Dementia is a disease related to the brain which affects a person’s daily activity, mainly affect people over the age of 65. It is associated with memory and the thinking capability of the person. A person who is suffering from dementia will lose cognitive functioning like thinking, remembering, reasoning, problem-solving behavioral abilities, emotional problems, difficulties with language and a decrease in motivation.
50% to 70% of the cases are due to Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of Dementia. The second most common type of dementia is vascular dementia which usually occurs after the stroke.
Symptoms of Dementia
The symptoms of dementia are progressive itself as it starts out slowly and gets worse over time. So if any of your loved ones have any of these symptoms, immediately contact a specialist. The symptoms are:
- Short term memory loss
- Loss in thinking power
- Difficulty in following any communication and understanding language
- Difficulty in concentrating, planning or organizing
- Unable to reasoning and judge problems
- Lack of motivation
- Mood swings: frustrated or irritable anxious or get easily upset or sad
- Delusions for any situation which is not true
Causes of Dementia
- Alzheimer’s Disease – The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. In Alzheimer’s disease, an abnormal protein starts forming surround the brain cells and damages the internal structure. Due to this chemical reaction brain cells begin to die. Symptoms may include day to day memory, difficulty in finding things or right words, problem-solving, or decision making inability.
- Vascular Dementia – After the stroke or the supply of oxygen to the brain is reduced by blocked blood vessels can damage the brain cells. Vascular dementia can occur suddenly after one large stroke or develop slowly after a series of small strokes. The symptoms of vascular dementia can include difficulties with problem-solving or planning, thinking quickly, and concentrating.
- Dementia with Lewy Bodies – When the tiny abnormal structures forms inside the brain and interrupt the chemistry of the brain and it leads to death of the brain cells. Early symptoms may include alertness, illusion, and difficulties judging distances.
- Frontotemporal Dementia – Clumps of the abnormal protein form inside the brain cells and damage the front and the side part of the brain. The main symptoms may be changing in personality and behavior. People may also face problems in fluent speaking and keep forgetting the words during the speech.
