What is dementia?
An overview of symptoms and types
It is described as symptoms of cognitive ability, memory, thinking, and capacity for decision making. It is not in fact a disease but a combination of different conditions combined manifesting the symptoms described. The greater the age of a person, the greater the risk of developing dementia, though it does not form any part of aging. These symptoms vary immensely, or their intensity may differ with regard to the kind and seriousness of the underline pathology leading towards dementia. Nonetheless, one way or another, these types of cognitive declines have a propensity to make living a challenge for the sufferer-above everything else, their mere existence causes plenty of unease for the concerned individual as well as caretakers. The importance of early diagnosis and management therefore becomes cardinal for maintaining quality of life and minimizing the build-up of the disability manifestations.
While different in virtually all other ways, most of these cases share the following common symptoms: memory loss when just starting to begin the illness. An individual might forget recent events, misplace things, or simply not be able to recall vital information. These small, minute little lapses in memory will eventually start to increase, getting big and more and more pronounced when the condition starts to progress. Forgetfulness in individuals can become so acute that they will fail to even recognize their face and the surroundings. A person sometimes may also fail to remember his appointments and the names. It is also important to remember that memory loss forms part of the cognitive decline known as dementia.
Aside from the problems about memory, people with dementia may also experience language difficulties. It manifests when a person is in conversation; he is not able to get the right words, hence, pausing or failing to complete their sentences. One can also experience reiterations of speech, frustrations when one does not get his feelings across. The problem with the language at times can even reach to the point of reading or understanding of written material. The defects of language may lead to isolation as one becomes more cautious of talking to others. Most often, communications are painful to both the individual and those around him or her.
The other symptom may include inability to make appropriate decisions. Patients will more often make some poor financial decisions or are noticed behaving riskily showing poor personal hygiene. For instance, a patient of dementia forgets that he has not turned off his stove or cannot lock the door to save them from sly people. They cannot assess the consequences and get themselves and others into accidents and mishaps. This could gradually heighten into something worse, such as the making of wrong decisions that would be requiring extra care. It is, however, the ability to make decisions capable of bearing immense consequences for daily life management, and it is changes in this sphere that would be most depressing.
Apart from intellectual disturbances, the individuals suffering from dementia have variable mood and personality changes. Some will inevitably become easily irritated, anxious or depressed. They can also depict queer behaviour like aggression or irritability which would be very frustrating for the attendants. Perhaps the mood swings depend upon the stage of dementia and the type of illness causing the condition. For some the reserve becomes higher and social indulgence gets much less common while some others show raised irritability. This further creates a lot of social problem for the sufferer.
There are many types of dementias that present with distinctive features and different patterns of progression. The majority of dementia is represented by Alzheimer's disease, and as such, it is considered the most common cause of this symptom complex. Early-stage Alzheimer's symptoms include such as loss of memory, inability to reason out a problem, solution of problems is accompanied by confusion. Onsets usually take an extremely slow course over a period of several years whereby subsequently the sick person has to be taken care of full time. Reason for Alzheimer's is unknown; genetic and environmental influences are presumed. Research concerning Alzheimer's is continuous and finds ways of delaying its process.
The most prevalent form of vascular dementia occurs due to insufficient blood supply to the brain tissue as a result of stroke or other similar disorders. Symptoms also depend on the part of the brain that is affected in vascular dementia. Because of vascular dementia, memory and cognitive functioning may suddenly decline right after a stroke. Others may have their conditions marked by periods of stabilization followed by sudden declines. It also tends to show a lot more mood and behavioral changes than Alzheimer's vascular dementia. In these patients, the management of the conditions that affect vascular health is the only way to prevent further decline.
Another type, Lewy body dementia includes a type in which cognition and motor control are affected. It is characterized by the abnormal deposition of a certain protein known as Lewy bodies within the brain. Hallucinations are common presentations, with fluctuating cognitive ability and difficulties with movement in patients suffering from Lewy body dementia. Symptoms include tremors and rigidity; parkinsonism is common. The course of Lewy body dementia is very variable and unpredictable; symptoms may show variable rates of progression. Treatment often includes medication management of cognitive and motor symptoms.
Another, much rarer type is frontotemporal dementia. It affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Unlike Alzheimer's, which essentially attacks memory, FTD is often defined by changes in behavior and personality. Individuals may also show lack of restraint, bad judgment, and inability to empathize. Speech difficulty and motor weaknesses may also ensue as the disease progresses. FTD tends to affect younger individuals, between ages 40 and 65, and the course of progression is usually faster than that of Alzheimer's disease. Such kinds of behaviors are quite difficult to fathom and deal with by the caregivers.
Mixed dementia is that condition wherein a person has more than one type of dementia. For instance, a patient may be suffering from both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. It may hence be presented in a particular form that could raise some obstacles while attempting diagnosis. Mainly, the mixed dementia affects the aged people; that is persons above the age of 85 years. These will, therefore, interact and make clear-cut establishment of a cause for the cognitive decline indistinguishable as implications of the treatments also proceed on complicating it in time as a number of symptoms are already occurring through one.
Cognitive impairment due to dementia impairs the ability to conduct activities of daily living and renders a patient incapable of independent living. It will also be gradually seeking the others' support for the basic things, too, such as eating, dressing up, or bathing. The fact of losing one's autonomy is very infuriating or even depressing. Besides that, according to the development increase, they also start forgetting the close ones or even some routines. Such contact dislocation with the outside world can decline into social withdrawal and, furthermore, increase psychic tension in dementia. Anyway, extensive support by carers will help the dignity and comfort persist in such a state.
Diagnosis: Generally, the diagnosis of dementia requires a check of history and tests on cognitive functioning-sometimes the need is even felt for imagining the brain. Apart from infection, vitamin deficiencies are also a common probable cause of cognitive decline that the doctor may consider ruling out. This is particularly because some of the symptoms of early stages of dementia are very hard to recognize since they partially overlap with normal aging. Proper diagnosis will help in determining suitable care for the patients and resources for the families. It also provides them with the opportunity to make a decision about their future care and legal affairs while they are still able to. Early detection of the disease allows for a better outcome-the effectiveness of the interventions, and therefore, earlier diagnosis is beneficial.
There is no cure for most forms of dementia. Though medications can help control symptoms. For example, drugs improve cognitive function or the associated symptoms such as anxiety and depression become controllable. Drugs are showing more noticeable benefits when symptoms are mild. Symptomatic treatment, along with other forms of treatments such as cognitive stimulation or occupation therapy, can also be resorted to in support of whatever preserved cognitive function may still remain in order to improve the quality of life. Treatment for caregivers can also help, albeit to a small extent, treat dementia clients themselves. Quite a lot of aspects of cares people with loss of mental abilities get emanate from the latter. Understanding support about their malady and places to seek refuge should some of their anxieties that keep maiming the latter be sought with minimal intervention.
Most research currently is targeted at the prevention or the deferral of the onset of dementia but up to this date no concrete preventive measure has been determined although risk can be reduced by modification of life style. Such would include regular physical activity, good diet, and being mentally active. It is also said that continued social engagement and close relationship promote cognitive health. The cognitive and physical decline associated with them will be...
