Whether dementia is affecting you, a friend or family member--or you just want to understand more about this disease--there are plenty of places to learn everything you need to know. It's important to get a good understanding of the disease, how it works, who it affects and what it looks like.
Learn the Basics
Start by educating yourself on what dementia is and how it happens. Dementia is a progressive, degenerative neurological disease that affects a person's brain and heiognitive function. The way that he thinks, speaks and remembers will all be affected. Dementia most often strikes older individuals--age 60 and older. But some types do occur in younger people, including those with AIDS.
Learn the Types
Symptoms of dementia can vary from person to person, particularly based on what kind of dementia it is. Dementia always affects the brain, but different types strike different areas and result in different symptoms. Alzheimer's disease destroys brain cells and typically occurs in people age 65 and older. Lewy body dementia causes protein clumps to form in the brain, causing more unique symptoms such as swings between confusion and clarity, as well as tremors and hallucinations. Dementia may also be caused by brain damage from a stroke or other injuries affecting blood flow to the brain. This is called vascular dementia.
Learn the Risk Factors
Unfortunately, just getting older increases your risk of developing dementia--as does having people in your family with the disease. But controllable risk factors include excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure (or very low blood pressure) and hardening of the arteries. Being depressed or having very high levels of estrogen in women can also increase dementia risk.
Learn the Warning Signs
You may notice someone becoming more forgetful with names, dates and where she puts things. You may also spot personality changes, anger, anxiety and confusion. People with dementia may start to have trouble with daily tasks, such as paying bills or working the stove.
Don't Wait; Act
If you spot the warning signs of dementia, it's time to act. Symptoms can progress quickly, and it can be dangerous for a person with dementia to live alone. There are also medications available to treat dementia that can slow the progression, but there is no cure. You can also take action if you have risk factors for dementia by doing your best to live a healthy lifestyle and get health conditions under control.
Keep Learning
There is new research being done every day on dementia, and new drugs and treatment options are available to help slow its progression. Stay up-to-date on the latest news and advancements to stay on top of what's being done about dementia.
