Childhood dementia
| Childhood dementia | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
| Specialty | {{#statements:P1995}} |
| Patient UK | Childhood dementia |
Childhood dementia is an umbrella group[1][2] of over 100[1][3][4] rare neurodegenerative conditions[1][3][4] that start to show symptoms in childhood or adolescence[1][5][6]. Collectively, these conditions are associated with a high mortality rate.
The conditions within this group cause a progressive decline of neurocognitive function, causing the loss of previously learned developmental skills, such as walking, talking, and reading/writing, among others.
In their later stages, the brain can progressively lose the ability to keep the body functioning, eventually resulting in the death of the person.
Prognosis
Childhood dementia conditions cause a progressive neurocognitive decline[1][3][7] and severely reduce the life expectancy and quality of life of people affected.[1][7]
Life expectancy
It's estimated that of those born with an untreatable childhood dementia condition, only 29% survive to an age of 18, and only 10% reach an age of 50.[1]
For this group, the median life expectancy is estimated as around 9 years, whereas the mean life expectancy has been calculated to be 16.3 years.[1]
Quality of life
While in most cases, people affected initially develop without noticeable problems[4], they begin to progressively lose previously acquired developmental skills[1], such as the abilities to write, read, talk, walk, and play.[5] Over the course of the disease, affected individuals become increasingly dependent on care, and eventually bedridden.[4] In addition, people affected can have a range of comorbidities depending on the subtype, with significant impacts on quality of life.[1]
Causes
Diagnosis
Prevention
Management
For the non-treatable conditions encompassed by childhood dementia, the focus is on managing symptoms.[1] This can include the use of:
- anti-seizure and behaviour modifying medications[1]
- sleep-aids to treat insomnia[1]
- muscle relaxants to treat muscle stiffness[1]
And therapies like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy[1]
Signs and Symptoms
Psychiatric
- hyperactivity[6]
- trouble concentrating, learning, communicating, or understanding[6]
- confusion[6]
- amnesia[6]
- personality changes[6]
Potential complications
- Loss of vision or hearing[6]
- Seizures[7][4][6]
- Complete loss of motor skills / movement[4][6]
- Cardiovascular[1][7][6], respiratory[1][7][6], or digestive problems[1][6]
- Bone or joint problems[1][6]
Epidemiology
History
Society and culture
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 Elvidge, Kristina L; Christodoulou, John; Farrar, Michelle A; Tilden, Dominic; Maack, Megan; Valeri, Madeline; Ellis, Magda; Smith, Nicholas J C (20 July 2023). "collective burden of childhood dementia: a scoping review | Brain | Oxford Academic". Oxford Academic. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ↑ "Childhood Dementia Support | Dementia Support Australia". www.dementia.com.au. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Djafar, Jason V.; Johnson, Alexandra M.; Elvidge, Kristina L.; Farrar, Michelle A. (2023-02-01). "Childhood Dementia: A Collective Clinical Approach to Advance Therapeutic Development and Care". Pediatric Neurology. 139: 76–85. doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2022.11.015. ISSN 0887-8994. PMID 36571866 Check
|pmid=value (help). - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Oeffentlichkeitsarbeit, DZNE Abt fuer Presse-und. "Childhood dementia". DZNE (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "What is Childhood Dementia?". childhooddementia.org. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 "Childhood dementia | Dementia Australia". www.dementia.org.au. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Nevin, Suzanne M.; McGill, Brittany C.; Kelada, Lauren; Hilton, Gail; Maack, Megan; Elvidge, Kristina L.; Farrar, Michelle A.; Baynam, Gareth; Katz, Naomi T.; Donovan, Leigh; Grattan, Sarah; Signorelli, Christina; Bhattacharya, Kaustuv; Nunn, Kenneth; Wakefield, Claire E. (2023-09-07). "The psychosocial impact of childhood dementia on children and their parents: a systematic review". Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases. 18 (1): 277. doi:10.1186/s13023-023-02859-3. ISSN 1750-1172. PMC 10486052 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 37679855 Check|pmid=value (help).
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