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DEMENTIA ACTION ALLIANCE
Quarterly meeting 12th February 2014
by
Peter Ashley
And don’t forget me!
Boris*
*
With great respect for the gentleman after whom he was named
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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A personal experience of living with
co-morbidities
The devil is in the detail
or
What living with a dementia is all about
-----------The facts in my case
and
Others have similar problems!
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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Comorbidity
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In medicine, comorbidity is the presence of one or more
additional disorders (or diseases) co-occurring with a primary
disease or disorder; or the effect of such additional disorders or
diseases.
In medicine, the term "comorbid" can be either medical
condition(s) existing simultaneously but independently with
another condition; or it can indicate a related medical condition
or conditions.
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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The 3 D’s
1. Dementia
2. Depression
3. Delirium
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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Dementia (taken from Latin, originally meaning "madness", from de"without" + ment, the root of mens "mind") is a serious loss of
global cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what
might be expected from normal aging. It may be static, the result of a
unique global brain injury, or progressive, resulting in long-term decline
due to damage or disease in the body. Although dementia is far more
common in the geriatric population (about 5% of those over 65 are said
to be involved),[1] it can occur before the age of 65, in which case it is
termed "early onset dementia".[2]
Dementia is not a single disease, but a non-specific syndrome (i.e., set
of signs and symptoms). Affected cognitive areas can
be memory, attention, language, and problem solving. Normally,
symptoms must be present for at least six months to support a
diagnosis.[3] Cognitive dysfunction of shorter duration is called delirium.
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can
affect a person's thoughts, behavior, feelings and sense of wellbeing.[1] Depressed people feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless,
worried, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, hurt, or restless. They
may lose interest in activities that once were pleasurable,
experience loss of appetite or overeating, have problems
concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions, and may
contemplate, attempt, or commit suicide. Insomnia,excessive
sleeping, fatigue, loss of energy, or aches, pains, or digestive
problems may also be present.[2]
Depressed mood is also a primary or associated feature of certain
psychiatric syndromes such as clinical depression.
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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Delirium, or acute confusional state, is a syndrome that presents as
severe confusion and disorientation, developing with relatively rapid
onset and fluctuating in intensity. It is a syndrome which occurs more
frequently in people in their later years. Delirium represents an
organically caused decline from a previously attained baseline level
of cognitive function. It is typified by fluctuating course, attentional
deficits and generalized severe disorganization of behavior. It
typically involves other cognitive deficits, changes in arousal
(hyperactive, hypoactive, or mixed), perceptual deficits, altered
sleep-wake cycle, and psychotic features such as hallucinations and
delusions.
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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Facts as they relate to me.
My primary disease
A dementia
Subtype - Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)
My additional disorders/diseases
Let’s look at the timeline both pre and
post DLB
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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My timeline.
D Day
CHRONIC DEPRESSION – HIGHLY CYCLIC
LEGIONAIRRES DESEASE
ME
INPATIENT MENTAL HOSPITAL
7 SESSIONS ECT
TWO SUICIDE ATTEMPTS
MAJOR HEART ATTACK
2ND HEART ATTACK
ANGINA
TYPE II DIABETIES
DEMENTIA WITH LEWY BODIES
MOOD SWINGS
UTIs
SLEEP APNOEA
DYSGRAPHIA
OEDEMA
LEG ULCERS
DYSLEXIA
ATAXIA
TWIN CATERACT OPERATION
PERIODS OF SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER
CHRONICALLY DEAF (HIGH FREQUENCY)
1997 ‘98 ‘99 ‘00 ‘01 ‘02 ‘03 ‘04 ‘05 ‘06 ‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10 ‘11 ‘12 ‘13 2014
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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TO COMBAT
MY
PROBLEMS
I NEED
EXERCISE
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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PROBLEMS???
SO DOES SHE!
“WHAT ME?”
“AGE IS JUST A NUMBER.”
“YOU’VE GOT TO MAKE
THE BEST OF IT.”
“I NEVER LET THINGS GET
ME DOWN!”
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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Peter and Boris
© Peter J S Ashley 2014
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