A set of symptoms which include loss of memory, mood changes, and problem with communication and reasoning. There are many types of dementia. The 2 most common, according to the Alzheimer's Association, are Alzheimer's disease and Vascular dementia.
Alzheimer's disease
- Scientists do not yet understand the causes.
- the most common type of dementia.
- they think that abnormal protein structures, called "plague & tangles" are responsible for nerve cell death.
Vascular dementia
- occurs when blood flow to the brain is diminished, starving cells of oxygen and nutrients.
- usually caused by a major stroke or a series of small strokes.
- most preventable because it is closely linked to the heart & blood vessels.
10 Signs of Dementia
1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks
4. Confusion with time or place
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
6. New problems with communication
7. Misplacing things
8. Decreased or poor judgement.
9. Withdrawal from work or social
10. Changes in mood and personality
Can Dementia be prevented
- There are some evidence that dementia risk, particularly for Vascular dementia, can be lowered with regular physical activity. Keep physically, mentally, and socially stimulated.
Can it be treated
- Currently, there is no cure for dementia, but the symptoms can be managed. A doctor will be able to prescribe medications that may delay memory loss and drug treatments for sleep problems and mood fluctuations.
How do I care for someone with dementia
- methods of caring varies from one individual to another as dementia affects different people differently. Some might exhibit aggression whereas another may not. Recommended:
1. Not expecting the person to remember
2. Trying to look through the eyes of a person with dementia
3. Not contradicting the perceived reality of a person with dementia
4. Creating daily routines
5. Encouraging social contact
6. Maintaining the person's confidence through verbal affirmation
"Good dementia care focuses on the person. Good dementia care means valuing a person for who he is, understanding that this person is a unique individual - with his unique life history and personality - and not the same as everyone else with dementia. It means seeing reality through the person's perspective", says Dr Philip Yap, a consultant geriatrician.
More info can be found at website Health Hub with managing Dementia
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