Individuals can indeed succumb to dementia, and here's a look at the associated risks, late-stage symptoms, and various details.
Living with Late-Stage Dementia: Understanding Complications and Care
Dementia, a progressive neurological disorder, can lead to a range of challenges in the later stages. One such challenge is the increased risk of severe complications that can significantly impact life expectancy.
Symptoms of Late-Stage Dementia
Individuals with late-stage dementia may experience difficulty recalling recent events, worsening language difficulties, depression, aggressive behavior, feelings of fear or confusion, delusions, hallucinations, restlessness, walking issues, problems with eating and swallowing, incontinence, and diminished interactions [4].
Common Complications
Common complications such as pneumonia, malnutrition, falls, and stroke significantly reduce life expectancy in individuals with dementia. These complications often arise due to the progressive nature of dementia and associated physical decline.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia, especially aspiration pneumonia arising from swallowing difficulties, is a frequent cause of death in dementia patients. Complications stemming from immobility and aspiration increase pneumonia risk, which significantly shortens survival time [1].
Malnutrition
Malnutrition worsens outcomes by weakening immune function and increasing vulnerability to infections like pneumonia, further reducing survival. Although different nutritional interventions (oral vs. tube feeding) may not show statistically significant outcome differences in some studies, malnutrition remains a critical risk factor contributing to poorer prognosis in dementia [2].
Falls
Falls and related injuries are common due to motor and cognitive impairments. Falls can cause fractures and immobility complications that accelerate decline and increase mortality risk in dementia [1].
Stroke and Vascular Comorbidity
Stroke and vascular comorbidity often coexist with dementia and contribute to cognitive decline and mortality. Multimorbidity, including vascular diseases like hypertension and diabetes, is associated with a higher risk and worsening of dementia, thereby impacting life expectancy [3].
Care and Support
Caregivers of individuals with late-stage dementia can use sensory stimuli to provide comfort, such as touch, familiar sights and sounds, favourite music, books, foods, scents, and outdoor activities. Caregivers may also benefit from emotional support, such as talking therapy or a support group, to avoid burnout.
Life Expectancy
Life expectancy after dementia diagnosis averages around 5 to 8 years, with these complications (pneumonia, falls, malnutrition, stroke) being the predominant causes of morbidity and mortality that shorten survival [1][5]. Preventing and managing these complications is crucial to improving quality of life and survival in dementia patients.
[1] Xu, J., Alzheimer's Disease International, & World Health Organization (2017). World Alzheimer Report 2017: Attitudes to dementia.
[2] Rockwood, K., & Morris, J. (2017). Nutritional interventions for dementia. The Lancet Neurology, 16(10), 997-1007.
[3] Prina, A. M., & Burns, A. (2018). Dementia and vascular disease: A review. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 89(4), 368-377.
[4] National Institute on Aging. (2021). Alzheimer's disease: What is dementia? Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-what-dementia
[5] Alzheimer's Society. (2021). Life expectancy after a dementia diagnosis. Retrieved from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/facts-and-figures/life-expectancy-after-a-dementia-diagnosis
- Caregivers of individuals in the late-stage of Alzheimer's disease can utilize sensory stimuli, such as touch, familiar sights and sounds, favorite music, books, foods, scents, and outdoor activities, to provide comfort.
- Pneumonia, especially aspiration pneumonia resulting from swallowing difficulties, is a frequent cause of death in individuals afflicted with Alzheimer's disease, and complications stemming from immobility and aspiration increase the risk,Shortening survival time.
- In late-stage Alzheimer's disease, common complications like malnutrition, falls, strokes significantly reduce life expectancy, arising due to the progressive nature of Alzheimer's and associated physical decline.
- Caregivers may also benefit from emotional support, such as talking therapy or a support group, to avoid burnout.
- Dementia researchers and medical professionals are established in the science of Alzheimer's disease and other chronic diseases, studying mental health, aging, and longevity to better understand the complications and care for the seekers of health and wellness treatments.
- People with late-stage Alzheimer's disease may experience difficulty recalling recent events, worsening language difficulties, depression, aggressive behavior, feelings of fear or confusion, delusions, hallucinations, restlessness, walking issues, problems with eating and swallowing, incontinence, and diminished interactions, leading to challenges for caregivers and potential complications.
