Title: Dementia Is Not Just Decline

International book about Dementia

Title: Dementia Is Not Just Decline

Subtitles: - it has an increasingly positive effect on the emotions

- people with dementia can learn

The book Dementia Is Not Just Decline focuses on two positive developments.

Contents

The first is the fact that people with dementia increasingly act on their intuition. This is because they find it increasingly difficult to reason things out. Consequently, their emotional life becomes increasingly well trained and actually improves as the dementia progresses. This happens because the parts of the brain that control the emotions are relatively unaffected by forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. A similar situation can be observed in blind people, whose hearing and sense of touch automatically improve as a result of their blindness. Unaffected or less affected parts of the brain take over the role of damaged areas of the brain. The expanding emotional life of those with dementia has far-reaching consequences for everyday activities: people with dementia dislike busywork and prefer useful tasks. It also has an effect on behaviour: dementia patients react to events in an increasingly uninhibited and emotional way. It affects how people move through spaces; this too is increasingly governed by intuition. It explains how people with dementia respond to tools: which ones they use and which not.

The second positive development at the heart of this book is the fact that people with dementia are still able to learn. This is demonstrated by scientific research as well as in everyday life. For example, many people with (advanced) dementia can learn how to operate tablet computers and other modern devices. In the same way, people can be taught not to do things. For instance, people can generally be taught not to ask the same question 200 times a day. A great deal of behaviour is also (unconsciously) acquired from the environment, which means that the environment can also affect that behaviour. Amazing results can be achieved with dementia patients in the area of self-reliance: they are able to make their own coffee again, dress themselves, or walk a regular route.

There are four types of learning that work well in people with dementia: faultless learning, emotional learning, association learning, and operant learning. These are the four types of learning that occur unconsciously or automatically in dementia patients. The role of carers of people with dementia, both family and professionals, is crucial; it is important to take a conscious approach. In people with dementia, the process of learning or unlearning things often involves a number of small, linked learning processes.

Structure of the book

1. The first chapter explains how the brain works and the damage caused by dementia.

2. The second chapter focuses on dealing with dementia patients’ expanding emotional life. This chapter pays a great deal of attention to behaviour and communication.

3. The third chapter explains the functioning of the learning ability.

4. The fourth chapter features real-life examples.

5. The fifth chapter is about home alterations for people with dementia; what should be borne in mind when designing houses and care homes.

6. The sixth chapter provides an overview of all kinds of modern tools that can be helpful for people with dementia, their families, and carers.

The main chapters are interspersed with five articles from guest experts on:

1. Providing informal care

2. The effect of light

3. The value of music

4. The positive effect of exercise and staying active

5. Food and nutrition

Design and tone

Dementia Is Not Just Decline is a positive and practical book, with many recognisable examples. The Dutch edition is designed in full colour with many illustrative photographs. Thanks to the combination of content, design, and tone, readers are very positive about the book and it is one of the Netherlands’ bestselling books on dementia. The book is approximately 288 pages long.

Recommendation

This is a very positive book that reflects the changing way modern researchers and advocates look at dementia. It shows that people with dementia have the ability to learn new things, which is exciting for everyone living with dementia or dealing with it as a family care partner or professional carer! The book could also be useful for those who think about creating a better workspace for those with early onset dementia who are still at work. It fits well with our objective at Alzheimer’s Disease International to promote a dementia friendly society that includes those living with dementia as much as possible.

Marc Wortmann

Executive Director, Alzheimer Disease International

Publisher in the Netherlands: Kosmos Uitgevers