Dementia is one of the numerous health challenges that come with aging. It is the generic name for a couple of disorders that impact the functioning of the brain during old age. Alzheimer’s is one of the diseases that fall under the umbrella of Dementia.
In a study of over 850,000 people with dementia, a little over 730,000 of them were people in their middle 60’s and over. With this percentage of people, it is an indication that as you age your chances of developing this ailment increases.
How does Dementia occur?
Dementia occurs when brain cells’ communication abilities are interfered with. That interference usually leads to the inability of the brain to think properly and communicate effectively. That may have a negative impact on the overall performance of the brain. The human brain is a combination of distinct regions with different functions. While a region coordinates memory, some other regions are responsible for movement and judgment. Whatever damage the cells in a specific region will affect the normal functions of the region.
Common symptoms of Dementia.
Common symptoms of dementia are usually mild at the beginning before they gradually increase in the degree of intensity over time. Dementia does not have a generic symptom but has a series of symptoms that are determined by the causative ailment. As the causative ailment varies from one person to another, so are the symptoms too.
However, some common symptoms of Dementia are:
- Finding it difficult to remember current events when you can easily remember what happened in the past.
- Struggling to follow group discussion.
- Inability to remember people’s names.
- Difficulty in following a movie on TV or a story in a book or magazine.
- Difficulty in remembering date or day.
- Finding it difficult to remember where you keep things.
- Finding it to be challenging to complete a familiar task.
- Finding it difficult to control your mood or emotions.
If you notice any of these traits, there are chances that you have issues with Dementia, and you must do everything possible to reduce the impact on you. However, you can prevent Dementia by watching your lifestyle.
Some practical ways you can reduce your chances of being a victim of this ailment are:
- Be physically active:
Living an active lifestyle is a good way to put Dementia in check. The minimum you should do is 30 minutes of physical activities about five times weekly. You should engage in physical activities that will increase your heart rate. The workout should be intense enough to get you out of breath. You should consider walking, cycling, swimming, or any other exercise that will have the desired impact on you. Whether you are an adult or middle-aged, engaging in physical exercise on a regular basis will reduce your risk of becoming a Dementia patient. - Don’t smoke:
Smoking puts you at increased risk of harming your heart, lungs, and developing dementia. If you are already a smoker, do all you can to stop smoking. That’s a good way to prevent yourself from developing this ailment. - Eating healthy diet is a must:
Your choice of food also dictates whether you will develop this ailment or not. If you eat healthy diets that are rich in fruit, oily fish, unrefined cereals, vegetables, and low sugar and red meat levels, you will be able to boost your immunity against dementia in addition to reducing your risk of stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. You should also endeavor to cut down on biscuits, cakes, and other foods that are rich in saturated fats. Don’t forget to watch your salt intake too. Too much salt consumption can raise increase your blood pressure and increase your vulnerability to stroke. It is advisable that you go through food labels and know the ingredients before consuming them. - Watch your alcohol consumption:
Heavy consumption of alcohol will put you at a greater risk of dementia than if you keep an eye on what you consume. The recommended safe volume is 14 units weekly that should be spread over a couple of days. The amount is equivalent to about five glasses of wine weekly. If your favorite is lager or beer, consuming seven pits of the beer or lager will give you the recommended weekly ration. If you go beyond the recommended weekly quantity, your chances of developing Dementia will increase at a slow rate until it becomes full blown.
Dementia treatment.
Most of the causes of Dementia currently defy cure. Nevertheless, there is a continuing effort to develop vaccines, drugs, and other potent medical treatment that can help dementia patients overcome the health challenge. The drug treatments that are currently available can only provide temporary assistance with motivation, memory, and concentration. Some of the drugs that doctors recommend are Rivastigmine, Donepezil, and Galantamine. If the Alzheimer’s disease is still at the early stage, Memantine is another drug that may be prescribed for temporary relief from the disease. In the meantime, some non-drug supports and treatments can be effective in managing the ailment.
Some of these non-drug treatments include the following:
- Seek professional advice:
Contacting professional counselors for talking therapies that will help you realize the importance of accepting the health condition and finding practical solutions that will help you manage the ailment successfully. - Consider cognitive stimulation:
For any dementia patient that also deals with anxiety or depression, you may consider cognitive stimulation therapy. This therapy will help a dementia patient with reduced memory loss, mental disorientation, and confusion. That will help you focus on living a healthy lifestyle rather than focus on the health problem itself. - Behavior therapy helps:
Behavior therapy is another effective non-drug treatment for the ailment. The therapy is an effective technique that will help you identify the case of the problem. For instance, a dementia patient with wandering history triggered by restlessness may be encouraged to include physical exercise in his or her plans. That may reduce the restless and help the patient reduce the impact of the sickness on his or her health. Behavior therapy has also proved to be effective in treating some symptoms of dementia such as aggression, depression, and delusional thinking. That will reduce the effect on the patient drastically and lead to improved dementia management.
As you advance in age, you may have to face this health problem. You shouldn’t panic. You can successfully manage it by implementing the tips discussed here. On the other hand, you should also consult your physician to diagnose the dementia type you are struggling with. That will help the physician provide the best solution to the problem.
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