1st Edition
Dementia Current Perspectives in Research and Treatment
This book explores how our conception of dementia has changed since its initial discovery, taking in advancements in knowledge that translate into better ways to manage the condition.
Providing detailed reports of the latest research, the book explores the myriad forms of dementia. Written in accessible language, it looks at current methods of assessing and diagnosing the condition before turning to contemporary approaches to treatment. Chapters dedicated to often overlooked issues include raising awareness about how dementia affects the lives of those with an intellectual developmental disorder, the fundamental need to consider cultural differences, and the need to fully acknowledge and support informal carers. The final section of the text examines how COVID-19 has spotlighted serious gaps in healthcare for those living with dementia.
Fortified with straightforward explanations and references to clinical material throughout, the book is essential reading not only for clinical psychologists in training and those in practice seeking an overview of the field and latest developments, but for a broader audience as well.
1. What is dementia? 2. Is dementia part of the normal ageing process? 3. Forms of dementia 4. Assessment 5. Diagnosis 6. Treatment 7. Regulating emotions 8. Intellectual development disorder and dementia 9. The role of the carer 10. Cross-cultural issues 11. Future directions 12. Postlude
Biography
Gary Christopher, PhD, is a gerontologist working in the Centre for Innovative Ageing at Swansea University. His research focuses on memory and emotion regulation within the context of older adult mental health. He is particularly interested in dementia as an existential threat and ways to mitigate its impact.
'Gary Christopher has produced a comprehensive, informative and accessible text to understand dementia and its treatment. He combines research, academic evidence and translates theory into a highly readable book, useful for a variety of disciplinary areas and which makes essential reading for professionals and anyone studying dementia and ageing.'
Judith Phillips, OBE, Deputy Principal (Research) at the University of Stirling, Professor of Gerontology, and Research Director for the Healthy Ageing Challenge delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
'Although research on the dementias continues to be the poor relation of medical and psychosocial research, it covers a wide range of areas, from the biological to the sociological, and is expanding continually. Gary Christopher has bravely tackled the challenge of providing a primer that covers the breadth of research and treatment and has succeeded in producing a work that is accessible to the non-specialist and personal in its tone. By offering a research-informed context, the book serves as a useful companion to the now widely available accounts written by people living with dementia, who provide an invaluable "insider" view of the condition.'
Bob Woods, Professor Emeritus at Bangor University.
