8 Lesser-known Facts About Dementia
It is normal to have doubts and questions surrounding the condition of dementia. This informative blog addresses some of the most common queries and dispels certain myths and misconceptions.
Let us begin with some basic concerns.
Q1- What is the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia?
Dementia is a symptom. It is caused due to diseases and conditions that affect the brain. Dementia includes issues with memory, problems while making decisions, challenges in communication, confusion, mood swings, and hallucinations. One of the common diseases that causes dementia is Alzheimer’s other causes are vascular dementia and frontotemporal dementia.
Q2- Is forgetfulness a sign of dementia?
Most people tend to forget common things like names, where they put their belongings etc. that may not be a sign of dementia. Memory issues can also be due to certain medications, depression, feelings of anxiety and stress, deficiency of some vitamins, specific infections, and thyroid complications.
During dementia, memory loss is more severe than forgetting little things. The severe loss of memory interferes with daily activities like spells of blankness, forgetting the way back home, etc.
If your memory is getting worse or is affecting your daily routine then the doctor must be consulted.
Q3-Is dementia a growing problem?
A common worry is that the occurrence of dementia is growing. However, the number of people who suffer from dementia every year has been declining at a steady rate of 10% every decade since 1980. The reason could be that people are becoming more aware and leading healthier lives and managing their health conditions more effectively which could lead to the development of dementia. The health conditions include high blood pressure and diabetes.
Moreover, in the past when people developed dementia, didn’t receive a diagnosis compared to the present times. Hence it may appear that dementia is becoming common. Another factor that makes it seem that dementia is becoming more common is the aging of the population with more people facing the problem and talking about it.
Q4-Is dementia hereditary?
Most people have some relative or the other who has dementia, but that doesn’t mean that their family has a 100% chance of developing it too. Genes pose a lesser risk of passing on dementia. The onset of the symptoms has much to do with the lifestyle and age of the person who is affected. In rare cases, a person may get a faulty gene from their ancestors or parents that leads to a specific type of dementia. However, the occurrence may be one in a hundred and often show signs after the age of 40 or 50 years.
Q5-How to reduce the risk of developing dementia?
There is no way to prevent or cure dementia. However, some risk factors can be controlled by a person. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle plays an important role.
Some risk factors that can be controlled are smoking, salt intake, exercising regularly, reducing weight, eating a balanced diet, reducing alcohol intake, and maintaining cholesterol levels.
You must get your health monitored regularly through health checkups especially if you are in your mid-years to keep your brain healthy and functioning well.
Q6-Do women get more affected by dementia as compared to men?
Yes, women are more likely to get dementia than men. As per data, two out of three people who get dementia are women. The reasons could be that women tend to live longer than men and develop the condition with age. Research is still being conducted on men and women if they have different risk factors for developing dementia.
Q7- What can I eat to keep my brain healthy and functioning well?
Nutritionists suggest eating a healthy and well-balanced diet that includes a sufficient amount of fruit and vegetables, starchy foods like potatoes, pasta rice, and bread, milk and dairy products, meat, eggs and beans, and other sources of proteins, and less amount of fat and sugar. Excessive saturated fats found in fried foods and meat should be avoided as they increase the risk of dementia. However, fats in fish, olive oil, and avocados which are poly and monounsaturated fats can be consumed in moderate amounts.
Nutritional deficiencies and dehydration also can increase the risk of dementia and worsen the symptoms.
Q8-Why is there no screening process for dementia?
Currently, there is no accurate or reliable screening process for dementia to identify its early signs and the diseases that are responsible for the symptoms. Also, screening doesn’t assure that people who don’t have memory problems while the test may not develop in the future. There are no treatments available to slow down the progression of the condition even in the early stages though researchers and scientists are trying hard to find a way to detect the changes early for more accurate diagnosis.
This will help in managing the symptoms better and letting people preserve their memory and live a normal life for a longer period.
If your loved one is showing signs of consistent memory loss and other symptoms then it would be a wise decision to consult a doctor who may be able to guide you well on the next steps that you need to take to help your loved one lead a more independent and better life.
Related
BY: Sukino
COMMENTS: No Comments