DEMENTIA
G'day folks,
Today I present some facts about another scourge of the modern world - DEMENTIA. My step-father is suffering from it so this is a timely post.
Dementia is a general term for a decline in
mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory
loss is an example. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia.
Dementia is not a
specific disease. It's an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or
other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform
everyday activities. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of
cases. Vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke, is the
second most common dementia type. But there are many other conditions that can
cause symptoms of dementia, including some that are reversible, such as thyroid
problems and vitamin deficiencies.
Dementia is often incorrectly
referred to as "senility" or "senile dementia," which
reflects the formerly widespread but incorrect belief that serious mental
decline is a normal part of aging.
While symptoms of dementia can vary greatly,
at least two of the following core mental functions must be significantly
impaired to be considered dementia:
- Memory
- Communication and language
- Ability to focus and pay
attention
- Reasoning and judgment
- Visual perception
People
with dementia may have problems with short-term memory, keeping track of a
purse or wallet, paying bills, planning and preparing meals, remembering
appointments or traveling out of the neighborhood.
Many
dementias are progressive, meaning symptoms start out slowly and gradually get
worse. If you or a loved one is experiencing memory difficulties or other
changes in thinking skills, don't ignore them. See a doctor soon to determine
the cause. Professional evaluation may detect a treatable condition. And even
if symptoms suggest dementia, early diagnosis allows a person to get the
maximum benefit from available treatments and provides an opportunity to volunteer for clinical trials or studies. It also provides time to plan
for the future.
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.
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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
- Medication side effects
- Excess use of alcohol
- Thyroid problems
- Vitamin deficiencies
Dementia risk and prevention
Some risk
factors for dementia, such as age and genetics, cannot be changed. But
researchers continue to explore the impact of other risk factors on brain
health and prevention of dementia. Some of the most active areas of research in
risk reduction and prevention include cardiovascular factors, physical fitness,
and diet.
Cardiovascular
risk factors: Your
brain is nourished by one of your body's richest networks of blood vessels.
Anything that damages blood vessels anywhere in your body can damage blood
vessels in your brain, depriving brain cells of vital food and oxygen. Blood
vessel changes in the brain are linked to vascular dementia. They often are
present along with changes caused by other types of dementia, including
Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. These changes may interact
to cause faster decline or make impairments more severe. You can help protect
your brain with some of the same strategies that protect your heart – don't
smoke; take steps to keep your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar
within recommended limits; and maintain a healthy weight.
Physical
exercise: Regular
physical exercise may help lower the risk of some types of dementia. Evidence
suggests exercise may directly benefit brain cells by increasing blood and
oxygen flow to the brain.
Diet: What you eat may have its greatest
impact on brain health through its effect on heart health. The best current
evidence suggests that heart-healthy eating patterns, such as the Mediterranean
diet, also may help protect the brain. A Mediterranean diet includes relatively
little red meat and emphasizes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, fish and
shellfish, and nuts, olive oil and other healthy fats.
Clancy's comment: Don't forget. Think about those who are caring for those with dementia.
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