], (d)Cognitive stimulation therapy[6], (e) Reminiscence and life story
work[6].
RESULT
There are over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia in 2020. This
number will almost double every 20 years, reaching 78 million in 2030 and 139
million in 2050.The total estimated worldwide cost of dementia was US$ 818
billion in 2015.Now above US$ 1.3 trillion and is expected to rise to US$ 2.8
trillion by 2030[9].
CONCLUSION
Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory,
thinking and social abilities. Consciousness is not affected It is the seventh leading](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)