KEY QUE: understanding of memory+dementia

Question 1

What is Dementia?
[[KEY QU.]]

Answer 1

A progressive neurological disorder marked by:

-Memory loss
-Personality changes
-Impaired reasoning
>Most common type: Alzheimer’s disease
-Affects ~850,000 in the UK (expected to hit 1 million by 2025)
-Noticed late due to misconception that memory decline is ‘normal ageing’

Question 2

Multi-Store Model (MSM) link + application
[KEY QU.]

Answer 2

STM → LTM requires encoding + attention.

-Dementia may disrupt encoding or retrieval, causing:
-Forgetting recent conversations
-Word-finding difficulties

Application:
Use simple language, repeat info clearly.

Ask specific questions (e.g., “What did you have for lunch?” instead of “What did you do today?”)

Question 3

Reconstructive Memory & Schemas + application
[KEY QU.]

Answer 3

Memory is reconstructed using schemas (mental frameworks).

Dementia may cause:

Incorrect schemas to be activated

Confusion even in familiar environments

Application:
Use visual cues, familiar objects, or routines to trigger correct schemas.
Environmental prompts (e.g., labelled drawers, calendars) can aid recognition.

Question 4

Semantic Memory
[KEY QU.]

Answer 4

Damage to semantic memory = difficulty using prior knowledge.

Steyvers & Hemmer: Prior knowledge supports recall, but dementia disrupts this.

🧩 Application:
Re-explain context or background to ‘fill gaps’.

Reminders or repetition can help activate remaining knowledge

Question 5

evaluation points

Answer 5

✔️ Strengths:
Psychological models guide practical care strategies (e.g., memory cues, simplifying tasks).

Grounded in scientific research (e.g., Steyvers & Hemmer, Baddeley’s WMM).

❌ Limitations:
Dementia varies across individuals; not all memory models apply equally.

Memory theories often tested in labs – lack ecological validity.

Focused mainly on deficits; less attention to emotional and social needs.