Alcohol-Related Dementia

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Alcohol-Related Dementia

• Hillary Ransom

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What is alcohol-related dementia?

• A form of dementia related to the excessive
  drinking over a period of years causing damage
  to the frontal part of your brain, resulting in
  the inability to make rational decisions, loss of
  memory and learning ability.

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The Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

• Werenicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, WKS, is a result
  from alcohol-related dementia.
• The symptoms of the 2 are closely related with
  the exception that people with WKS have a
  tendency to confabulate (make up or invent new
  events)

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Effects on Language

• Alcohol-related dementia leads to brain shrinkage
  and brain damages which inhibits your ability to
  speak properly and form clear and concise
  sentences.
• The effect it has on language is tremendous since
  most of the damage is being done to the brain.
• Short term memory loss which results in
  fabricating life events.
• Inability to communicate with individuals due to
  their other complications they suffer from
• Cannot form thought patterns

• Problems finding words, inability to correctly
  use and apply a word
• Inability to follow conversations, especially
  within a group of people, because their attention
  span becomes so short
• Constantly repeating a question like we learned
  in this semester, people who have a problem with
  retaining information or remembering, often times
  repeat something multiple times or say it over
  and over again

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Causes

• Alcohol abusemore than what is consider
  moderate(which is one drink a day for women, or
  two drinks a day for men).
• Nutritional problems (accompany heavy use of
  alcohol)when key parts of your brain do not get
  the sufficent amount of nutrients

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Symptoms

• Mental confusion
• Amnesia (a permanent gap in memory)
• Apathetic
• Inattentive
• Easily agitated
• Short term memory loss
• Inability to learn
• Ataxia
• Slow-walking
• Tremor-like movements

• Paralysis
• Senses damaged
• Comas can occur
• Disorientation
• Loss of problem solving skills
• Communication problems
• Changes in personality
• Paranoia
• Angry

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Prevention

• The most obvious way to prevent ARD or WKS is to
  drink in moderation, but for some people it isnt
  that easy. So for those who already suffer there
  are some things they can do to help lessen the
  harshness of the disorder.

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Treatment

• Community and family support is vital.
• Hospitilization may be required to monitor the
  body to make sure no more damage will be done
• Thiamin Vitamin B1 may improve or lessen many
  of the symptoms the patient is suffering from,
  injections can be given, by mouth, vein or muscle
• Well-balanced diet is key
• Positive and uplifting people to be around.

• Making sure the patient is in a very safe and
  healthy environment.
• Never reprimanding or belittling
• Patience is key to helping in the process

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Intervention

• If someone you know or love, is abusing alcohol
  it is important that you get them professional
  help, because that is the only way to ensure
  their health is safe. The long-term effects are
  drastic and a lot of people are unaware of the
  seriousness that comes from heavy drinking. It
  is important that we educate those around us who
  are abusing alcohol of the consequences that may
  follow in the future.

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Intervention Continued

• All ages should be aware of the danger that comes
  from alcohol abuse. Steps you should take to
  ensure that you do the right thing include
• Talk to them, let them know you only care for
  their future.
• Let them know the consequences
• Seek professional help

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• In Language, Aging and Health we have learned how
  certain disorders inhibit your language patterns.
  This is the case with ARD/WKS --even though it
  is not as prevalent as some other disorders, its
  damage is drastic and we must educate people to
  stop.