Efraim Jaul
Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Title: COMMON PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS UNDERLYING DEMENTIA AND PRESSURE ULCERS
Biography
Biography: Efraim Jaul
Abstract
Increased longevity, especially in frail elderly patients, there is a higher rate of dementia resulting in functional and cognitive impairment leading to disabilities, immobility and Pressure Ulcers (PU), representing a fi nal pathological pathway. Our research goal was to elucidate common pathophysiological mechanisms underlying dementia and PU. Apparently, it looks as these are two separate conditions. Dementia is typically viewed as a neurodegenerative disease without peripheral implications. Pressure ulcers are manifested as a local skin problem particularly in frail, immobile elderly patient. Finding common etiological paths between pressure ulcers and dementia will produce new treatment strategies that could lead to the prevention of pressure ulcers, sensitized clinician awareness to PU in mild to moderate dementia could lead to the suppression of PU onset, ultimately decreasing suff ering during the advanced stages of dementia. Studies consistently demonstrate a signifi cant association between various comorbidities especially dementia and pressure ulcers in frail elderly patients. Th e precise physiological mechanisms that lead to dementia and pressure ulcers comorbidity versus other comorbidities are not clear. Th e potential hypothesized pathophysiological mechanism causing "peripheral" impact of dementia, particular in Alzheimer disease, is related to changes in fi broblast aggregation rates in the skin tissue, in conjunction with continuous deterioration of the neurophysiological subsystems associated with: motor, sensory, autonomic, cognitive, and behavioral pathways linking pressure ulcers with dementia progression.