Untangling Cultural Differences in Behavioral, Physiological, and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR; 4th ed. Revised; American Psychiatric Association) and (BPSD) there are many behavioral, physiological, and psychological issues that have been correlated with the progression of the Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Examples of these issues include; emotional regulation problems, variations in eating behavior, and an advancing decline in memory. Though certain symptoms of the disease seem to be widely universal, current literature shows that a number of disparities do exist. There are several differences between and within populations suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia that are influenced by various factors such as; culture, genetic predisposition, lifestyle, beliefs about aging, early life events, beliefs about treatment, and geographical region (Alzheimer Association 2012; Ayako et al., 2012; Flaskerud 2009). Untangling these differences is the first step to; providing a more culture-oriented awareness, tearing down the “flawed” misconceptions that exist within cultures, and ultimately improving the current diagnosis and treatment rate.
Author: John S Avant
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W793540749