Explain why it is difficult for epidemiologists to get an ...

[ETearle]

Explain why it is difficult for epidemiologists to get an accurate picture of the number of cases of dementia, and the types of dementia, in the U.S. population.
 
  Answer:

Question 2

What signs and symptoms can be used to distinguish depression from dementia?
 
  Answer:

[ricroger]

Answer to Question 1

Generally the epidemiologists' problem is one of diagnosis. Mild symptoms of dementia are difficult to distinguish from problems associated with normal aging. Mild symptoms are hard to detect reliably. In order to diagnose dementia, multiple assessments are required over time, whereas epidemiological assessments are usually made at one point in time. Finally, the undifferentiated dementias require post mortem analysis of brain tissue to make an accurate diagnosis of a specific type of dementia.

Answer to Question 2

Depression: uneven progression over weeks, the person complains of memory loss, the symptoms are often worse in the morning and better as the day goes on, the person is aware of and may exaggerate the disability, and the person may abuse alcohol or other drugs. Dementia: there is an even progression over months or years there are attempts to hide the memory loss, the symptoms are worse later in the day or when fatigued, the person is unaware of the symptoms or minimizes the disability, and drug abuse is rare.

[ETearle]

Thank you!

[ricroger]

Happy to help