Alzheimer's Dementia

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Recommended: Describe types of memory impairment

Memory is the process of storage of data in the cerebral cortex area of the brain, and retrieval of the data through the reticular formation part of the brain (Baddely, 1992). Storage and retrieval of memory happen mainly by usage of the five senses which are; sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. The retrieval of data using the memory happens after it is triggered by a stimulus through one or more of the five senses. There are different types of memory, including; short term, long term and sensory memory. The three types of memory work in relation to each other. First, the stimulus triggers one or more of the five senses stimulating the cerebral cortex which on its role obtain or reject this data, starting with the sensory then the short …show more content…

Some syndromes may be acute or chronic and may be reversible or irreversible. The most common group of syndromes affecting the memory is called dementias. Alzheimer’s Dementia, it is the most common type of dementias, and it has two types; the first type is early onset dementia happens before the age of 65 years and it has a hereditary correlation mainly with chromosome 21. Type 1 Alzheimer’s disease usually happens with Down syndrome (trisomy 21). The second type is late onset dementia happening after the age of 65 and is not associated with any hereditary factors. Another type of dementia is age related, which usually affects the individual that are 60 and above. Also, age-related dementia mainly affects recent memories but mostly the old memories are unaffected. According to (Roman, 2002) the second most common type of dementia is Vascular Dementia it occurs to the individuals that are suffering from diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Vascular Dementia is unique in that it is usually associated with focal neurological signs. Cerebro-vascular is another dementia where usually happens during accidents to those older than 60 and in those having Diabetes Mellitus and hypertension conditions. Global Dementia affects all types of memory, including sensory, short-term and long-term memory. The global type of dementia happens mostly after trauma affecting the tissue of the brain. Fronto-temporal Dementia (Pick’s disease) affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, causing memory loss for short and long term memory and primarily changes the personality and behavior of the person. Korsakoff-confabulation Disease often happens after drinking a large amount of alcohol and causes loss of memory and confabulation (filling the blank areas of a story with fake details). Korsakoff dementia may end in a coma due to hypoglycemia and Thiamine deficiency, but it is reversible if treated early

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