The following and upcoming blogposts intend to dive into the topic of story-based methods and their impact on people living with dementia / Alzheimer’s disease. First steps would be to analyze the illness and both traditional and new treatment methods, as well as to explore the usage of story-based formats such as digital storytelling during treatment or/and as a tool for communication. For further understanding of the topic there shall be an explanation as to what story-based approaches are, what (digital) storytelling is, how it is currently being used and eventually it should be defined what kind of approach could be implemented for a practical application of the obtained knowledge into a real-life project. The idea is to use a story-based format as a foundation for developing a creative approach in dealing with and/or raising awareness for the topic.
This first blogpost will briefly touch upon the topic of dementia and its subtypes in order to gain some insight into the illnesses and the symptoms connected to it.
INTRODUCTION: DEMENTIA
One of the defining processes of the 20th century was the global population aging, with its consequences continuing into the 21st century. Populations are growing even though fertility rates are falling, meaning that the world population of elderly people will overtake the number of children. (Sosa-Ortiz, 2012)
Generally, it can be said that with the population’s rising life expectancy, the rates of dementia are increasing as well. (Rincon, 2022) Globally speaking, the number of people living with dementia is expected to rise to 82 million over the next 11 years – in 2019, the number was significantly lower, with 50 million people suffering from dementia. (World Health Organization [WHO], 2019).
There are various types of dementia, which, according to diagnostic criteria can be divided into subtypes such as Alzheimer’s disease, fronttemporal dementia or vascular dementia. A construct frequently used to describe groups of people that are at risk of developing dementia is called mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which is especially important to recognize in order to be able to take preventative measures. (Sosa-Ortiz, 2012)
Overall „Dementia is a syndrome caused by different disorders that affect cerebral structures and functions, causing progressive deterioration of memory, other mental functions and behavior.“ (Sosa-Ortiz, 2012, 600)
Dementia is an umbrella term that includes a broad range of symptoms but it is not in itself a disease. These symptoms commonly include memory decline, changes in the ability to think, judge or reason, loss of focus and attention as well as changes in behavior and language. (Graff-Radford, 2024)
Peoplesuffering from dementia will be impaired in their ability to perform everyday tasks, which has tremendous effects on a person’s autonomy and independence. This can be challenging for all parties involved, including the patient themselves, caregivers and families. (Sosa-Ortiz, 2012, 600-601)
Dementia can generally occur at any age, however, the risk of developing it increases with a person’s age and is more common in the demographic group of people above the age of 60. There are also other factors that can contribute to the risk of developing dementia, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, genes or smoking. (Loh, 2023)
TYPES OF DEMENTIA
Alzheimer’s disease
Even though the terms are often used interchangeably, dementia and Alzheimer’s are not the same thing. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific brain disease marked by symptoms of dementia that gradually become more and more severe. As mentioned above, it is the most common dementia type. It affects the part of the brain responsible for learning, which is why early signs often include changes in thinking, memory and reasoning skills. With the disease progressing, also the symptoms worsen and can include behavioral changes or confusion amongst others. (Graff-Radford, 2024)
Alzheimer’s disease is thought to emerge due to abnormal protein deposits forming in the brain, disrupting the communication between the brain cells. (Loh,2023)
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is caused by a reduced blood supply of the brain due to blocked, narrow, or damaged blood vessels, often connected to a stroke or damaged blood vessels caused by diabetes or high blood pressure. Following this diminished blood supply, the brain is deprived of oxygen and essential nutrients. It is also a common form of dementia. (Loh,2023)
Lewy body Dementia
When there is a build-up pf protein deposits called Lewy bodies it can lead to Lewy Body Dementia. As is the case with Alzheimer’s disease, the protein deposits disrupt the function of a person’s brain cells and lead to a decline of cognitive abilities and issues with movement, amongst others. Since the symptoms can be similar, Lewy body Dementia could be confused with Parkinson’s disease. (Loh,2023)
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal dementia is caused by the progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain and characterized by behavioral and personality changes as well as alterations of the language abilities. It is a rare form of dementia. (Loh,2023)
Most types of dementia can not be cured, however, certain treatment methods and strategies can help with the symptoms and improve the patients’ quality of life. (Loh, 2023)
The next blogpost will elaborate on the topic of story-based treatment methods such as digital storytelling and explain the fundamentals of the concept.
SOURCES
- Epidemiology of Dementias and Alzheimer’s Disease: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0188440912003311?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=8e293dadcaba5b12 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcmed.2012.11.003
- Digital Storytelling in Older Adults With Typical Aging, and With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia: A Systematic Literature Review: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/07334648211015456
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/expert-answers/alzheimers-and-dementia-whats-the-difference/faq-20396861
