Dementia

Dementia is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the body beyond what might be expected from normal aging.

Although dementia is far more common in the geriatric population, it may occur in any stage of adulthood. This age cutoff is defining, as similar sets of symptoms due to organic brain dysfunction are given different names in populations younger than adulthood.

Dementia is a non-specific illness syndrome (set of symptoms) in which affected areas of cognition may be memory, attention, language, and problem solving. Higher mental functions are affected first in the process. Especially in the later stages of the condition, affected persons may be disoriented in time (not knowing what day of the week, day of the month, month, or even what year it is), in place (not knowing where they are), and in person (not knowing who they are or others around them).

For the mind to keep pace with an ever changing world as we age, memory must preserve the tiny strands of links between yesteryears, yesterday, today and project reasonably into the future, even if it is shrinking. It must situate us within a time and personality frame that must correlate with the moment, at least not too far away.

With aging comes cognitive decline which is often termed innocently "cognitive aging", a subtle attempt to bundle it with the aging process. When memory fails substantially, the various reproducible trait and behavior that define who we are dissolves into a widening well of emptiness. While over 50% of elderly people say their memory is worse than when they were younger, on the average only 8% (1% at 60 years to 35% at 90 years will development dementia. Alzheimer's dementia will account for about 60%. This age is deceptive because new techniques for brain imaging has shown that the physical features dementia commences long before the first symptoms are noticed; a signal that preventive measures may be more useful long before the disease becomes evident.

Etiology:

While the elderly are particularly at risk, medical knowledge regarding the precise cause is still in infancy, an important reason why effective therapy is also unavailable, because "you can't catch what you can't find".

Decades ago, the prevailing hypothesis was that there was a deficiency in a chemical (Acetylcholine) utilized by nervous tissues to transmit impulses and communicate between each other. Many of the symptoms, notably the learning difficulties were explained by the lack of Acetylcholine. While drugs that prevent degradation of Acetylcholine (Anti-cholinesterase) compress the majority of available treatment options, their inability to offer effective respite to many patients, meant other crucial mechanisms were at play.

A more recent additional explanation is based on the deposition of a protein called Beta-amyloid which progressively induces nervous tissue destruction and the subsequent cognitive and memory decline. Other important factors that may contribute include the excessive amounts of the by-product of calorie combustion (Reactive Oxygen species) that can damage biological tissues and episodes of poor blood supply to the brain seen during Stroke (Cerebro-Vascular Accidents).

Early Diagnosis:

It is true that there is there a general lack of information about dementia which significantly contributes to the delay in diagnosis. Early assessment in cases of suspected dementia is vital because it may help establish the presence of a medical condition, create an avenue to access treatment and help care-givers prepare for their role. Also early diagnosis of dementia is critical for legal and financial planning. The most common reasons for delays were lack of information about dementia, belief that symptoms were normal aging, not knowing which physician to ask, and being overwhelmed with the situation.

Prevention:

Primary prevention essentially entails interventions that are carried out to prevent the occurrence of a disorder. A lot of preventive measures have been evaluated. On top is the need for to modify the risk of chronic medical disorders e.g. Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and Stroke with prompt medical treatment which includes; Anti-hypertensive medication, Aspirin (Acetylsalicylate) and anticoagulants such as Warfarin. Other medication includes vitamin C (500 mg) and Vitamin E (400 units) daily for at least three years was were associated with a risk of Alzheimer's Diseases.

Lifestyle practices which involves;

adequate exercise.

weight control.

abstinence from cigarette smoking.

moderate alcohol consumption (250 - 500 ml of wine per day)

And a healthy balance diet that encourages a more efficient metabolism. Increased total fat intake and deficiency of omega 3 fatty acid rich in marine protein, have been linked to dementia).

Treatment:

Except for the treatable types of dementia, there is no cure to this illness, although scientists are progressing in making a type of medication that will slow down the process. Cholinesterase inhibitors are often used early in the disease course. Cognitive and behavioral interventions may also be appropriate. Educating and providing emotional support to the caregiver (or carer) is of importance as well.

The main method to prevent dementia is to live an active life, both mentally and physically. It appears that the regular moderate consumption of alcohol (beer, wine, or distilled spirits) may reduce risk.

Further Information Regarding Dementia

Dementia Disorder Hereditary
New research shows that a rare brain disorder that causes early dementia is highly hereditary. The study is published in the November 3, 2009, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Communication Problems in Dementia Care
Excessive physical strain in dementia care is not so much related to equipment or the resident's body weight as it is due to communication problems and misunderstandings. This is shown in a new study from the Sahlgrenska Academy.

Detecting Pain in People with Dementia
The elderly who suffer from dementia aren't able to say when something hurts or is sore. They may demonstrate their pain through behaviours like rocking or striking out, and we often dismiss these actions as symptoms of the dementia instead of pain.

Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) describes a clinical syndrome associated with shrinking of the frontal and temporal anterior lobes of the brain. Originally known as Pick's disease, the name and classification of FTD has been a topic of discussion for over a century.

Abuse to People with Dementia by Family Carers Common
Half of family carers of people with dementia report some abusive behaviour towards the person they are caring for and one third report 'significant' levels of abuse, according to new research from UCL (University College London) published today in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Seniors Universal Health Care and Dementia
A new study has found that in spite of their universal health care system which facilitates access to free dementia care, older adults in the United Kingdom are less willing to undergo dementia screening than their counterparts in the U.S. because the Britons perceive greater societal stigma from diagnosis of the disease than do Americans.

Causes of Dementia
Dementia is a frightening word for many people. We want our brain function to remain intact and our memories to remain unharmed. For those experiencing dementia symptoms, it is a frustrating experience.

Symptoms of Dementia
Symptoms of dementia can be classified as either reversible or irreversible depending upon the etiology of the disease. Less than 10% of all dementias are reversible. Dementia is a non-specific term that encompasses many disease processes, just as fever is attributable to many etiologies.

Types of Dementia
Dementia is not defined as a disease, but rather many symptoms that result from a neurological impairment which can be caused by a number of different diseases.

Dementia Facts and Statistics
The numbers and statistics surrounding dementia are staggering. Worldwide, there are now an estimated 24 million people living with some form of dementia. Without a major medical breakthrough in the fight against dementia, this number could jump to as many as 84 million who have age-related memory loss by the year 2040.

Dementia and Functional Abilities in Seniors
Although most people are familiar with Alzheimer's Dementia (AD), there are also other forms of dementia that can affect older adults. This includes vascular dementia, multi-infarct dementia, Lewey body dementia, and Frontotemporal dementia. People with other primary disorders, such as Parkinson's or stroke, may also develop some form of dementia at some point.

1.7 Million Will Have Dementia by 2051
The predicted figure means dementia will affect the lives of around one in three people either as a sufferer, or as a carer or relative, and it is a rise of 154% from the present day. There is no cure for dementia, and those with the condition need increasing care as the disease progresses so the costs for looking after people with dementia could cost billions each year.