Alzheimer's a Type of Dementia
Author: Ian Pennington
Published: 5 Jan 2009 - Updated: 16 Oct 2010
Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Related Publications
Synopsis: Dementia is not defined as a disease but symptom types that result from neurological impairments caused by different diseases.
Introduction
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.Main Content
There are different stages of dementia.
Mild or early stages of dementia are occasionally confused with pseudo-dementia, which usually proves to be depression. The importance of this is that depression is reversible and dementia generally is not curable. Early detection of neurological diseases or problems in the nervous system are pivotal in controlling the symptoms of dementia. Family members and friends can also play a crucial role in assisting with the diagnosis and treatment of dementia types.
Often the onset of dementia is slow and initial symptoms may be overlooked or dismissed as personality quirks or changes. Keeping notes of actions or behaviors that seem to be peculiar may help in early detection.
What Are the Symptoms
Memory loss seems to be the first and often most noticeable characteristic.
Depression often occurs and there can be difficulty in controlling moods.
At times there is no recognition of familiar faces or locations.
Inability to retain new information.
Hallucinations.
Suspicion and paranoia.
The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. Dementia affects the following areas of the brain: language, memory, decision-making, and learning. Dementia types vary because different diseases affect certain areas of the brain. There are approximately fifty other causes of dementia, two of which are Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. Illnesses that do not originate in the brain, such as kidney disease, can also lead to the development of dementia.
What is the Treatment
The type of treatment for all dementia types greatly depends on the stage of the disease and occasionally what the origin is the disease is.
A well-balanced diet will improve or maintain an overall healthy lifestyle. There is little evidence to suggest any particular foods that aid in improvement for specific symptoms of dementia, but will contribute to better health.
Occasionally medication is prescribed to those patients struggling with sleep disorders, depression, or anxiety.
Monitoring diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol all contribute to minimizing symptoms of dementia.
Tools for remembering simple facts and activities are beneficial for dementia patients such as calendars, to-do lists, and instructional notes distributed throughout an individuals home.
The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease can help minimize progressive symptoms of dementia. Medications can be prescribed to control development of further Alzheimer's symptoms, which in turn protect those areas of the brain and minimize the contributions toward dementia.
While dementia is related to parts of the brain, nervous system diseases also supply symptoms quite similar to those of dementia. The central nervous system controls areas such as depression, sleeping, and thinking, which all can be adverse symptoms of multiple dementia types.