Dementia Signs, Causes & Prevention
Dementia is an overall term that describes a group of symptoms associated with the decline in memory. This decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities.
60 to 80 percent of all dementia cases are diagnosed as Alzheimer’s Disease by far the most common form of dementia. The second most prevalent form of dementia is Vascular Dementia. This form of dementia occurs after a stroke. Other conditions make up the rest of the cases of dementia, including some that are reversible, such as vitamin deficiencies or thyroid problems.
Dementia Signs, Causes & Prevention
Many times, dementia is often incorrectly referred to as senility, which reflects the formerly widespread but incorrect belief that serious mental decline is a normal part of aging.
Dementia and Memory Loss
Symptoms of dementia can vary greatly. At least two of the following core mental functions must be significantly impaired to be considered dementia:
- Visual perception
- Memory
- Reasoning and judgment
- Ability to focus and pay attention
- Communication and language
Short-term memory is usually affected in people with dementia. These people may have problems with planning and preparing meals, keeping track of a purse or wallet, paying bills, remembering appointments or leaving their neighborhood.
Dementia Symptoms
Many dementias are progressive…meaning symptoms start out slowly and gradually get worse. If you know someone who experiencing memory difficulties, or other changes in cognitive skills, it is strongly recommended to see a specialist in dementia. This professional evaluation may detect a treatable condition. Identifying symptoms that may suggest dementia early allows a person to get the maximum benefit from available treatments and provides time to plan for the future.
Causes of Dementia
Damage to brain cells is the main cause of dementia. This damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. Thinking, behavior and feelings are affected when brain cells cannot communicate normally.
The brain has many distinct regions, each of which is responsible for different functions (for example, memory, judgment and movement). When cells in a particular region are damaged, that region cannot carry out its functions normally.
Particular types of brain cell damage are connected with different types of dementia and are associated with in particular regions of the brain. For example, in Alzheimer's disease, high levels of certain proteins inside and outside brain cells make it hard for brain cells to stay healthy and to communicate with each other. The brain region called the hippocampus is the center of learning and memory in the brain, and the brain cells in this region are often the first to be damaged. That's why memory loss is often one of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's.
Memory Loss Conditions
Thinking and memory problems caused by the following conditions may improve when the condition is treated or addressed:
- Medication side effects
- Thyroid problems
- Depression
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Excess use of alcohol
NOTE:Most changes in the brain that cause dementia are permanent and worsen over time.
Diagnosis of Dementia
Because there is no one test to determine if someone has dementia, doctors diagnose Alzheimer's and other types of dementia based on a careful medical history, a physical examination, laboratory tests, and the characteristic changes in thinking, day-to-day function and behavior associated with each type.
Even though today’s doctors can determine that a person has dementia with a high level of certainty, it's harder to determine the exact type of dementia because the symptoms and brain changes of different dementias can overlap. Doctor may diagnose "dementia" and not specify a type. If this occurs, it may be necessary to see a specialist such as a neurologist or gero-psychologist.
Dementia Treatment and Care in Omaha
Treatment of dementia in Omaha depends on its cause. In the case of most progressive dementias, including Alzheimer's disease, there is no cure and no treatment that slows or stops its progression.
Some drug treatments may temporarily improve symptoms. The same medications used to treat Alzheimer's are among the drugs sometimes prescribed to help with symptoms of other types of dementias. Some symptoms of dementia can be alleviated by non-drug therapies.
Dementia Risk and Prevention
We can reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia using new research methods. Age and genetics cannot be changed but are risk factors for dementia. Researchers continue to explore the impact of other risk factors on brain health and prevention of dementia. Some of the most active areas of research in risk reduction and prevention include cardiovascular factors, physical fitness and diet.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Your brain is nourished by one of your body's richest networks of blood vessels. Anything that damages blood vessels anywhere in your body can damage blood vessels in your brain, depriving brain cells of vital food and oxygen. Blood vessel changes in the brain are linked to vascular dementia. They often are present along with changes caused by other types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. These changes may interact to cause faster decline or make impairments more severe. You can help protect your brain with some of the same strategies that protect your heart — don't smoke; take steps to keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar within recommended limits; and maintain a healthy weight.
Physical Exercise
Regular physical exercise may help lower the risk of some types of dementia. Evidence suggests exercise may directly benefit brain cells by increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain.
Diet
What you eat may have its greatest impact on brain health through its effect on heart health. The best current evidence suggests that heart-healthy eating patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, also may help protect the brain. A Mediterranean diet includes relatively little red meat and emphasizes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish and shellfish, and nuts, olive oil and other healthy fats.
Dementia Signs, Causes, Prevention and Treatment in Omaha Conclusion
In conclusion, dementia is a complex and multi-faceted disease. It has a profound effect on both the person who is diagnosed with dementia and those that provide care for dementia patients. Early detection is key in providing the guidance and care plan for those suffering from dementia. Organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association are working every day to find a cure. In the meantime, the more we understand the Signs, Causes and Prevention of dementia, the better we can help those who are diagnosed and suffering from this devastating disease.
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