You may have noticed that your grandparents or other older relatives experience dementia, a general term that describes cognitive decline- impairment in thinking, memory, communication. Common diseases that fall under the "dementia umbrella" include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and vascular dementia. Keep reading to learn about causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Cause
The brain is packed with approximately 100 billion nerve cells or neurons. Most dementia diseases are associated with a build-up of proteins, which surrounds the nerve cells, cutting off the chemical connections they share with one another. This disables and ultimately destroys the neurons, and memories begin to fade. Other effects include difficulty in communicating emotions and problem solving, which eventually leads to dementia like diseases.
Individuals most vulnerable to developing dementia include people in their 60s and 70s and people who have a history of dementia in their family. Additionally, people with health issues such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and smoking have a higher risk. Also, dementia doesn't only occur in older adults. Athletes who've suffered head injuries and people who have depression can also deal with memory loss and difficulty communicating.
Symptoms
Dementia symptoms worsen with time. Individuals who are noticing that they're having trouble remembering certain events or are having trouble completing daily tasks should seek medical attention immediately, as doctors may be able to recommend treatment options.
Treatment
Currently, most dementia diseases don't have cures or treatments that can stop or slow down its progression. There are, however, some drugs that may lessen dementia symptoms temporarily. There are also therapies that don't involve drugs that can alleviate symptoms.
Prevention
Living a healthy lifestyle is key to preventing dementia. Though there are genetics and factors that we have no control over that also play a part, a healthy lifestyle has its benefits. Some of the key practices are mental stimulation, getting adequate sleep, eating healthy, reducing stress, and exercising. Most of these habits have probably been endorsed at school, at home, etc. Mental stimulation isn't mentioned very often; it involves challenging your brain, which can be done through playing games, such as chess and Scrabble. and learning new things.
Thank you for reading!
Written by: Ashlee Liu
References:
Doyle, Ted. “The Science behind Dementia.” LCB Senior Living, 22 Jan. 2020, www.lcbseniorliving.com/blog/the-science-behind-dementia.
“What Is Dementia.” Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia
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