dementia, That it’s a disease that affects the brain and not the other parts, that it is progressive and that there is a good chance of cure. Of course, there is also the fact that it can be very distressing to have such a disorder.
Dementia vs Alzheimer’s:
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in the United States. It is a form of dementia – a disease that slowly destroys the cells in the brain. It affects men more than women by about a ratio of 2 to 1. It is considered a fatal disease because once it starts, it’s impossible to reverse it.
What causes dementia?
There are several other causes of dementia. These include combinations of different diseases, strokes, anemia, head injuries, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Each person is unique and what affects one person may not affect another. That said, however, some common causes of dementia are as follows:
- Brain stroke
A stroke can be caused by either a traumatic or a non-traumatic event. This can occur anywhere on the brain but is more common on the frontal lobe. Traumatic is defined as any kind of injury to the brain which results in damage to neurons. Non-traumatic is any kind of incident that damages nerves without causing any injury.
- Anemia
Anemia is a condition where the brain doesn’t get enough hemoglobin. This makes the brain unable to absorb nutrients and oxygen properly. As a result, people with anemia have a lot less energy and are prone to various kinds of mental diseases. One of the main causes of dementia in women is anemia. It is known that women who have anemia are at a greater risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease.
- Diabetes
People with diabetes are at an especially high risk of getting Alzheimer’s. The reason for this is because the disease is characterized by the presence of plaques in the brain. Plaques can develop in almost any part of the brain and there are two types of plaques. The first is what we call age-related plaques. These are made up of fat deposits that grow and become bigger as you get older. The second type is protein deposits that develop when the brain cells start to die.
- High blood pressure
For instance, if someone suffers from different kinds of heart problems, they are more likely to develop the disease. As well, if you have different types of blood pressure problems, then you are also more likely to develop the disease. Stress has also been shown to play a role in the onset of the disease and it is known that it can result in different kinds of emotional disorders.
Symptoms of dementia :
- Memory loss
When a person starts to lose his or her memory, there will be different types of changes that occur in his or her behavior and personality. A person may start to wander off, for example. He or she may also forget what his or her name is and may begin to refer to people by their first name or by a nickname. Sometimes, the person will forget how to dress and may even start wearing the clothes he or she used when the person was younger.
- Inability to concentrate
Another of the common symptoms of dementia is the inability to concentrate. This is especially problematic because the person suffering from it may start to work. A job that requires concentration, such as a job that deals with numbers or the types of cooking that require great attention to detail, maybe harder to accomplish.
- Reduction in social interaction
Another of the early symptoms of dementia is a reduction in social interaction. An individual in this stage of the illness may be unable to talk to others, respond to questions or requests, or make friends. This is particularly common in individuals that are elderly or are experiencing a decline in mental ability.
How to reduce your risk of dementia?
- Diet
There has been some research linking a low dairy product intake with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The problem here is that dairy products like milk and cheese are highly rich in calcium. Calcium is known to slow down the progression of the disease. So the advice would be to increase your calcium consumption. Other recommendations from experts would be to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables which are high in antioxidants and vitamins.
- Social environment
Many people today lead very busy lives and there are a reduced number of social settings. This then increases the risk factors of getting Alzheimer’s disease. These include having poor communication skills, poor judgment when making decisions, and a reduction in social interaction. If possible, living in groups of people who all enjoy social interaction such as church groups, neighborhood groups, and so on would be beneficial. Visiting places that were once visited by relatives, a long time ago can also be a good idea to “re-visit” old memories.
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