Dementia is one of the diseases that threaten your mental health in old age. Basically, having dementia will completely remove you from life. For this reason, it is necessary to think about prevention now to prevent contracting this disease. Stay with Dr. Salam.
One of the most obvious signs of dementia is a reduced ability to perform and complete daily tasks. A person with dementia may not be able to find their usual route or forget how to play their favorite game.
Like most diseases that severely affect cognitive function, dementia is a sad condition.
Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability to the extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life. Memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia – are two such examples. Dementia generally involves a gradual decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills.
Dementia is not a disease in itself. Rather, the term is intended to refer to broad symptoms that may indicate a severe cognitive impairment. Due to the complex nature of the disorder, dementia can only be diagnosed by a medical professional, usually a neurologist.
Types of dementia
As mentioned, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and accounts for 60-80% of all cases. Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal disorder that destroys brain cells and cognitive ability.
The second most common cause of dementia is known as vascular dementia and is a type of dementia that develops as a result of a stroke. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or reduced. Not sending enough oxygen and nutrients to the brain causes brain cells to die. A stroke can occur as a result of a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or as a result of a leaking or burst blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke).
Potential signs of dementia
Difficulty planning or solving problems
Some people with dementia experience sudden changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan. For example, performing some simple tasks like keeping track of bank account status or following an instruction becomes a very complex activity for them. Also, during the onset of dementia, increased difficulty maintaining concentration is common.
Difficulty performing familiar tasks
One of the most obvious signs of dementia is a reduced ability to perform and complete daily tasks. A person with dementia may not be able to find their usual route or forget how to play their favorite game. Normally, routine task performance is deeply rooted in neural activity, and a person can perform a task without thinking. Any noticeable change in a person’s ability to perform daily tasks should be carefully investigated.
New problems when communicating
People with dementia often have trouble following a conversation. They may end the interaction, forget what they talked about and repeat what they said earlier, or have no idea how to continue the conversation. Vocabulary challenges, including the inability to find the right word, are also common.
Withdrawal from social or work activities
When a person experiences the cognitive challenges that come with dementia, they may gradually withdraw from work or social activities. Part of this withdrawal and isolation may be related to personality changes, fear, or non-acceptance.
Memory loss disrupts daily life
Once again the key factor is “disruption of daily life”. Forgetfulness happens to all of us, but rarely do they significantly cripple daily life. During the early stages of dementia, forgetting newly learned information is one of the most common signs of an underlying problem. Other notable signs of severe memory problems include the following:
– Forgetting important dates or events
– Frequently asked about information that has just been received
– Increased dependence on memory aids
Increasing dependence on others to remember different things
Conclusion
Currently, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease or any progressive dementia. Drug therapy is an available option that can provide relief from some symptoms.
The Alzheimer’s Association of America has provided six key recommendations for dementia prevention, including:
– Not smoking
– Maintaining blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar at appropriate levels
– Following a healthy and balanced diet
– Exercise
– Maintain proper weight
– Not consuming alcoholic beverages.
Source: Asr Iran
