Introduction: Dementia is a clinical syndrome most often reflected in the progressive worsening of cognitive functions and the inability to live and work independently. It affects a person’s memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to carry out everyday tasks and leisure activities. We must pay attention to the early signs and symptoms of dementia, which can be categorized as cognitive symptoms, attention deficits, concentration difficulties, and others. There are many types of dementia, but the most common ones are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia. Dementia can be caused by factors, including excessive alcohol consumption – the latter may lead to alcohol-related dementia or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Patients with this type of dementia often suffer from a severe lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine). Excessive alcohol consumption impacts a person’s intellectual abilities, cognitive function, and memory. Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to explain how excessive alcohol consumption affects the development of dementia in older adults. The focus will be on the prevention of alcohol-related dementia and the role of nurses in caring for patients who have developed alcohol-related dementia. Methods: A descriptive method was used, along with a review of scientific literature in both English and Slovenian. The literature was obtained through the EBSCOhost platform, specifically from the PubMed and CINAHL Ultimate databases. Results: In the care of patients with alcohol-related dementia and their family members, the most important measure is alcohol abstinence, as it prevents the progression of neurological damage and, consequently, the development of alcohol-related dementia. Although the prevalence of this type of dementia is relatively low, caring for these patients represents a major challenge, as they are often overlooked in the early stages, misdiagnosed, and insufficiently treated. Discussion and conclusion: To equip nurses with the necessary knowledge about alcohol-related dementia, they must be provided with education, the opportunity to gain clinical experience and competencies, leadership support, and, arguably most importantly, empathy. Nurses must focus on neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver burnout syndrome. During our study, we found that a large number of dementia patients are cared for by family members, and the role of nurses is to provide them with help and support. A structured multidisciplinary rehabilitation program is required in the care of patients with alcohol-related dementia, and special attention is needed due to the stigmatization of these patients in healthcare institutions.
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