Dementia

Dementia is the group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking, and social social abilities that affect or interfere with daily tasks.

Dementia is the group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking, and social social abilities that affect or interfere with daily tasks. The sum of several mental diseases may cause dementia.

Although dementia generally involves rapid loss of memory, this involves several causes. Having only loss of memory doesn’t mean that a personas has dementia.

Alzheimer disease is one of the more common causes of progressive dementia in the elderly, but there are many other reasons that lead to develop dementia. Depending on the cause, some symptoms may be reversible.

Causes of Dementia

Dementia is caused by the damage of loss of nerve cells and their conexions in the brain. Depending on the brain affected area, symptoms vary and affect differently.

Some diseases can get confused with dementia, such as the ones that develop due to reactions to some medications, or vitamins deficiency.

Symptoms of Dementia

The symptoms of dementia depend of the cause, but the most common signs may include:

Cognitive changes

Loss of memory
Difficulty when communicating or finding words
Difficulty with visual or spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving
Difficulty reasoning or problem solving
Difficulty handling with complex tasks
Difficulty with planning and organizing
Difficulty with motor coordination
Confusion and disorientation

Psychological changes

Personality changes
Depression
Anxiety
Inadequate behaviour
Paranoia
Agitation
Hallucinations

Risk factors of Dementia

Many factors eventually contribute to developing dementia.

Those that cannot be changed are age and family history.

Those that can be changed and controlled are:

Diet and exercise
Alcohol abuse
Smoking

Treatment of Dementia

Most types of dementia have no cure, but there are ways to control symptoms. There are specialized medications, and the doctor will prescribe the most appropriate for each particular case.

Some types of dementia can be treated alternatively with therapies such as occupational therapy and creating safe spaces at home to prevent accidents such as falls. Modifying the environment around the person by reducing clutter and noise can improve the focus and functioning of the mind. Structure and routine can also help, reducing the degree of confusion in patients with dementia.

The Neurologist is the specialist who diagnoses and treats mental illness.

Prevent Dementia

There is no such way to prevent dementia, but recommendations that can help develop it can be followed, such as:

Keeping your mind active as stimulating activities like reading, solving puzzles, and playing word or memory games.
Being physically and socially active
Giving up smoking
Eating enough vitamins, especially vitamin D
Maintain a healthy diet
Get a proper sleep

When should I visit the Doctor?

It is essential to schedule a visit with a Neurologist specialist to diagnose Dementia accurately.

When visiting the Neurologist, it is recommended to have complete control and description of the symptoms. It is also important to mention if you are taking any medication. Learning more about Dementia and its symptoms is the first step to control it.

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