The term "senile dementia" is an obsolete way of describing deterioration of mental function in people over age 65. Dementia affects at least 5 million Americans over 65, according to the Merck Manual, and increases with age. Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, affects 5 percent of people age 65 to 74, but 50 percent of people over 85, MayoClinic.com says. Dementia also accounts for over 50 percent of admissions to nursing homes, Merck states.
Definition
Dementia is a slow but progressive loss of the ability to think clearly, remember, reason and learn. Dementia also affects a person's ability to make good judgments and often causes confusion and personality changes. At least two brain functions, such as the ability to learn and remember, must be compromised for a person to be diagnosed with dementia, MayoClinic.com states.
Causes
Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, causes 50 to 70 percent of dementia in older adults. Alzheimer's disease results from brain cell destruction from the development of plaques, which are clumps of protein; and tangles of a different type of protein in the brain. Other types of senile dementia include Lewy body dementia, formation of clumps of another type of protein in the brain; and vascular dementia, caused by stroke or other insult to the vascular system. Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder, may also cause dementia.
Symptoms
Symptoms of senile dementia include problems with memory, difficulty learning new information, inability to plan, reason or exercise good judgment and difficulty communicating. Personality changes such as irritability, unwarranted anger, suspiciousness and reclusiveness may develop. Ten percent of people develop psychosis, with paranoia, delusion and hallucinations, the Merck Manual reports. Eventually, the person with advanced senile dementia can no longer speak, doesn't recognize loved ones and is bedridden.
Treatments
Medications to treat Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of senile dementia, and other forms of dementia include drugs that increase the amount of acetylcholine, a brain chemical that helps regulate memory and judgment, the University of Maryland explains. Aricept, Exelon and Razadyne are commonly used cholinesterase inhibitors. Studies on Aricept indicated that its use delayed the need for nursing home placement, the University of California San Francisco reports. Namenda regulates glutamine, another brain chemical involved in memory storage and learning. Anti-depressants may help people who have depression with senile dementia. Antipsychotic medications may help control outbursts and agitation.
Complications
Safety is a major concern with dementia patients. They may wander off, get lost, behave inappropriately in public and exercise poor judgment. They're also prone to falls due to decreased muscle control. Death normally occurs due to pneumonia or other infection after a person is confined to bed, the Merck Manual says.
Prevention
While dementia may not be completely preventable, staying active physically and mentally, taking B vitamins, keeping cholesterol levels and blood pressure low and eating a healthy diet with adequate fruits, vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids may slow or delay dementia. People vaccinated against influenza, tetanus, diphtheria and polio also have a reduced incidence of developing Alzheimer's disease, MayoClinic.com states.
