Dementia, which causes profound changes in mental abilities and thinking processes, affects between 5 and 15 percent of people over age 65, NetWellness reports. The risk of dementia increases with age, with 30 percent affected by age 85. Early detection and treatment of dementia helps maintain mental function for as long as possible, although current treatments only slow progression rather than curing the disease. Families often deny early signs, John Morley, M.D., of St. Louis University states, which trained personnel can diagnosis through observation and testing.
Risk Factors
Some diseases carry an additional risk for development of dementia. Watching vigilantly for signs of dementia in people with significant risk factors aids in early detection.
Risk factors include excessive alcohol intake, more than two drinks a day for men and one drink for women; type 2 diabetes; increased cholesterol levels, especially of low-density lipoprotein or LDL; and atherosclerosis, plaque buildup in the arteries, MayoClinic.com warns.
Early Symptoms
Symptoms of early Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, include difficulty choosing the right words, memory loss for recent events and difficulty drawing objects or getting lost easily, NetWellness explains.
Other forms of dementia might cause mental slowness and personality changes as the first signs. Irritability, hostility and agitation might develop as a person becomes frustrated with their inability to perform activities of daily living, the Merck Manual states.
Diagnosis
Early diagnosis helps slow the disease process by allowing early treatment. Tests used to diagnose dementia include a physical exam to check for diseases that could contribute to dementia, cognitive testing, which evaluates a person's thought processes, reasoning ability and judgment, memory and concentration levels, Mayo Clinic.com explains. CT scans and MRI detect changes in the brain caused by stroke or other physical disease.
Treatment
Treating dementia requires trial and error, with several types of medication available. Memantine, commercially available as Nemenda, appears to slow progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to Merck.
Combining Namenda with a cholinesterase inhibitor such as donepezil, available as Aricept, rivastigmine, sold as Exelon and galantamine hydrobromide, available as Razadyne, might improve results, according to MayoClinic.com.
Antidepressants and anti-psychotic medications might help some patients. Staying active and engaging in mental activities that challenge thinking also help a person function better. Maintaining a calm, consistent, familiar environment also improves functioning.
Results
It's not possible at this time to cure dementia, but it is possible, in some cases, to slow progression. Medications appear to improve thinking ability and overall functioning for around 12 months and provide some benefit over the natural course of decline, which normally takes around seven years, NetWellness advises. Stopping drugs prematurely might decrease the benefits.
