DEMENTIA

Course overview

DEMENTIA DESCRIBES AN OVERALL DECLINE IN MEMORY AND OTHER THINKING SKILLS SEVERE ENOUGH TO REDUCE A PERSON'S ABILITY TO PERFORM EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES. IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE PROGRESSIVE AND PERSISTENT DETERIORATION OF COGNITIVE FUNCTION. PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA HAVE PROBLEMS WITH COGNITION, BEHAVIOR, AND FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITIES OF EVERYDAY LIFE. IN ADDITION, AFFECTED PATIENTS HAVE MEMORY LOSS AND LACK OF INSIGHT INTO THEIR PROBLEMS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF DEMENTIA AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION. IT ALSO REVIEWS RISK FACTORS, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, AND CHALLENGES IN DIAGNOSING AND MANAGING THIS SPECTRUM OF COGNITIVE DISORDERS.