Dementia is a broad term referring to all diseases that cause loss of thinking, memory and reasoning skills beyond normal aging. The most common and well known by far is Alzheimer’s disease, but it is not the only one.
All types of dementia are characterized by brain cells dying off daily and in high numbers reducing cognitive skills and prompting behavioral changes.
Diagnosis of dementia is symptom based followed by determining which ‘stage’ of dementia the patient is in and which treatments are best suited. Unfortunately there is no cure for dementia and symptoms will only get worse with time. However current treatments can help slow the progression of these symptoms.
Possible causes and types:
-Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, sometimes called mad cow disease. It is very rare and deadly.
-Frontotemporal dementia, where the brain partly shrinks and affects speech and social behavior
-Strokes, due to brain cells dying
-Lewy body dementia, a common type of dementia
-Traumatic brain injury
-Parkinson’s disease
-Meningitis
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia but there is no proof that it is more severe than other types. Dementia treatments for all types are very similar, with a small portion being medication and up to 90% being education and support. Some specific varieties may have additional treatments as well.
Now that you know all about dementia, help fight against cognitive diseases with the following tips.
Protect your brain by:
-Lowering Cholesterol
-Reducing Blood Pressure
-Staying physically fit
-Continuing social activities
-Eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables
-Increasing omega-3 intake, available in various fish and nuts
Resources:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2010-mchi/5904.html
http://www.everydayhealth.com/alzheimers/dementia-beyond-alzheimers-disease.aspx
http://www.everydayhealth.com/alzheimers/common-causes-of-dementia.aspx
