INSIDER EXPLANATION ABOUT DEMENTIA

INSIDER EXPLANATION ABOUT DEMENTIA

What is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term. It’s used to describe a group of illnesses. Dementia is naturally progressive. It is mostly recognized through cognitive decline. Memory, thinking, and communication issues are what adequately describe dementia.

Contrary to popular opinion, dementia isn’t an illness that only affects the old. It also affects people under the age of 65. However, the likelihood of developing dementia increases with age. Dementia mostly affects older people, but it’s not a normal part of aging.

According to WHO, approximately 50 million people around the world have dementia. The most common form of Dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. It accounts for 50–80% of people with dementia. Every 4 seconds, there’s a new case of dementia being diagnosed.

Signs and symptoms of dementia and stages

Different people may have varying symptoms, depending on their personalities. These signs are possible for figuring out dementia patients. They can best be classified in stages.

Mild cognitive impairment

It’s characterized by mild forgetfulness. It doesn’t mean that anyone who has a terrible memory at a later age may develop dementia. In some cases, they do. But it is normal for people over 65.

Mild Dementia

At this stage, most people won’t be able to recognize the signs unless you look closely. One becomes forgetful, gets lost in familiar places, and loses track of time. Personality changes and difficulty in carrying out tasks may be observed too.

Moderate Dementia

• In this stage, the signs are easy to observe. Daily activities become harder to accomplish.
• These signs include:
• Forgetting their family members and recent events
• They become suspicious and untrusting.
• Behavioral signs can also be observed like; repeated questioning and wandering.
• They need more help with personal care at this stage, i.e., combing hair and getting dressed.
• They may also experience sleep disturbances.

Severe Dementia

At this stage, everything escalates. Symptoms become worse, and they may have communication difficulties. At this stage, they’ll need full-time care. On top of previous signs, they may have;

• Unaware of place and time
• May lose bladder control.
• Difficulty walking or even holding head up when seated.
• Escalated behavioral changes like; increase in aggression.
• Difficulty recognizing relatives and friends.

Common forms of dementia

Alzheimer’s

60–70% of cases of dementia tend to be Alzheimer’s. People with Alzheimer’s have been seen to have a relatively smaller brain size. Most of their brain cells die, and they tend to have fewer connections and nerve cells.

Dementia with levy bodies

It is a neurodegenerative condition in the brain. Abnormal aggregates of alpha-synuclein protein to form inside nerve cells. It results in abnormal structures in the brain.

Frontotemporal dementia

Also known as Pick’s disease. It’s when the front of the brain begins degenerating.

Most types of dementias co-exist, while others are distinct. Other are; Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, posterior cortical atrophy, down syndrome, and vascular dementia.

Causes of Dementia

Neurodegenerative diseases are the leading causes of dementia. It’s, however, not confirmed whether dementia causes brain cell death. Or if brain cell death results in dementia.

Just like Alzheimer’s, dementia can be caused by head injury, stroke, brain tumor. These are diseases that kill brain cells slowly.

Repetitive brain injury can cause trauma. Sports players have been observed to develop certain kinds of dementia in later years. Evidence to support this isn’t immense. But brain injuries mainly lead to Alzheimer’s.

Other causes of dementia can be; HIV infection, prion disease, and treatable diseases. Treatable conditions are; vitamin deficiencies, medical interactions, and depression. These can be treated and reverse the effects.

Diagnose and treatment of dementia

Cognitive dementia tests are used to determine if one has dementia or not. This test includes ten questions that asked both the patient and family close members. If the test suggests memory loss, further investigation is conducted. A CT brain scan will be taken, and blood tests showed too.

A mini-minimal examination will also be taken. It helps in rating the severity of dementia. Also, it narrows down possible diseases that led to it.

Risk factors for dementia

• Age: this is the most potent risk factor. But it doesn’t mean that old age comes with dementia. 9% of dementia cases are of people under the age of 65.
• Exercise and weight control: lack of regular exercise could increase the risk of dementia.
• Cigarettes
• Harmful use of alcohol
• Lack of a healthy diet
• Maintenance of a healthy blood sugar level and cholesterol helps prevent dementia.
• Social isolation
• Depression
• Low educational attainment
• Cognitive inability
• Social isolation