Dementia

The definition of dementia: a group of thinking and social symptoms that interferes with daily functioning.  Memory loss is at the forefront of symptoms.  There are several kinds of dementia, but the most common in Life Settlements includes frontotemporal dementia and ALZ.  ALZ causes about 60-80% of dementia cases.  Both are caused by damage to brain cells and affect communication, thinking, behavior and feelings.  ALZ is currently felt to result from deposits of amyloid material (proteins), disrupting the brain signals.  Some of the earliest symptoms are getting lost while driving in familiar places and loss of the ability to keep track of complex matters such as finances.  Later stages report the loss of understanding in using everyday items such as cell phones, microwaves, and the remote controller.  New information becomes difficult to retain and in late stages, impossible to retain. 
 Medical doctors utilize simple in office screening such as the MMSE (mini-mental state examination), SLUMS (St. Louis university mental status exam) and MoCA (Montreal cognitive assessment).  Each test asks the patient to do specific tasks, such as word recall, two stage commands, spelling a word or counting backwards or serial counting, and often drawing a clock.  These tests are helpful in discerning loss of cognitive function, but not always accurate on indicating the severity of loss.  Neuropsychological evaluation can accurately identify dementia versus ALZ type dementia, or the likelihood of development.  Treatment centers around safety and security; medication and brain exercises (puzzles, games, etc) are often helpful.
 Mild cognitive impairment demonstrates forgetfulness that does not interfere with ADLs.  Per the Mayo clinic website, it is the stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal aging and the more serious decline of dementia.  Forgetfulness, word finding delays, focus problems, struggle with complex tasks (bill paying) are common symptoms.  Mild cognitive impairment may or may not progress to a more serious impairment.  Depression may contribute to both dementia and mild cognitive impairment.   
 Facts found on the alzheimers.net website indicate ALZ is the sixth leading cause of death in the states.  It is estimated 1 in 10 persons over age 65 has ALZ.  Shockingly 1 in 3 seniors will die of some sort of dementia.  There was an increase of ALZ deaths between 2000 and 2014 by a staggering 89%.  ALZ and dementia are not going away, they will continue to increase and contribute a large part in the Life Settlement Industry.