08/Oct/2009
Aging and Memory Loss: Demystifying Dementia
By: John A. Stassi II,
CommCare Corporation, President & CEO
As we age, memory loss is a topic of conversation that comes
up at the doctor’s office, dinner table, and with friends and family.
While memory loss affects many, there are definite
differences between forgetting where the car was parked or what you ate for
dinner last night and forgetting your name, your child or spouse altogether.
Understanding dementia, the various types and symptoms can help alleviate fear.
According to The Mayo Clinic, dementia is a loss of brain
function that occurs with certain diseases that affect intellectual and social
abilities. Dementia is not a specific disease. While most individuals associate
memory loss with dementia, memory loss is usually coupled with impaired
judgment, language, a feeling of confusion and an inability to remember people
and names, as well as changes in personality and social behavior.
Alzheimer’s or Dementia?
Many people do not understand the difference between
dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. These are not two different diseases;
instead, Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia – the most widely discussed type of dementia.
The type of dementia depends on the part of the brain that
is affected. Some dementias can be treated and reversed including those that
are a result of infections and immune disorders; metabolic problems or
endocrine abnormalities; nutritional deficiencies; reactions to medications;
subdural hematomas; poisoning; brain tumors, anoxia; and heart and lung
problems.
Other types of dementia that get worse over time (known as
progressive
dementias) include
Alzheimer’s disease (that is caused by the
destruction of brain cells);
Lewy body dementia (abnormal clumps of
protein in the brain);
vascular dementia (the result of damage to your
brain caused by problems with the arteries serving your brain or heart); and
frontotemporal
dementia (the degeneration of nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes
of the brain which are the areas generally associated with personality,
behavior and language).
There are other disorders that are linked to dementia
including:
Huntington’s disease (inherited disease that causes certain
nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord to waste away);
dementia
pugilistica (also known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, caused by
repetitive head trauma as experienced by boxers);
HIV-associated dementia;
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (rare, fatal brain disorder that occurs sporadically);
and s
econdar
y dementias
(people with other disorders such as Parkinson’s
disease may develop a secondary dementia that affects movement).
There are several factors that can lead to dementia which
include age, family history, alcohol use, atherosclerosis (a form of
arteriosclerosis characterized by the deposition of atheromatous plaques
containing cholesterol and lipids on the innermost layers of medium and large
arteries), blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, depression, high estrogen
levels, elevated homocysteine blood levels, and smoking.
Symptoms and Treatment
Symptoms of dementia depend on the individual and the cause of
dementia. While many individuals with dementia experience similar symptoms such
as the loss of short-term memory, others may not experience the same symptoms
or be on the same path. Some experience symptoms of dementia more rapidly and
others experience progressive symptoms.
Early signs of dementia include difficulty finding
the right word; forgetting names and appointments; misplacing/losing things;
difficulty performing daily tasks such as cooking and driving; noticeable
changes in personality; mood swings; feelings of paranoia and suspiciousness;
and confusion/disorientation in unfamiliar settings.
Intermediate signs of dementia may include the
worsening of the early signs of dementia; the inability to perform activities
such as bathing, dressing, toileting; disruptive sleep patterns; the inability
to learn new information; disorientation and confusion in familiar and unfamiliar
settings; falls and accidents; increased behavior disorders; hallucinations;
poor concentration; and feelings of anxiety and depression.
Finally,
severe signs of dementia can be detected
with the worsening of symptoms seen in the early and intermediate stages;
complete dependence on others for activities of daily living; the inability to
get from one location to another; impairments of movements such as swallowing;
loss of both short and long-term memory; and other complications such as dehydration,
malnutrition, bladder control; infections and seizures. Of course at this stage
of dementia, the affected individual will not be aware of these problems.
What’s Next?
If a person experiences symptoms of dementia, an appointment
with the primary care physician should be scheduled immediately. In some cases,
an appointment with a neurologist should also be sought. The diagnosis requires
several tests and visits to the doctor, including a review of the individual’s
medical history; a physical examination; cognitive and neuropsychological
tests; a neurological evaluation; brain scans (including CT and MRI scans and
an Electroencephalogram (EEG)); laboratory tests; and psychiatric evaluation.
There are medications that can be used to treat dementia, which
may help slow or minimize the development of its symptoms including
cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine.
However, while there are prescriptions and treatments available for some
types of dementia, there are also resources available for the caregivers who
must be able to care for themselves while also caring for someone with
dementia. There are support groups and resources for caregivers who must learn
to cope with the disease and still maintain control over their own emotional
needs.
As research is conducted to prevent dementia, there are
steps individuals can take to delay/prevent dementia including mentally
stimulating activities; being physically and socially active; lowering
homocysteine, cholesterol and blood pressure levels; as well as controlling
diabetes, and maintaining a healthy diet.
For more information :
Mayo Clinic –
www.mayoclinic.com; eMedicine Health
www.emedicinehealth.com
CommCare
Corporation
is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which operates
skilled nursing facilities and community mental health centers. CommCare owns
and operates Baton Rouge Health Care, Old Jefferson Community Care Center, CMHC
of
Baton Rouge
(Oakhaven),
Riverlands
Community
Care
Center
, D’Ville
House
Community
Care
Center
and other skilled nursing facilities throughout the state. CommCare provides
skilled nursing and rehabilitative care. For more information:
www.commcare.com
or (504)
324-8950.
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