COURSE OVERVIEW:

Dementia is not so much a disease by itself but rather a set of symptoms that are caused by something going wrong in the brain. Many different cognitive functions, or mental abilities, can be affected by dementia. People with dementia may have trouble remembering things. They may not recognise people or places that they have known all their lives. They may wander away from home and have no idea how to get back. They may be unable to express or understand language. They may lose the ability to plan or organise things.

Dementia can cause personality changes, turning a normally happy, peaceful person into an angry, hostile one, unable to control her emotions. People with dementia may eventually lose the ability to care for themselves, even to the point of having to be bathed, dressed, and fed by someone else.

Dementia is most common in the elderly. For a long time, it was called “senile dementia” or “organic brain syndrome,” and was considered to be a normal part of ageing. People with dementia were said to be senile, and very little was done to help the person or his family to cope with its effects.

Now doctors and scientists understand that it is not at all a normal part of growing old, that it can occur in any age group, that it is caused by a number of medical conditions, and that there is much that can be done to help treat the symptoms and slow down their progression. What all types of dementias have in common is that they are all caused by problems in the brain.

This course explains what dementia is. Then the causes of dementia are discussed. Also, the diagnosis and treatment of dementia is examined. Then we explore the ways to help people with dementia.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

• What is dementia?
• The relationship between dementia and the brain
• The function of the cerebral cortex
• The relationship between dementia and hippocampus
• The relationship between dementia and memory
• The general symptoms of dementia
• The stages of dementia; early dementia, intermediate dementia and severe dementia
• The risk factors for dementia
• The relationship between dementia and genetics
• The controllable risk factors for dementia
• The causes of dementia
• Alzheimer’s disease and the progression of AD
• The relationship between dementia and plaques and tangles
• Lewy Body Dementia
• Vascular Dementia
• Frontotemporal Dementia
• Dementias in children
• The diagnosis and treatment of dementia
• Seeking medical care
• The history and physical examination for dementia
• The Neuropsychological examination for dementia
• The Standardised Mini-Mental State Examination
• Brain Scans, PET Scans and Electroencephalograms for dementia detection
• The treatment of dementia
• Managing medications
• Treating behavioural symptoms
• How to help people with dementia?
• How to help maintain their independence?
• Dementia and driving
• How to maintain their physical health?
• How to maintain their mental health?
• The relationship between dementia and sleep changes
• How to help them cope with confusion and disorientation?
• The relationship between dementia patients and wandering

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.