Dementia Causes Complication Preventions

Dementia:  Dementia is a gradual decline of mental ability that affects the brain to that extent where life becomes difficult.

It is the loss of mental functions such as thinking, memorizing and reasoning. It is a profound mental incapacity. It is also called senility.

People suffering from dementia could not be able to think properly enough to perform their normal activities. It can affect your memory, decision making ability, your personality, behavior. It can impair judgment and make you feel disoriented.

It is not the disease but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases.

It usually occurs in the older ages.

Symptoms and complications:

–          Progressive loss of memory – Person experiences forgetfulness. He may forget even small things.

–          Perception – Perception power may be diminished.

–          Emotional behavior or personality – There may also be changes in behavior and personality

–          Striking out and violent behavior.

Language – Speaking out in confusing sentences.

–          Arguments – Person is involved in arguments.

–          Psychotic symptoms such as hallucination, delusion etc.

–          Alters the cognitive skills such as calculation, thinking or judgement.

–          Withdrawing from social contacts.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and vascular dementia is caused by stroke.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease:

• Gradual loss of short –term  memory


• Irritability , anxiety , depression , confused and restlessness


• Changes in behavior and personality

Symptoms of vascular dementia:

• Stroke symptoms – Example – Paralysis, loss of vision, difficulty with language .


• Changes in Gait


• Sudden memory loss


• Sudden loss of organic control


• Sudden laughing and crying without reason

Causes of Dementia: It may be caused by number of factors:

–          Brain injury

–          Brain tumor

–          Intoxication from medications

–          Chronic alcoholic abuse

–          Changes in blood sugar levels (Diabetes)

–          Thyroid function abnormalities

–          Vitamin – B12 deficiency

–          High blood pressure

–          High cholesterol

–          Smoking

–          Side effects to certain medications

Severe depression

–          Chronic infection

–          Aging and family history of dementia are the risk factors for developing it

Medical conditions which are the cause of dementia:

–          Parkinson’s disease

–          Multiple sclerosis

–          Progressive supra nuclear palsy

–          Infections that can affect the brain

–          Changes in sodium, calcium and sugar level in blood

Investigations:

–          Analysis of urine

–          Blood chemistry

–          Thyroid stimulating hormone level

–          C.S.F analysis

–          CT scan of head

–          M.R.I of head

Preventions and treatments:

–          Low fat diet intake

–          Controlling High Blood Pressure

–          Controlling Diabetes

–          Use of cholesterol lowering medicines

–          Quit smoking and alcohol

–          Use of breathing exercises, physical postures and meditation– As a way of keeping fit and healthy. It may not improve cognitive abilities in elderly dementia patients but it certainly can improve the mood states and enhance physical function such as flexibility, balance of the body. It can if used properly help on improving the wellbeing of elderly patient suffering from dementia.

–          Dementia can be treated and cured because the cause is treatable. Example – Dementia caused by substance abuse (drugs and alcohol), hormone or vitamin imbalances.

–          Anemia, hypoxia, congestive heart failure, depression, infections, nutritional                          disorders, thyroid disorders Should be treated and checked cause they are the main              cause of dementia.

–         Antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and stimulants should be administered to the                      patients according to requirement.

–          Drugs are available to treat dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. These drugs                  cannot cure such dementia or repair the brain damage but they may improve                          symptoms or slow down the disease.