Dementia
Overview
Dementia is a broad category of brain diseases that cause a long-term and often gradual decrease in the ability to think and remember. The effects are significant enough to affect a person's daily functioning and life. It is not a specific disease, but rather a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities.
Causes
Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells. This damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. When brain cells cannot communicate normally, thinking, behavior and feelings can be affected. 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.
Different types of dementia are associated with particular types of brain cell damage 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.
While most changes in the brain that cause dementia are permanent and worsen over time, thinking and memory problems caused by the following conditions may improve when the condition is treated or addressed:
- Depression
- Side effects of medications
- Excess use of alcohol
- Thyroid problems
- Vitamin deficiencies
Symptoms
Dementia symptoms vary depending on the cause, but common signs and symptoms include:
- Cognitive changes
* Memory loss, which is usually noticed by a spouse or someone else * Difficulty communicating or finding words * Difficulty with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving * Difficulty reasoning or problem-solving * Difficulty handling complex tasks * Difficulty with planning and organizing * Difficulty with coordination and motor functions * Confusion and disorientation
- Psychological changes
* Personality changes * Depression * Anxiety * Inappropriate behavior * Paranoia * Agitation * Hallucinations
Diagnosis
There is no specific test to confirm a diagnosis of 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. Doctors can determine that a person has dementia with a high level of certainty. But it's harder to determine the exact type of dementia because the symptoms and brain changes of different dementias can overlap. In some cases, a 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.
Treatment and Care
While there is no cure for dementia, there are ways to manage symptoms. Medications and non-drug treatments can both be used to help with symptoms of dementia. The treatments that work best will depend on the individual and the symptoms they are experiencing. In some cases, medications can help slow down the progression of the disease. Non-drug treatments can include things like creating a safe and supportive environment, exercise, and other therapies.
Prevention
While there is no surefire way to prevent dementia, there are steps you can take that might help. More research is needed, but it might be beneficial to do the following:
- Keep your mind active. Mentally stimulating activities, such as reading, solving puzzles and playing word games, and memory training might delay the onset of dementia and decrease its effects.
- Be physically active. Regular physical exercise might decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 50%.
- Stay socially engaged. Social interaction helps ward off depression and stress, both of which can contribute to dementia.
- Eat a healthy diet. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, often found in certain fish and nuts, might promote brain health.
- Avoid tobacco. Avoid tobacco use and limit alcohol consumption.