Memories , the passing of the years, are more precious to human beings. The longer a person reaches his or her later years, the longer the cognitive problem persists .
Dementia is the name given to a group of disorders that affect the brain. People who experience these difficulties are unable to perform any type of activity, such as eating, dancing, dressing, or controlling recurring emotions .
Having short-term memory loss does not mean you have dementia. A patient with this condition exhibits a range of distinctive behaviors, including language, learning, and communication problems. Although it is common in older people, it is not a typical sign of aging.
What is Senile Dementia?
It is known as the total loss of intellectual capacities that a human being possesses, including: loss of memory, communication, and/or the performance of daily activities, bringing the patient to a state of total dependency.
It is important to remember that it is not a disease , but rather an alteration of the cognitive system due to the existence of a disease such as: Parkinson's, Huntington's, frontotemporal degeneration and Alzheimer's, which is the most common in older adults.
Many diseases are progressive. People with a genetic predisposition, a history of head trauma, or a low educational level are also at risk.
Early diagnosis is important when conditions begin to appear, allowing the patient to take full advantage of available treatments.
Phases
Depending on the patient's condition, symptoms can be detected in various ways. Below, we'll explore the phases and the relationship that may exist with each stage.
- Mild: The person can continue with their daily activities. However, there is a minimal amount of time for situations such as:
- He doesn't remember where he keeps things.
- The name of the people.
- Difficulty expressing oneself with the right words.
- Age-related memory decline: Aging naturally involves episodes of memory loss where cognitive decline begins.
- The patient feels disoriented upon waking.
- Moderate : In this third phase, the family begins to notice the patient's forgotten behavior and changes. Symptoms include:
- He does not remember recent events.
- Forgets the day, doesn't remember how to read the time or the date.
- Low on energy and emotionally.
- Disoriented and confusing language.
- Low-grade cognitive impairment : When is it present? Common symptoms include:
- Problems retaining information.
- They don't remember words and can't find their way around.
- They lose their sense of location and are at risk of getting lost.
- Advanced : The patient begins to need a caregiver to carry out daily activities.
- You forget how to use money.
- Forget phone numbers, cooking, reading, and even writing.
- Severe : At this stage the patient loses almost all control of his or her life and needs to be under constant supervision 24 hours a day.
- The patient worsens his symptoms by not recognizing people.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Obsessive behavior or aggression.
- Very advanced : Complete loss of psychomotor skills occurs approximately two and a half years after diagnosis.
- The patient forgets to talk, walk, go to the bathroom, or eat.
Is your dementia patient aggressive? Pay close attention to this article; it might be time to ask for help. CARING FOR AGGRESSIVE PATIENTS: WHAT'S THE LIMIT YOU CAN TOLERATE AND WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Types of senile dementia
Today the following diseases are considered dementia:
- Alzheimer's : This is the most common type of disease in older adults. This type progressively reduces the number of neurons and leads to a loss of brain volume. Its first signs are memory problems , joint problems , or changes.
- Lewy body : Studies have been conducted in 10% to 20% of people diagnosed with Lewy body. It affects neural function by disrupting communication between cells. Symptoms are similar to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
- Vascular : Also known as a multi-infarct, this occurs when blood vessels become blocked and suddenly block the flow of blood. Symptoms vary depending on the area where the mini-infarcts occur. The most common symptoms include high blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias.
- Frontotemporal or Pick's disease : Although not very common, it occurs with the progressive growth of the frontal and temporal regions of the brain, causing them to contract. Its symptoms are influenced by changes in character or behavior that cause movement disorders and are related to certain hereditary genes.
Symptoms of Senile Dementia in patients
The human body undergoes cognitive changes, especially in older adults. This disorder is often directly linked to aging. However, there are a number of symptoms that should be taken as a warning sign.
The first symptom is related to minor memory disturbances , fatigue, or involuntary movements. However, it's normal to forget things like keys, glasses, or misname loved ones.
The most common symptoms are:
- Loss of identity and time.
- Delusions and even hallucinations due to violent behavior.
- They are dependent on a caregiver because they cannot perform common and simple tasks.
- They suffer from sleep disorders and have difficulty falling asleep.
- They suffer from incontinence.
- Communication is unstable due to episodes and confused memory.
Causes of Senile Dementia
This pathology is caused by damage to the cells that make up the brain, which prevents communication between them and the body's basic needs, such as thinking, feeling, and moving. The consequences of this condition depend on the damage and the region of the brain.
Alzheimer's disease produces a greater proportion of the proteins that help maintain health and communication. This is why memory loss is the most common cause of damage.
It's true that memory loss and the passage of time can cause this condition. Among the most common causes are:
- Depression : Due to some important loss or avoiding painful situations.
- Side effects of medications .
- Alcohol abuse .
- Thyroid problems .
- Vitamin deficiencies .
Risk Factors
There are risk factors that cannot be changed, such as genetics or age. However, there are habits that can have a significant impact and progressively affect brain health, such as:
1. Cardiovascular risks : The brain is nourished through blood vessels and is located in the brain.
Therefore, cardiovascular exercise is equally important as a strategy to protect the patient's brain and heart. Furthermore, it is recommended that older adults avoid ruminating and maintain healthy cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight levels and blood pressure.
2. Lack of physical activity : A sedentary lifestyle can significantly reduce blood and oxygen flow to the brain. Moderate exercise can help reduce the risk and benefit to brain cells.
3. Poor diet : Poor eating habits are the main cause of heart problems in humans. A healthy diet is the best way to maintain a healthy heart and help protect the brain.
Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention.
There is no specific diagnosis to determine this in a patient. However, the specialist relies on a series of data that can determine this "disease":
- Family history
- Laboratory tests
- Study of everyday functions and behaviors
- Collection of testimonies from family members
In some cases, a specialist may diagnose a person with dementia, but it is not difficult to determine the degree or stage of dementia.
Appropriate treatment is based on medications that control and reduce confusion or anxiety. Some commercial medications that can prevent and treat these include:
- Antidepressants (paroxetine, fluoxetine)
- Neuroleptics (risperidone)
- Anxiolytics (diazepam)
- Memantine (neuroprotector)
- Vitamin E.
- Medicinal plants: the use of phytotherapy is highly recommended in natural medicine, such as ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and wheat.
Cognitive decline does not necessarily lead to dementia in older adults. Everything depends on the patient's prognosis and behavior.
