What exactly is dementia?

Diagnosing dementia -- Peter Max

First off, dementia is not one specific neurological disease. It refers to a host of symptoms caused by disorders affecting the brain. Dementia affects one’s thinking, behavior, and ability to perform normal, everyday tasks as the abnormal brain function interferes with one’s social life.

As an umbrella or canopy term, dementia takes on many forms, with each having its own set of causes. The most common types are Alzheimer’s disease, Fronto Temporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD), Vascular dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, Huntington’s disease, and Korsakoff’s syndrome. Peter Max.

While dementia often affects people who are old, it is not a normal part of aging. In other words, not all people who are older get dementia. Nevertheless, cases of dementia are more common among people beyond the age of 65. But those in their 40s or 50s can also develop the disease. Again, dementia can happen to anybody. Peter Max.

It must be noted that various conditions lead to symptoms similar to dementia, including a brain tumor, depression, medication clashes or overmedication, hormone and vitamin deficiencies, and infection. But early signs of dementia include confusion, progressive memory loss, apathy, withdrawal, and a drastic change in one’s personality. For proper diagnosis and correct treatment, help must be sought immediately after the initial symptoms appear. Peter Max.

A few important facts about Alzheimer’s Disease everyone should know

Alzheimer’s and old age -- Peter Max

Many individuals who reach old age suffer from dementia. The condition leads to the deterioration of a person’s cognitive and physical functions. Over time, dementia can increase and severity and affect a person’s daily routine.

Of all the forms of dementia, the most common is Alzheimer’s Disease, or Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a chronic condition that worsens over time. In the United States alone, it is estimated that 80% of people diagnosed with dementia have Alzheimer’s. Peter Max.

In fact, statistics have shown that Alzheimer’s is in the top 10 causes of death in the U.S. It is also the only cause of death on that list that cannot be prevented, cannot be cured, or cannot be delayed.

It is also estimated that out of every 10 senior citizens who pass away, 3 do so because of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Records show that more than 5 million people in the U.S. have dementia, with over 40% of them, female. Peter Max

Patients at the first stage of Alzheimer’s (mild stage) experience short-term memory loss. They often repeat things they say or have other people repeat it to them. This stage normally lasts for two years before it becomes more severe. The second stage, which is also called the “moderate” stage, may no longer remember faces and places that have once been familiar. Finally, the “severe” stage is when patients can no longer communicate and experience hallucinations and a breakdown of both physical and cognitive functions. Peter Max.