[Caring for people suffering from Alzheimer's disease]

La dépression de la personne âgée

The aging of the population increases the rate of depressive morbidity. It constitutes a major public health problem. In France, in 2018, people aged 65 or older represented 19.6% of the population. By 2040, they will represent about 25%. According to the World Health Organization, worldwide, among adults aged 60 and over, 15% suffer from a mental health disorder. 6.6% of disabilities are attributed to psychological or neurological disorders, the most common being dementia and depression (7%). A good knowledge of the depressive syndrome of the elderly is and will be essential for health professionals.

[Multiple sclerosis and daily care]

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive disease that is too often associated with the image of a wheelchair. However, this image does not reflect the reality of most patients. Even with basic treatment, relapses can persist. Less visible, fluctuating and often misunderstood symptoms can be the source of negative judgements: chronic fatigue labelled as laziness or as a lack of willpower, balance problems interpreted as drunkenness, mood fluctuations likened to hysteria, etc. The consequences of the disease are therefore physical, psychological and socio-economic. The aim is to preserve the quality of daily life. There are a number of aids and treatments available.

[Supporting the adaptation to the announcement of a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (2/2)]

The emotional reactions that arise when a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is made are repeated at each stage of the pathology. They confront the person with a reality they thought they had mastered. Fighting with the disease means continuing to live one's personal, family, love and professional life. It is a matter of positive thinking by becoming aware of one's limits and finding the right balance between one's desires and one's capacities. The relationship of trust developed with the various professionals who will accompany the patient throughout his or her treatment is essential.

[Supporting the adaptation to the announcement of multiple sclerosis]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that most often begins in young adulthood. With at least 2,500 new cases diagnosed each year in France, it is the leading cause of severe non-traumatic disability among young adults. The announcement of MS constitutes a brutal intrusion into the life of the subject. The carers accompany the process of cognitive and emotional adjustment that is inevitable in order to learn to live with the disease.

[Screening for Alzheimer's disease by assessing memory impairment]

The feeling of memory failure is the most frequently expressed discomfort with age. The difficulty is to distinguish between a memory complaint and a memory pathology. Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed at the stage of dementia. Early detection and the prospect of treatments likely to act lead to an interest in its pre-dementia phase, which is known to precede the appearance of the dementia syndrome by several years.

[Neuropsychopathology of people suffering from Parkinson's disease (2/2)]

A cognitive and psychological approach is essential to take into account all the phenomena which can be observed in the everyday life of patients with Parkinson's disease. In order to provide patients and their carer(s) with clear and specific answers to help them gain a better insight into their future everyday life, the non-motor symptoms associated with the disease must be identified: cognitive, psychological and behavioural disorders.