Dementia 101: Overview and Symptoms

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies dementia as one of the major causes of disability and dependency among elderly people around the world. Dementia is a broad term that describes a group of symptoms that affects a person’s memory, thinking processes, and social abilities. According to Mayo Clinic, dementia “generally involves memory loss” but suffering from memory loss doesn’t immediately mean that you have dementia.

Symptoms

The damaged brain cells in people with dementia interferes with their inability to communicate with each other. It is commonly a result of damage or loss of the nerve cells and their connections in the brain. Dementia is often progressive and irreversible in nature but its symptoms can be managed once it is properly diagnosed.

This illness affects people differently and symptoms will depend on which part of the brain is affected. Here are a few changes that you may notice in people who have dementia:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty in communicating, planning, and handling complex tasks
• Confusion, disorientation
• Depression, anxiety
• Agitation, paranoia, inappropriate behavior
• Personality changes

Types of dementia

As mentioned, dementia is a progressive and permanent illness and can greatly affect one’s day to day life.

There are several types of progressive dementia like:

• Alzheimer’s Disease – most common type of dementia that affects 60-80% of total dementia cases. Symptoms slowly progress from mild to severe depending on the stage of the disease.
• Vascular dementia – second most common type of dementia that is caused by microscopic bleeding and causes a decline in thinking skills.
• Lewy body dementia – “Lewy bodies” are abnormal balloon like clumps of protein that are found in both dementia and Parkinson’s disease patients. Usual symptoms include visual hallucinations, tremors, and attention/focus problems.

There are other dementia-like conditions and health disorders linked to dementia that can be found in both younger and older patients. It is important to visit your physician to get a proper diagnosis if you or your family members are exhibiting symptoms.

Risk factors

There are numerous inevitable factors that can increase your chances of getting dementia:

• Age – Your risk of suffering from dementia increases as you age but it is not a normal part of aging as it can also happen to younger people.
• Genes – It is likely that you have a higher risk of getting dementia if your family members have it.
• Poor lifestyle choices – While there is no prescribed diet to lessen your risk of getting dementia, it is better to avoid smoking and drinking excessive alcohol. Those with cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and other illnesses like diabetes may increase your risk of developing dementia, so it’s important to take your prescribed medication and to live an active lifestyle.
• Down Syndrome – Mayo Clinic has linked down syndrome with Alzheimer’s since many middle aged down syndrome patients develop early-onset Alzheimer’s in their lifetime.

Aging well can be achieved through careful planning and living healthy. Enhance your lifestyle through daily exercise, a well-balanced diet, and taking supplements that are suited for your age and current health condition. Always consult your doctor before taking any kind of medication.

General disclaimer

Your doctor will always be in the best position to give the appropriate medical advice for your condition. For suspected undesirable drug reaction, seek medical attention immediately and report to the FDA at www.fda.gov.ph and UNILAB, Inc. at 8-UNILAB-1 or productsafety@unilab.com.ph. Always buy your medicine from your trusted drugstores and retailers.

Sources:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352013
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/stages
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia/what-dementia-symptoms-types-and-diagnosis