Dementia - Symptoms, causes & Treatment

Ageing brings about many notable changes to your health. As you age, the cells in different organs in the body decrease in number, preventing them from functioning optimally. Moreover, ageing can affect your mental well-being as well and make you susceptible to certain age-related health conditions like dementia. The condition causes memory loss, behavioural changes, and confusion, making it difficult for a person to perform routine activities. If you are wondering what causes dementia and the signs and symptoms of the condition, we will tell you in this article. Let’s talk about dementia in detail.

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a collective term for diseases or illnesses affecting a person’s cognitive health. It leads to a decline in cognitive functioning, making it challenging for them to remember things and perform daily routines. Therefore, people with severe dementia depend on others for even simple day-to-day activities, such as eating and dressing up.

While the condition affects millions of people around the world and is common among older adults, not all senior citizens suffer from dementia. In addition to advancing age, unhealthy lifestyle habits, poor nutrition, head injury, mental health issues, and family history are some major risk factors. There are different types of dementia, Alzheimer’s being the most common type. Let’s take a look at the main types of dementia.

Types of Dementia

The following are the main types of dementia —

1. Alzheimer’s Disease

This type is common in older adults. Alzheimer’s happens due to changes in brain functioning and the build-up of plaques and tangles in the brain. While plaques are clumps of beta-amyloid protein, tangles are fibrous masses of tau protein. The build-up of excess protein in the brain causes cell damage and leads to Alzheimer’s.

2. Lewy body Dementia

This is a common type caused due to abnormal deposits of protein in the brain. These deposits are called Lewy bodies, and they change the chemicals in the brain, leading to problems with movement, behaviour, mood, and thinking.

3. Frontotemporal Dementia

This is a rare condition that affects people under 60. It happens due to the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes. The condition can lead to emotional problems, unusual behaviours, communication issues, difficulty walking, etc.

4. Vascular Dementia

This form of dementia happens due to damage of blood vessels in the brain or blocked or reduced blood flow to various parts of the brain. Lack of blood deprives the brain of oxygen and nutrients and affects its normal functioning. People with this type of dementia may feel confused and disoriented. They may also experience sudden headaches and balance problems.

5. Mixed Dementia

This form of dementia comprises two or more types of the neurological condition. For example, it can be a combination of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and Lewy body dementia.

Other types of dementia are

• Younger onset dementia
• Parkinson’s disease
• Traumatic brain injury
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
• Huntington’s disease

Causes and Risk Factors

Dementia happens due to certain neurodegenerative conditions that cause continuous and irreversible damage to the brain cells, preventing them from communicating with each other. This leads to problems with thinking, memory, behaviour, and communication.

The human brain is divided into different regions, each responsible for controlling certain functions. Therefore, cell damage in any part of the brain will prevent it from carrying out its functions optimally.

For example, the largest part of the brain, called the cerebrum, supports movement and coordination. It also regulates body temperature and enables speech, thinking, learning, reasoning and problem-solving. Therefore, any damage to the cells of the cerebrum will affect the functions it supports.

Some common risk factors of dementia are:

• Advancing age
• Family history of the condition
• Diabetes
• Down’s syndrome
• Stress and anxiety
• Depression
• Sleep problems
• Smoking and drinking alcohol
• Head injury
• Atherosclerosis or plaque build-up in the inner lining of an artery
• High levels of bad cholesterol (i.e., low-density lipoprotein) in blood
• Excessive levels of the amino acid homocysteine in blood

Signs of Dementia

Some common signs and symptoms of dementia are:

• Memory loss or finding it difficult to remember things
• Feeling confused and disoriented
• Difficulty speaking, finding words, or expressing thoughts
• Trouble with reading and writing
• Trouble with reasoning, problem-solving, planning and organising
• Repeating questions
• Difficulty handling money and paying bills
• Hallucinating or experiencing delusions
• Lack of interest in anything
• Experiencing problems with movement and losing balance
• Facing difficulty doing regular tasks

Dementia Treatment Options

There is no cure for dementia, but people suffering from the condition can consciously take some steps to promote their well-being. They should consume a healthy diet and try to be physically active. It is also important for them to stay away from the triggers, develop a hobby, and interact with family, friends and other people regularly.

No medication can cure dementia completely. Therefore, healthcare practitioners generally prescribe medicines that can ease the symptoms of the condition and help manage other health issues caused by dementia. In most cases, individuals diagnosed with dementia are prescribed medications for the following conditions:

• Depression
• Irritability
• Trouble sleeping
• Alzheimer’s disease
• High blood pressure
• Cholesterol

Cholesterol and hypertension (i.e., high blood pressure) can damage the brain further in dementia patients. Therefore, doctors prescribe medicines to control these conditions.

Caregiving for Dementia Patients

Dementia patients often need help with simple tasks and routine activities, such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Therefore, it is important to understand their needs and limitations and help them without hesitation.

The following are some caregiving tips:

• Try to follow a routine for everyday activities, such as bathing and eating. However, rather than helping them with everything, encourage them to do simple tasks and routines.
• Buy comfortable, loose-fitting, and easy-to-wear clothes for the patient.
• Serve meals on time and encourage them to eat on their own.
• Give them the prescribed medicines on time.
• Spend time with the patient doing activities he/she enjoys, such as watching TV and playing games.
• Encourage them to read and write.
• Be gentle and patient with the person, especially when he/she feels irritated or depressed about minor issues.
• Take them for a walk daily and encourage them to do simple workouts.

Lifestyle tips for Dementia Prevention

Although there is no sure-shot way to prevent dementia, making certain lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk of developing the condition. The following are some simple tips:

• Keep your blood pressure in check.
• Follow healthy lifestyle habits to prevent diabetes and heart disease, as these can lead to dementia.
• Manage stress & anxiety with yoga and meditation.
• Workout regularly and be physically active.
• Keep your brain active by solving puzzles & crosswords, reading books, and playing mind-stretching games like chess.
• Be socially active.
• Learn a new language, skill, or anything that interests you.
• Consume a healthy diet to avoid nutritional deficiencies.
• Do not smoke tobacco.
• Limit alcohol intake.

Conclusion

To sum up, suffering from dementia or caring for a dementia patient can be challenging. Most types of dementia are not reversible, so one must live with the condition. However, if the condition is related to another disease that can be treated or reversed, seeking professional help and taking prescribed medications can ease the symptoms. Therefore, if you notice signs of dementia in a loved one, talk to your doctor without delay. Timely treatment can help arrest the condition or prevent it from worsening further.

Source: nia.nih.gov, alz.org, mayoclinic, who.int, cdc.gov, alzheimers, nidirect