The Link Between Suicide Ideation & Veterans with Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease
Veterans who served in combat zones experience both Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at higher rates than the general population because of their exposure to hazards such as explosions as well as other forms of violence and trauma.
According to the Veterans Association (VA), among male Veterans ages 60 and older, 6% report current or recent (in the past two weeks) suicidal ideation. Yet, most older male Veterans who have current or recent suicidal ideation did not receive mental health treatment. Understanding and Preventing Suicide in Older Veterans (va.gov). Physicians with older Veteran patients need to be aware of the risk factors such as combat exposure, previous experiences of trauma, health problems, transitions in care, and physical limitations.
Veterans With TBIs and PTSD & Their Risk For Dementia And Alzheimer’s Disease
Recent research finds that Veterans who experience TBIs and PTSD are at higher risk for cognitive problems later in life – including dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
One study of more than 350,000 U.S. Veterans found that even Veterans with “mild” TBIs were at more than a twofold increased risk of developing dementia.
According to the NIH (National Institutes of Health), studies of the relationships between TBI and dementia, and PTSD and dementia have provided insight into the topic of dementia in the military and Veteran populations. While there are some inconsistencies in the results, the TBI-dementia association has become more widely accepted. Moderate-to-severe TBI has been found to increase the risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. A correlation between PTSD and dementia has been established (however, whether or not it is a causal relationship remains unclear). Factors such as blast, combat and chemical exposure may occur during a deployment, along with TBI and/or PTSD diagnosis, and can increase the risk of dementia.
Another connection: Sleep problems have been observed to occur in those following TBI, PTSD and deployment. Poor sleep has been associated with possible dementia risk. Although limited studies have focused on the link between sleep and dementia in military and Veteran populations, sleep is a valuable factor to study due to its association and interconnection with other military/Veteran factors. Evidence Brief: Traumatic Brain Injury and Dementia - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
The Connection Between Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
Dementia is a general term referring to a cognitive decline that interferes with a person’s ability to reason, remember, make choices and complete routine activities. Alzheimer’s is the most common kind of dementia for Veterans as well as the general public, accounting for between 60% and 80% of cases. It is a degenerative disease that is thought to begin 20 years or more before symptoms arise.
VA Healthcare Provides Access To And Coverage For Veterans
Veterans who qualify for VA Healthcare have access to a wide variety of help for dementia treatment. Whether a Veteran needs an in-home aide, a 24-hour memory care unit, or a doctor’s visit, the VA bases funding or support on the Veteran’s income and priority level in the VA Healthcare system. Veterans can also access multiple programs at once.
Veterans whose dementia can be linked to their service record are considered to have a service-connected disability, which puts them in a higher priority category and could mean more funding for care. If a Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War and is experiencing Lewy Body Dementia, which is linked to Parkinson’s Disease, that condition could be considered at least partially service-connected.
Even if there’s no obvious connection between dementia and the Veteran’s time in service, he or she may still be eligible for some VA Healthcare or pension benefits. VA programs that are most helpful for memory care needs include:
Homemaker/Home Health Aide Care
Veteran-Directed Home-Based Care (VD-HCBS)
Aid and Attendance Benefit (A&A) or needs-based pension funds
Community Nursing Homes
VA Community Living Centers
State VA Nursing Homes
Other VA Assistance that can benefit Veterans with dementia include Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA); Home-Based Primary Care; Skilled Home Health Care; Telehealth, Palliative Care Teams/Hospice and Respite Care.
To learn more about memory care resources for Veterans, visit: Memory Care Resources for Veterans | MemoryCare.com
To learn more about resources for Veterans, visit the Resources section of the NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention website and click on “Veterans”. Suicide Prevention Resources — NH Coalition for Suicide Prevention (zerosuicidesnh.org)
Patti Cloutier, a mother who lost her enlisted son Sean to suicide 4 years ago, has made it her mission to raise awareness of the problem of suicide by those who have serve our country.
The “22 No More” initiative, named in the news clip below, references the fact that on average, 22 Veterans per day die by suicide.
There is more awareness about ways to get help, including the installation of the 988 suicide hotline last year -- but the stigma associated with mental health issues still exists.
https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-mom-attention-military-veteran-suicide/43949439