Key Question

Question 1

what is the key question?

Answer 1

How can psychologists understanding of memory help dementia patients?

Question 2

what is the most common cause of dementia?

Answer 2

alzheimer’s disease

Question 3

what causes alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 3

the formation of abnormal deposits of proteins (plaques and tangles) in the brain.

these cause nerve cells to die, causing the brain to shrink

Question 4

what is often the first part of the brain to shrink from alzheimer’s?

Answer 4

the hippocampus

Question 5

which is often one of the last regions to be affected by alzheimer’s?

Answer 5

amygdala

Question 6

what is dementia’s prevalence?

Answer 6

55 million people have dementia worldwide

Question 7

what is the prognosis of dementia?

Answer 7

8 - 10 years

Question 8

the limbic system

Answer 8

collection of structures with a key role in several brain functions

Question 9

what does alzheimer’s disease make it harder for people to do?

Answer 9

to form new memories

to learn new information

Question 10

what is the hippocampus needed for?

Answer 10

the retrieval of memories

retrieving those from longer ago may depend on it less

Question 11

what is the impact of the amygdala being affected later than the hippocampus?

Answer 11

a person may often recall the emotional aspects of something even if they don’t recall the factual content

Question 12

what part of the brain becomes thinner due to the disease?

Answer 12

the cortex

this means that memories from longer ago are lost

Question 13

what causes problems with semantic memory and language?

Answer 13

damage to the left hemisphere

Question 14

what does damage to the right parietal lobe cause?

Answer 14

a person may have problems with judging distances in three dimensions

navigating stairs is a common difficulty

Question 15

what does damage to the visual system and temporal lobes cause?

Answer 15

it makes recognising familiar faces and objects harder

Question 16

what does damage to the frontal lobes cause?

Answer 16

struggle with decision making, planning or organising

Question 17

what kind of abilities are retained?

Answer 17

those acquired long ago

e.g. dancing or playing the piano

Question 18

what is cognitive stimulation?

Answer 18

a therapy for dementia that stimulates the mind

Question 19

what does cognitive stimulation involve?

Answer 19

getting together in groups to discuss, play games and solve puzzles

often the activities are linked to memories, like looking at old photographs, listening to old songs or using old skills

Question 20

what stages of dementia does cognitive stimulation work best for?

Answer 20

mild to moderate

Question 21

what benefits does cognitive stimulation therapy have?

Answer 21

it can slow down the progress of the disease
reduce loneliness
helps to retain cognitive skills
stimulates memory by reminiscing on events

Question 22

what is the aim of validation therapy?

Answer 22

it advocates that, rather than trying to bring the person with dementia back into our reality, it is more positive to enter their reality.

empathy is developed with the person

reduces anxiety

Question 23

why does validation therapy help patients?

Answer 23

prevents muddling schemas

reduces stress and anxiety

gives dementia patients a sense of security

Question 24

what is Hogeway?

Answer 24

a care home in the netherlands for the elderly with extreme dementia

patients live nearly normal lives here

Question 25

what is the setting of Hogeway?

Answer 25

no locked doors

residents free to wander about

different parts of the village look like different kinds of homes

all waiters and shopkeepers are actually carers

Question 26

what is an example for cognitive stimulation therapy?

Answer 26

in Seattle

400 residents of the Providence Mount st Vincent Residential home

they meet up with 150 kindergarden children 5 days a week

residents become lucid when they play with the children - the refer to this as ‘moments of grace’