Dementia – Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors Of Dementia
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Dementia doesn’t mean the end of the world, but to some, it could be the beginning of a nightmare. Like its natural stats, ageing has certain health implications: mild for some and severe for others.
Dementia is a severe decline in cognitive functions, such as thinking, reasoning, and remembering, to the extent that it interferes with the person’s daily life.
This health condition is known to affect older adults as part of a normal ageing process and is popular among older adults within 80 years of age. This clearly explains why most grandparents are often forgetful.
Handling dementia patients can get a bit tasking, especially when they are severe. This is why you need the right knowledge of dementia and how it works.
Causes Of Dementia
Although ageing is one of the predominant factors of dementia in older adults, there are still some other things that can cause Dementia. Some of the causes of dementia include the following:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Vascular dementia
- Parkinson’s disease
- Severe head injury
- Infections
- Impaired blood flow to or in the brain
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Cancer
- Toxicity from prescribed medications
- Recurrent seizures
- Infections such as late-stage syphilis
These are some of the likely causes of Dementia in older adults.
Symptoms Of Dementia
People with dementia have problems with thinking and remembering things, which affects their ability to manage their daily lives.
Some signs to watch for include:
- Short-term memory problems, such as forgetting where you put something or asking the same question over and over
- Communication problems, such as the inability to speak and getting lost in areas that you’re familiar with
- Confusion and disorientation
- Trouble with complex but familiar tasks, such as cooking a meal or paying your bills
- Personality changes, such as depression, agitation, paranoia, and mood swings
- Inappropriate behavior
- Sleeping pattern changes
- Trouble adapting to changes in your environment
- Having hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there)
- Having delusions (believing things that aren’t true)
- Feelings of paranoia and suspicion
Risk Factors For Dementia
Certain physical and lifestyle factors can raise your chances of dementia, including:
- Your age
- Family history of dementia
- Illnesses including diabetes, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and sleep apnea
- Depression
- Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, heavy alcohol use, poor diet, and lack of exercise
- Brain injury from accidents, high-impact sports, and military service
- Strokes
- Infection of the brain (for example, meningitis and syphilis)
- Hearing loss
- Low levels of some vitamins and nutrients, such as vitamins D and B12
- Sleep problems and disorders, including insomnia or dependence on sleep medications
- Pollutants in your environment
- Cognitive reserve, which is your brain’s ability to handle diseases and comes from doing mentally stimulating work
Preventing Dementia
Both genetics and lifestyle choices can contribute to the development of dementia. While there is no way to prevent dementia completely, your lifestyle choices can help reduce your risk. Here are some lifestyle choices that can help prevent dementia and they include:
- Adopting healthy behaviors during midlife (between ages 40 and 65)
- Early and continuing education throughout life
- Exercising regularly
- Limited alcohol intake
- Avoiding smoking
- Staying socially active
- Taking care of mental health
- Eating a healthy diet to avoid high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity
- Protecting your hearing
- Protecting your head from injuries
- Avoiding highly polluted areas
Conclusion
Ageing is a natural process that is accompanied by several health challenges, of which dementia is a part. As the natural cycle of life cannot be avoided, you must know how to handle dementia patients at all times.
Becoming a caregiver to a dementia patient isn’t always an easy choice, especially as a spouse, but it helps strengthen bonds and relationships with loved ones.
There are always ways to effectively care for and communicate with dementia patients.