What is Dementia?
Dementia is a syndrome causing deterioration of cognitive abilities beyond the biological consequences of ageing. While it is usually caused due to injuries affecting the brain, the most common form of Dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. It affects memory, comprehension, language, calculation, and more, and it is usually coupled with alternating mood, emotions, and behaviour.
Symptoms of Dementia:
Early-stage: Some of these symptoms may go unnoticed as they are shared with everyday errors.
- Losing track of time
- Getting lost in places that were frequently visited earlier
- Forgetting details of objects, people, names, and more
Middle Stage: These symptoms become more discernible, making the Dementia easier to diagnose
- Hazed memory and forgetfulness regarding current events and names
- Behavioural changes, such as wandering and repetitive questioning
- Struggling with communication
Late Stage: This stage of Dementia causes total dependency and severe memory disturbance in the patient
- Struggling to recognise friends and family
- Struggling to wake up
- Frequently becoming oblivious to aspects like time and place
How can it be treated?
Currently, Dementia has no cure. While several new drugs are in their testing phases, most clinical trials target Alzheimer’s. To help with treatment, early diagnosis as well as identifying and addressing any other physical or mental illnesses could be beneficial. Most importantly, looking for long term care options is important since this condition is untreatable.
Prevention:
The risk of Dementia can be reduced by maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity, minimal consumption of alcohol, and robust mental well-being.
