Dementia-What More Can Be Done to Dementia Sufferers in the UK
Introduction
Dementia is a medical condition in which a person develops a decline in the normal function of the brain. A dementia patient may portray a low thinking speed, rapid memory loss, challenges with carrying out daily activities, or mental sharpness (Dening, Tom, Malarvizhi Babu Sandilyan, 34). Although there are various causes of dementia, its symptoms tend to worsen in a patient with time. Researches have indicated that one out of three people in the United Kingdom is suffering from Dementia (Dening, Tom, Malarvizhi Babu Sandilyan, 37). The statistics of dementia patients is rapidly increasing in the United Kingdom because a greater percentage of the country’s population comprises of the elderly.
An estimate of over 800,000 people in the United Kingdom suffers from Dementia (Dening, Tom, Malarvizhi Babu Sandilyan, 34). This condition is majorly affecting the elderly population who are at the age of sixty-five years and above. However, the chance of an individual living in the United Kingdom to be diagnosed with dementia doubles every five years. Researches have indicated that one out of three people born in the United Kingdom in 2015 would develop dementia in the future (Dening, Tom, Malarvizhi Babu and Sandilyan, 37). This paper entails a literature review of the various articles written by scholars on the topic of the impact of dementia on the UK population and analysis of the findings.
Discussion
An article written by Ann and colleagues shows that the common cause of Dementia condition is Alzheimer’s disease. Nonetheless, the risk of developing this condition, which is mainly genes, and old age, cannot be altered. Other risk factors that can make an individual vulnerable to this condition include dieting with less or no exercise and smoking, which can at least be managed before developing the condition (Bowling, Ann et al. 23). An article written by Browne, Jorge, et al. (p.77) also support Ann and colleagues’ article on the prevalence of dementia among the old age.
Just like in Ann and colleagues’ article, the research conducted by Browne and colleagues denotes that 90% of the dementia condition is due to gene mutation and inherited from one regeneration to the next (Browne, Jorge, et al. 78). According to these scholars, dementia can be hereditary, especially when one has a grandparent who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. However, in some cases, the hereditary genes may facilitate the development of the condition. Irrespective of the channel of the disease acquisition, it is worth noting that the impact of dementia in the economy cannot be underestimated. Many researches conducted by scholars explain the huge cost that the government incurs in the management of the disease.
An article written by Ann and colleague denotes that the management of dementia condition claims 30 billion Euros every year, which is greater than the amount used in managing both cancer and heart disease patients every year (Bowling, Ann 33). Despite the government effort to contain the disease, researches still show that the number of new infections is likely to increase. This can be depicted from an article written by Blakemore, Amy, et al. (p.84) which stipulates that the number of Dementia patients would hit 1000,000 within the next four years.
A research conducted by Glasby, Jon, and Thomes (p.226), shares the insight on the projected number of dementia patients in the UK. The authors stipulate that understanding the projection of dementia as a risk factor among the population assists the country in planning for the allocation of the money, which would be used in taking care of the patients who might develop the condition. The projected data is recommended in helping the country in making effective economic decisions regarding dementia patients (Bowling, Ann 31). An article written by Blakemore, Amy, et al. (84) shows that 90% of dementia patients also suffer from at least one of the four underlying health conditions associated with terminal illnesses.
This shows that this condition can either be present due to other health conditions or manifest on itself on rare occasions. This argument has been supported by scholars such as Reilly, Siobhan, et al., (p.35) on their article on dementia. The authors argue that even though there is no clear correlation between dementia and other genetic disorders, terminal illnesses such as diabetes and cancer have been linked to the prevalent of the disease among dementia patients. Other similar studies denote that the prevalence of dementia disease among the elderly is saddening. For instance, 80% of the elderly who are living in community residential care homes have been found to suffer severe memory loss problems or dementia.
This results in the huge budget that the condition impacts on the country’s economy because of the money used to take care of these patients and the money paid to the caregivers as denoted Blakemore, Amy, et al. (p.85). This argument has been supported by Orrell, Martin, et al. (p.396) on their article about Reading on Dementia. The authors argue that the burden of caring for the elderly population is weakening the government’s effort to fight the disease. For instance, over 700 caregivers in community care homes are unpaid. The majority of those taking unpaid caring duties are mainly women who most likely provide comprehensive care for twenty-four hours as denoted by Blakemore, Amy, et al. (p.85).
Analysis
According to the findings analyzed in the discussion section above, there are various key trends that have been unanimously highlighted by the authors. The common trends include the causes of dementia, its prevalence and the impact of dementia on the economy and resources in general as discussed below:
Dementia Condition is a genetic disorder caused by Alzheimer’s disease
Findings from the article written by Bowling, Ann, et al. (p.31) shows that dementia condition is caused by Alzheimer’s. That author described Alzheimer’s as a progressive brain disorder which causes the brain cells to wear away and die. This leads to malfunction of brain functionalities such as memory that results in the patients losing memory either partially or completely. Because the human brain controls all the activities on the human body and store all the memories, the malfunction in the human memory stop the human brain from performing its functions properly. The authors argue that a person may eventually develop challenges in speech and their ability to think which might result in the patients behaving in an unexpected manner. This has been supported by an article written by Browne and colleagues, which stipulate that 90% of the dementia condition has been found to be inherent from one generation to the next. This implies that a person is likely to have the condition if the condition is rampant in the family lineage.
Dementia is Prevalent Among the Old Age
A research study conducted by Dening, Tom, Malarvizhi Babu Sandilyan, (p.34) stipulate that dementia condition is more prevalent among the elderly population above 65 years. This has been cited to be one of the reasons why the condition is rampant in the UK. The UK population has been documented to have more elderly citizens compared to young people. For instance, out of the 800,000 patients suffering from dementia, 90% of the patients are documented to be above 65 years old. The study projects that the prevalence rate of dementia amongst the elderly in the United Kingdom by 2028 will be 4.3 in every one hundred people of sixty-five years and above. These statistics imply that the aged population is the most affected by this medical condition. This study has been supported by an article written by Bowling, Ann et al. (p.23) which denoted that age is one of the risk factors of the disease.
Work Cited
Bowling, Ann, et al. “Quality of life in dementia: a systematically conducted narrative review of dementia-specific measurement scales.” Aging & mental health 19.1 (2015): 13-31.
Blakemore, Amy, et al. “Dementia in UK South Asians: a scoping review of the literature.” BMJ open 8.4 (2018): e020290.
Browne, Jorge, et al. “Association of comorbidity and health service usage among patients with dementia in the UK: a population-based study.” BMJ open 7.3 (2017): e012546.
Dening, Tom, and Malarvizhi Babu Sandilyan. “Dementia: definitions and types.” Nursing Standard (2014+) 29.37 (2015): 37.
Glasby, Jon, and S. Thomes. “Understanding and responding to the needs of the carers of people with dementia in the UK, US and beyond.” Op. cit (2018van der Steen, Jenny T., et al. “Initiating advance care planning on end-of-life issues in dementia: Ambiguity among UK and Dutch physicians.” Archives of gerontology and geriatrics 65 (2016): 225-230.
Orrell, Martin, et al. “Reading for Dementia.” Reading and Mental Health. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2019. 395-418.
Reilly, Siobhan, et al. “People living with dementia: What really matters? Why do primary care practitioners need to know?.” SAPC ASM 2019 48th annual scientific meeting. 2019.