Dementia

Comprehensive Dementia Care at Medica

Memory, IQ, behavior, orientation, temperament, initiative, and other mental skills all suffer as people get older. Simple actions such as brushing one’s teeth, washing oneself, and dressing up become increasingly difficult for some people, and they may require assistance from others. Dementia is the medical term for this illness. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent cause of progressive dementia in older people, but dementia can also be caused by a variety of other conditions. Some dementia symptoms may be reversible, depending on the reason.

Isn’t dementia a natural part of the aging process?

No, many senior citizens go their entire lives without ever having dementia. Muscle and bone deterioration, stiffness of arteries and veins, and age-related memory problems can all be signs of normal aging.

Symptoms of Dementia

The symptoms of dementia will vary from patient to patient. But you can always spot certain common signs in most who are diagnosed. These symptoms include:

• Difficulty in doing complex tasks
• Confusion and disorientation
• Memory loss
• Difficulty in communicating
• Difficulty in judgment or making decisions
• Problems with eyesight

Along with this, a person suffering from dementia also faces certain psychological changes as well, such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Agitation
• Hallucinations
• Personality changes

Causes of Dementia

Damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain causes dementia. Dementia affects people differently and causes distinct symptoms depending on which part of the brain is destroyed. But some known risk factors are:

• Age: The most known risk factor for dementia is growing older, with most instances affecting those aged 65 and up.
• Family History: Those who have dementia-affected parents or siblings are more likely to develop the disease themselves.
• Ethnicity: African Americans are twice as likely as whites to get dementia as they get older. Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely than whites to get dementia.
• Poor Heart Health: If not addressed properly, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking all raise the risk of dementia.
• Trauma: Head traumas, especially if they are serious or occur frequently, can raise the risk of dementia.
• Down’s Syndrome: Many people with Down’s syndrome develop early-onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Dementia treatment is determined by the underlying cause. There is no cure for neurodegenerative dementias like Alzheimer’s, but there are drugs that can help preserve the brain or control symptoms like anxiety and behavioral problems. More therapeutic alternatives are being developed as a result of continuing research. A healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise, nutritious food, and maintaining social contacts, lowers the risk of chronic disease and may minimize the number of persons suffering from dementia.

If you or a loved one is experiencing memory issues or other dementia symptoms, see a doctor. Dementia symptoms can be caused by a variety of treatable medical disorders, so it’s critical to figure out what’s causing them. All neurological illnesses are diagnosed and treated at the Medica Institute of Neurological Diseases. To provide the best possible outcome and care, our renowned and expert team of Neurosurgeons and Neurologists is supported by sophisticated diagnosis and treatment technology.