The term “aphasia dementia” itself is complicated, describing a collection of manifestations, both from aphasia, which is a language disorder, and dementia, which interferes with an individual’s memory and thought capacity.
To understand the relationship between the two more in-depth, this blog explores the relationship between the two, looking into:
- Causes
- Stages
- Treatments
- how it affects patients
So, let’s get into the blog!
Explanation of Aphasia and its Relation to Dementia
Aphasia is language impairment caused by brain damage. The cause of the damage is mostly due to a stroke or some form of injury. Patients may have difficulty in speaking, understanding the word spoken, reading, or writing.
Aphasia is not dementia, but many dementias result in aphasia. Primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia are two of the dementias that result in aphasia. Primary progressive aphasia is considered a neurodegenerative disease that affects people’s ability to communicate language efficiently.
Patients with dementia and aphasia have both cognitive and communicative impairments. Aphasia dementia, at the initial stages, typically begins with disorders in languages due to memory loss.
Aphasia Dementia Causes
In most cases, the destruction of cells causes gradually impaired parts of the brain, typically parts that govern language and thinking processes. Here are the major aphasia dementia causes.
Frontotemporal dementia
The frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are primarily affected by the FTD. These brain regions play a significant role in processing language and most cognitive functions; hence, loss of them causes symptom profiles that feature some of the characteristics that describe aphasia, and sometimes, clearly, the deterioration appears first in language-related abilities.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Though Alzheimer’s disease is strongly associated with the major symptom of memory loss, sometimes, in advanced stages, an Alzheimer’s patient might be suffering from certain language issues. This situation can give rise to aphasia dementia, wherein the language ability and other cognitive functions become deranged.
Stroke or Brain Infections
In fact, progressive aphasia dementia is distinctly different from stroke-induced aphasia. Although brain infections or the sequential impacts of multiple strokes on a person’s life. It can develop over time dementia signs mixed in with ongoing or enduring difficulties with language.
Aphasia Dementia Stages
Aphasia dementia progresses through different stages, though the different types and severities affect the rate of progression variously. The general aphasia dementia stages are listed as follows, in brief:
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Early stage
In the early stage, language difficulties present themselves slowly. Patients become confused while trying to find the word; they may start replacing inappropriate words. These early signs are often less evident, as there can be communication that might initially be overlooked and labeled as “normal aging by friends and family.”
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Middle Stage
At this stage, several issues arise regarding language and communication. A patient could barely hold any kind of conversation or build sentences that a human brain could understand without fathoming the intricacies of instructions. Memory loss starts showing itself; they may fail to understand their surroundings because of a loss of ability to relate to familiar places while forgetting where they are, while others start forgetting time.
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Late Stage
By the late stage, more serious communication impairments supervene, and patients commonly lose the ability to speak fluently or even speak at all. Cognitive impairment accelerates, including impairments in memory, judgment, and emotional stability. Patients may require assistance with a range of daily activities since confusion and dependence on caregivers increase as well.
Aphasia Dementia Treatment
Some of the major treatments for aphasia dementia:
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech-language pathologists work with the patient and take measures to maintain and improve language skills. Therapy could encompass exercises in speaking or vocabulary, pronunciation, comprehension, or alternative means of communication such as gestures or communication devices.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT can help patients suffering from dementia and aphasia and their caregivers overcome the emotional and psychological challenges associated with those conditions. These therapy activities may help both the anxious patient and a frustrated caregiver reduce worry, address frustration, and cope better with new communications.
Medications
Although there is no specific medication for aphasia dementia, some of the associated symptoms can be alleviated with certain medications. For instance, some drugs for Alzheimer’s may improve cognition temporarily, or antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs may help cope with emotional responses.
Conclusion
Aphasia dementia is complex and challenging, thereby leading to impairments of the cognitive and communication mechanisms in an individual. Identifying the causes, the disease’s stages, and possible treatments can empower affected individuals and their families/caregivers to provide care in love. Focusing more on supportive therapies, modifications of lifestyle, and enhancing means of communication may better the quality of life of a patient with significant help for a person suffering from aphasia dementia.
Knowledge, patience, and empathy will be very handy during the process of staying together with the patient from all aspects. Though nothing can cure aphasia dementia, this can help find some link and make all present live in an understandable and dignified way so that all patients are treated with dignity and respect.