| Popis: |
The population of the United States is aging. Adults 65 years of age and older (or older adults) represent the most rapidly increasing demographic. The fastest growing is the cohort age 85 and older (Ortman et al, An aging nation: the older population in the United States. United States Census Bureau, Economics and Statistics Administration, US Department of Commerce, Washington, DC, 2014). The prevalence of chronic diseases associated with aging is also increasing, including conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, arthritic conditions, and dementia. Aging is also associated with a decline in physiologic functioning of the individual. Dementia is a significant and increasingly common age-related disorder and manifests as a slow, progressive decline in cognitive functions (i.e., intellectual abilities, impairment of memory, abstract thinking, and judgment). The pathophysiology and etiology of dementia can vary, but the most common cause is Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (Birks and Harvey, Cochrane Database Syst Rev (6):CD001190, 2018). This chapter presents a case report and a review of the issues and challenges associated with the management of dental patients with AD. Practicing dentistry is no longer limited to oral cavity as dentists are “oral health physicians” who must be knowledgeable of the condition and manage their patients appropriately. |
