Dementia is a decline in cognitive abilities, the loss of previously acquired skills, which often occurs in senile and elderly people. There are various reasons for the occurrence of this condition: vascular disorders, renal failure, neurological disorders, and other factors. Dementia is characterized by memory problems: the patient does not remember where he put certain things, he cannot find his way home, and he experiences memory lapses. Treatment of dementia consists, first, in finding the causes that led to the disease, in drug therapy and psychological correction.
A person’s memory develops until the age of 18: after this age, cognitive functions begin to decline. Memory disorders can be caused by a wide range of neurological and psychiatric problems - from organic brain damage to depression and anxiety.
For many older people, memory problems become more pronounced over time. They manifest themselves most strongly after 60 years. Speaking about the causes of this disease, doctors identify the following:
• Vascular diseases. Strokes significantly increase the risk of dementia. Considering that vascular diseases are very common, the development of dementia due to a stroke occupies a fairly significant place in the total number of registered cases;
• Alzheimer's disease. This disease is characterized by neuroinflammation and further loss of neurons, ultimately leading to dementia.
• Age-related cognitive impairment. During the aging process, brain functions responsible for the thought process, emotions, perception are disrupted, and memory problems arise.
• Neurological diseases.
We have listed the main causes of dementia. We emphasize that timely diagnosis and treatment will delay the development of symptoms of the disease for years, therefore people who are at risk for the factors listed above should be observed by a neurologist and psychogeriatrician.
Only a qualified professional can diagnose dementia, but you yourself can recognize the disorder in someone close to you by the following symptoms:
• loss of interest in life;
• giving up previously loved hobbies;
• frequent loss of keys, lighters, scarves and other small items;
• excessive forgetfulness;
• memory losses;
• loss of the road to the house;
• precedents of forgetting basic things, such as turning taps on and off.
In psychiatry, it is customary to distinguish the following types of dementia:
• Dementia associated with neurological and vascular diseases (for example, Alzheimer's disease or cerebral atherosclerosis)
• Dementia due to diseases of internal organs (chronic renal and liver failure)
• Dementia due to intoxication (for example, alcoholic dementia or dementia due to chronic poisoning with substances in industrial production).
The most common type of dementia is memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease. Symptoms usually appear in older people after 60 years of age: a person forgets where he put his glasses; doesn’t remember what happened yesterday and forgets what he ate for breakfast. However, memories of long-ago events remain very clear. The so-called short-term memory disorder is characteristic of age-related cognitive impairment.
It is important to note here that it can be difficult for a person to admit to himself that he suffers from memory problems. Often such people try to hide this fact from their loved ones; confabulation occurs - filling in memory gaps with non-existent events. Such people need help, as it becomes difficult for them to navigate in an unfamiliar space, and even after going outside, they may not remember how to return home. They may forget to turn off the gas or close the door or forget how to use household appliances.
For many, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease sounds like a death sentence. With this disease, changes occur in the cerebral cortex: neurons (brain cells) are modified and lose the ability to perceive, transfer and store information. But timely consultation with a doctor, modern and effective medications, intellectual development, and constant memory training can slow down the development of Alzheimer's disease.
As we said earlier, dementia is usually diagnosed in older and older people. Regarding gender classification, dementia is equally common in both men and women.
Dementia sometimes occurs in young and middle-aged people. The main causes of the disease in young patients:
• traumatic brain injuries;
• problems with the thyroid gland;
• intoxication;
• alcohol addiction;
• neurological disorders;
• genetic diseases, such as Huntington's chorea.
In men, dementia manifests itself more clearly: memory and cognitive functions suffer significantly, and personality disorders occur. But at the same time they have an emotional background. Relatives of a patient with dementia note social alienation, cruelty, coldness, indifference, and suspicion.
In women, dementia occurs with the involvement of the emotional sphere. Dementia is often accompanied by major depressive disorder. At the same time, the woman does not seek to cut off all contacts; on the contrary, she can share her symptoms with people, including strangers. In addition, women diagnosed with dementia may experience delusions (delusional disorder): such patients may begin to write to government agencies, inventing false reasons, and ruin the lives of neighbors and loved ones.
Note that in women, dementia can be associated with dysfunction or hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, so to understand the causes of the disease it is necessary to do hormone tests and an ultrasound.
Dementia in older people is usually a disease of vascular origin or caused by neurodegenerative diseases (for example, Alzheimer's disease). The first symptoms of dementia in older people are mild forgetfulness and absent-mindedness. Subsequently, the symptoms increase, the disease progresses, and the following symptoms appear:
• illogical behavior;
• deformation of character, personality;
• suspiciousness reminiscent of paranoia;
• grouchiness;
• aggression;
• rudeness;
• indecent behavior;
• strange reactions to events. For example, laughter instead of sadness and so on.
In children and adolescents, dementia is usually caused by traumatic brain injuries, chronic diseases, previous brain infections, and genetic disorders. The following symptoms are observed:
• loss of interest in life;
• strange ideas and hobbies;
• aggression;
• obsession in relationships;
• distrust of loved ones;
• depressive disorder;
• increased anxiety;
• fears and phobias.
To the question “When should I see a doctor?” - there is an answer: “As soon as possible!” The sooner a person consults a specialist, the greater the likelihood that the disease will not progress to a more severe form. In addition, timely assistance to people with memory impairment can greatly make life easier for their relatives. Often such people do not realize that they have health problems and try to lead a normal life, which is no longer possible in their condition. Often on this basis disagreements arise with loved ones; the situation turns into conflicts and quarrels.
A timely visit to a specialist will help people with memory impairment and their relatives learn to live with this disease, learn to cope and find a way out of the situation. For example, patients with dementia may start writing down facts. Relatives, in turn, need to treat such people with understanding and respect, surround them with care and understanding. In addition, the doctor can accurately determine the cause of memory problems - often dementia can develop due to a lack of vitamin B12, electrolyte disorders or decreased thyroid function.
It is important to understand that a person who suffers from dementia is usually unable to independently assess their condition. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of a diagnosis of dementia, the patient’s relatives should consult a doctor as soon as possible: the issue of time in this case is fundamentally important. The sooner the patient gets an appointment with a psychogeriatrician, the sooner treatment will be prescribed that can slow down the development of the disease. Treatment late in the progression of dementia, unfortunately, often does not lead to a significant improvement in the patient’s condition.
Modern methods in the treatment of dementia make it possible to delay the onset of symptoms of the disease, allowing you to maintain vigor, mental health, and a clear mind for quite a long time.
As a rule, specialists individually select treatment and recommendations for the prevention of dementia for each patient, however, there are general recommendations that doctors at the IsraClinic give to their patients:
• Healthy sleep. A few hours before bedtime, you can take a walk, which will allow you to fall asleep well and easily, do not overeat, and sleep with the windows open.
• Healthy eating. It is necessary to eat properly, avoid heavy and fatty foods, which can trigger the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and affect overall well-being.
• Healthy emotions. It is recommended to get involved in a hobby that would bring joyful emotions and happiness.
• Memory training. Reading books, doing crossword puzzles, and watching educational programs are great for stimulating cognitive functions.