Many countries, including Anguilla, use the month of October to focus on the elderly. One of the disorders that commonly affect the elderly is dementia. Dementia can have a devastating effect on the elderly and those that take care of the elderly.
What is dementia?
Dementia is not a specific disease. Instead, dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting intellectual and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning. Many causes of dementia symptoms exist. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of a progressive dementia.
Dementia indicates problems with at least two brain functions, such as memory loss and impaired judgment or language. Dementia can make you confused and unable to remember people and names. You may experience changes in personality and social behavior. Some causes of dementia are treatable and even reversible.
What causes dementia?
Dementia has many causes. Some dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease occur on their own, not as a result of another disease. Much is still unknown about how some diseases may be linked to dementia.
Some dementias, such as those caused by a reaction to medications or an infection, are reversible with treatment.
What are some risk factors for dementia?
Many factors can eventually lead to dementia. Some, such as age, cannot be changed. Others can be addressed to reduce your risk.
Risk factors that cannot be changed
• Age. The risk of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and several other dementias increases significantly with age. However, dementia is not a normal part of aging.
• Family history. People with a family history of dementia are at greater risk of developing it. However, many people with a family history never develop symptoms, and many people without a family history do. If you have specific genetic mutations, you are at significantly greater risk of developing certain types of dementia.
• Down syndrome. By the time they reach middle age, most people with Down syndrome develop the plaques and tangles characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, according to studies. Many, but not all, also develop dementia.
Risk factors you can change
To reduce your risk of dementia, you can take steps to control the following factors:
• Alcohol use. Consuming large amounts of alcohol appears to increase the risk of dementia.
• Atherosclerosis. This build up of fats and other substances in and on your artery walls (plaques) is a significant risk factor for vascular dementia because it interferes with blood flow to your brain. This can lead to stroke. Studies have also shown a possible link between atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Blood pressure.Poorly controlled high blood pressure can put you at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
• Cholesterol. High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol, can significantly increase your risk of developing vascular dementia.
• Depression. Although not yet well understood, late-life depression, especially in men, may be an indication for the development of Alzheimer’s-related dementia.
• Diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes, you are at increased risk of developing both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
• Smoking. Smoking likely increases the risk of developing dementia because it puts you at a higher risk of atherosclerosis and other types of vascular disease.
What are the symptoms of dementia?
Dementia symptoms vary depending on the cause, but common signs and symptoms include:
• Memory loss
• Difficulty communicating
• Inability to learn or remember new information
• Difficulty with planning and organizing
• Difficulty with coordination and motor functions
• Personality changes
• Inability to reason
• Inappropriate behavior
• Paranoia
• Agitation
• Hallucinations
Seeing your doctor
As some causes of dementia can be cured or partially treated, it is very important that your doctor is thorough when making the diagnosis, so as not to miss potentially treatable conditions. The frequency of “treatable” causes of dementia is believed to be about 20%. If you are your loved one has symptoms suggestive of dementia a full medical evaluation is required.
Treatment
Treatment of dementia may help slow or minimize the development of symptoms. A number of medications are available for the treatment of dementia. Treatment will vary from person to person and also depending on the cause of the dementia. Treatment of the underlying causes of dementia can also slow or sometimes stop the progress of dementia.
Prevention
There is no sure way to prevent dementia, but there are steps you can take that might help. The following might prove helpful:
• Keep your mind active. Mentally stimulating activities may increase your ability to cope with or compensate for the changes associated with dementia. This includes such things as doing puzzles and word games, learning a language, playing an instrument, reading, writing, painting or drawing. Not only can these activities delay the onset of dementia, but they can help decrease its effects — the more frequent the activity, the more beneficial the effects.
• Be physically and socially active. Physical and social activities can delay the onset of dementia and also reduce its symptoms. The more frequent the activities, the more significant their effects. Examples of physical activity are walking, swimming and dancing. Social activities include traveling, and playing cards or games.
• Lower your cholesterol levels. The deposits that occur in the brains of people with high cholesterol are one of the causes of vascular dementia. So lowering your cholesterol levels can help prevent this condition.
• Control your diabetes. Controlling diabetes can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
• Quit smoking.
• Lower your blood pressure. Keeping blood pressure at normal levels can significantly reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
• Maintain a healthy diet. Eating a healthy diet is important for many reasons, but studies show that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in certain fish and nuts, can have a protective effect and decrease your risk of developing dementia.
Coping with dementia?
Receiving a diagnosis of dementia can be devastating to individuals and their loved ones. Many things need to be considered to ensure that the affected persons and those around them are as prepared as possible for dealing with a condition that is unpredictable and continually changing.
Providing care for a person with dementia is physically and emotionally demanding. Often, the primary caregiver is a spouse or other family members. Feelings of anger and guilt, frustration and discouragement, worry and grief, and social isolation are very common, and they should seek help if required.
Conclusion
Dementia is the loss of mental functions such as thinking, memory, and reasoning that is severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily functioning. Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. Although dementia can occur at any age it is more common in the elderly. Some researchers suspect that as many as half of all people over 80 years old develop Alzheimer’s disease. Some cases of dementia are treatable, therefore it is important that all individuals with signs and symptoms suggestive of dementia should see their health care provider.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. Dr Brett Hodge is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor who has over twenty nine years in clinical practice. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in the Johnson Building in The Valley.
