痴呆症Dementia

痴呆症DementiaFact sheet N°362April 2012实况报道第362号2012年4月重要事实Key facts•痴呆症是一种综合征，体现为记忆、思考、行为和日常活动能力衰退。

Dementia is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities.•虽然痴呆症主要影响老年人，但它并不是年老的正常情况。

Although dementia mainly affects older people, it is not a normal part of ageing.•全世界有3560万痴呆症患者，每年新增病例770万。

Worldwide, 35.6 million people have dementia and there are 7.7 million new cases every year.•阿兹海默病是痴呆症最常见的病因，可能导致60-70%的痴呆症。

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases.•痴呆症是全世界老年人残疾和依赖他人的主要原因之一。

Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide.•痴呆症对患者的护理者、家庭和社会产生身体、心理、社会和经济影响。

Dementia has physical, psychological, social and economical impact on caregivers, families and society.Dementia is a syndrome – usually of a chronic or progressive nature – in which there is deterioration in cognitive function (i.e. the ability to process thought) beyond what might be expected from normal ageing. It affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement. Consciousness is not affected. The impairment in cognitive function is commonly accompanied, and occasionally preceded, by deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour, or motivation. 痴呆症是一种慢性或进行性综合征，通常是认知功能（即处理思想的能力）出现比正常年老过程更严重的衰退。

它会影响记忆、思考、定向、理解、计算、学习、语言和判断能力，但不会影响意识。

认知能力损伤通常伴有情感控制能力、社会行为和动机衰退，或晚于上述几种状况出现。

Dementia is caused by a variety of diseases and injuries that primarily or secondarily affect the brain, such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke. 痴呆症由多种首要或次要影响大脑的疾病引起，如阿兹海默病或中风。

Dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. It is overwhelming not only for the people who have it, but also for their caregivers and families. There is often a lack of awareness and understanding of dementia, resulting in stigmatization and barriers to diagnosis and care. The impact of dementia on caregivers, family and societies can be physical, psychological, social and economic. 痴呆症是全世界老年人残疾和依赖他人的主要原因之一。

它不仅给痴呆症患者而且给其护理者和家庭带来巨大压力。

对痴呆症的认识和理解不足导致歧视以及诊断和护理方面的障碍。

痴呆症对护理者、患者家庭和社会的影响可能是身体上的，也可能是在心理、社会和经济方面。

Signs and symptoms症状和体征Dementia affects each person in a different way, depending upon the impact of the disease and the person’s p ersonality before becoming ill. The signs and symptoms linked to dementia can be understood in three stages. 痴呆症对每位患者的影响方式不同，取决于疾病影响和患者得病前的个人情况。

与痴呆症相关的体征和症状可大致分为三个阶段。

Early stage: the early stage of dementia is often overlooked, because the onset is gradual. Common symptoms include:•forgetfulness•losing track of the timebecoming lost in familiar places.早期：由于痴呆症是逐步发病，其早期常常被忽略。

常见症状包括：•健忘•失去时间感•在熟悉的地方迷路Middle stage:as dementia progresses to the middle stage, the signs and symptoms become clearer and more restricting. These include:•becoming forgetful of recent events and people's names•becoming lost at home•having increasing difficulty with communication•needing help with personal care•experiencing behaviour changes, including wandering and repeated questioning.中期：随着痴呆症发展到中期，体征和症状更为清晰，对患者的限制更大，包括：•对最近的事件和人名健忘•在家里迷路•沟通困难增加•需要个人护理人员的帮助•经历行为变化，包括精神恍惚和反复提问•Late stage: the late stage of dementia is one of near total dependence and inactivity. Memory disturbances are serious and the physical signs and symptoms become more obvious. Symptoms include:•becoming unaware of the time and place•having difficulty recognizing relatives and friends•having an increasing need for assisted self-care•having difficulty walking•experiencing behaviour changes that may escalate and include aggression.晚期：痴呆症晚期患者近乎完全依赖他人照顾，几乎完全不活动。

出现严重记忆障碍，身体上的体征和症状越发明显。

症状包括：•无法感知时间和地点•辨认亲戚朋友存在困难•自我护理方面越来越需要协助•走路困难•经历更多行为变化，可能包括具有进攻性Common forms常见形式There are many different forms, or causes, of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and may contribute to 60–70% of cases. Other major forms include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies (abnormal aggregates of protein that develop inside nerve cells), and a group of diseases that contribute to frontotemporal dementia (degeneration of the frontal lobe of the brain). The boundaries between different forms of dementia are indistinct and mixed forms often co-exist. 痴呆症存在多种不同形式或病因。

阿兹海默病是痴呆症最常见的形式，可能占痴呆症病因的60-70%。

其它主要形式包括血管性痴呆、路易体痴呆（神经细胞内出现蛋白质异常聚集）和一组导致额颞叶痴呆（大脑额叶恶化）的疾病。