Dementia
DEMENTIA
by Connie Magro, LWIEN Service
The words we were accustomed to use on dementia has changed nowadays. In the past, often we said "dak zmaga." Today we use the word 'Dementia' to refer to the disease which its SYMPTOMS include:
First stage symptoms:
- A change in the person's personality: a person who is likely drawn closed in him/herself, becomes a joyful and cheery person.
- Loss of memory: the person does not remember the names of goods and people.
- The person starts mixing things up and forgetting.
- Stroke or series of strokes that cause dementia (single or multi-infarct dementia).
- State of confusion in the brain caused by years of alcohol abuse (alcoholic dementia) where the memory, the capacity of understanding and learning are affected.
Second stage symptoms:
- The person ceases to be able to do things that are accustomed to do; start losing skills they had; lose a sense of who they are and what they are able to do.
- No longer able to do their work;
- The most recent memories are lost more promptly than those of the past.
- Loses sense of time; no longer distinguishes between morning and evening.
Third stage symptoms:
- Starts fidgeting and getting lost and one has to keep an eye on them so as not to disappear and be lost.
- The ability of structuring sentences is gone.
- As the disease enters more deeply, the person loses the ability to take care of their own and function independently. So, for example, they have to wear a nappy and stay in bed.
- Their words become un-understandable, like they are speaking another language
Safe to say that AGITATED DEPRESSION IS NOT DEMENTIA. So if a doctor, without making a prior assessment, should decide that a person has dementia when in fact they are suffering from agitated depression, the pills will send the person back and exacerbate their agitated depression. The assessment is important. Here a number of tests leading to a correct diagnosis. With a correct diagnosis, then treatment is more effective.
WHAT is dementia?
Dementia is a brain disorder with loss of memory and permanent change in personality. The mental illness work on memory and personality. So, dementia is considered a mental illness. With dementia, a person begins to have a lot of confusion in the mind and begins to act in ways they never acted before - for example they start cursing when they have never cursed before.
How to develop dementia?
- The development of the disease can be slow. Having the keys and forget where you put them. Putting the purse in the refrigerator. Being forgetful can be a case of having anxiety. Knowing that it is not anxiety when, for example, going to town and forgetting the bus number that they frequently use. Or forgetting the driving route to work. Or forgetting which street their house is in.
- The onset of the disease can be immediate: as when a person suffers from a stroke. Dementia can be caused by a stroke.
THERAPIES: there are many therapies such as talking therapy where one constantly talks to the sick about everything to get back their memory. It's good to find things for the sick person with dementia to do which enables them to not completely lose their memories and abilities. Let them do all the things they can possibly do. The fact that they manage to do certain things, encourages them. One can sit with them and show them some funny cartoon films for fun and pleasure. Debating the past to talk about past memories. At home, walls can be colored differently or even labelled so they remember the directions and where the different rooms are.
CAUSES:
TREATMENT:
PREVENTION:
DIET:
by Connie Magro, LWIEN Service
The words we were accustomed to use on dementia has changed nowadays. In the past, often we said "dak zmaga." Today we use the word 'Dementia' to refer to the disease which its SYMPTOMS include:
First stage symptoms:
- A change in the person's personality: a person who is likely drawn closed in him/herself, becomes a joyful and cheery person.
- Loss of memory: the person does not remember the names of goods and people.
- The person starts mixing things up and forgetting.
- Stroke or series of strokes that cause dementia (single or multi-infarct dementia).
- State of confusion in the brain caused by years of alcohol abuse (alcoholic dementia) where the memory, the capacity of understanding and learning are affected.
Second stage symptoms:
- The person ceases to be able to do things that are accustomed to do; start losing skills they had; lose a sense of who they are and what they are able to do.
- No longer able to do their work;
- The most recent memories are lost more promptly than those of the past.
- Loses sense of time; no longer distinguishes between morning and evening.
Third stage symptoms:
- Starts fidgeting and getting lost and one has to keep an eye on them so as not to disappear and be lost.
- The ability of structuring sentences is gone.
- As the disease enters more deeply, the person loses the ability to take care of their own and function independently. So, for example, they have to wear a nappy and stay in bed.
- Their words become un-understandable, like they are speaking another language
Safe to say that AGITATED DEPRESSION IS NOT DEMENTIA. So if a doctor, without making a prior assessment, should decide that a person has dementia when in fact they are suffering from agitated depression, the pills will send the person back and exacerbate their agitated depression. The assessment is important. Here a number of tests leading to a correct diagnosis. With a correct diagnosis, then treatment is more effective.
WHAT is dementia?
Dementia is a brain disorder with loss of memory and permanent change in personality. The mental illness work on memory and personality. So, dementia is considered a mental illness. With dementia, a person begins to have a lot of confusion in the mind and begins to act in ways they never acted before - for example they start cursing when they have never cursed before.
How to develop dementia?
- The development of the disease can be slow. Having the keys and forget where you put them. Putting the purse in the refrigerator. Being forgetful can be a case of having anxiety. Knowing that it is not anxiety when, for example, going to town and forgetting the bus number that they frequently use. Or forgetting the driving route to work. Or forgetting which street their house is in.
- The onset of the disease can be immediate: as when a person suffers from a stroke. Dementia can be caused by a stroke.
THERAPIES: there are many therapies such as talking therapy where one constantly talks to the sick about everything to get back their memory. It's good to find things for the sick person with dementia to do which enables them to not completely lose their memories and abilities. Let them do all the things they can possibly do. The fact that they manage to do certain things, encourages them. One can sit with them and show them some funny cartoon films for fun and pleasure. Debating the past to talk about past memories. At home, walls can be colored differently or even labelled so they remember the directions and where the different rooms are.
CAUSES:
- Alzheimer's is a common cause
- Stroke
- Tumor in the brain
- When someone takes a big blow on the head
TREATMENT:
- Axura: this tablet has brought major development in the treatment of dementia. It delay the development of the disease from 5 to 10 years
- Arisept: when the disease has entered more internally, it would be useless taking this medicine; it is very expensive and would be taken for nothing
- We made some experiments with vitamin E and C among people of seventy years to see if it prevents the development of dementia
- It's a good idea to use Food Thickener for the sick person so they won't choke
- Depression can be treated with different therapies and dementia symptoms will be reversible
- In the vast majority of the various dementias such as Alzheimer's, there is no specific curable treatment
PREVENTION:
- Having an active lifestyle where one doesn't stay away from socialising and being around people for a long time
- Spiritual Life
- Contact with people and friendships
- Functioning the brain
- Physical exercise, healthy food, diet, low cholesterol, maintaining weight, and low blood pressure reduce the risk of dementia
- Love and helping others
DIET:
- Overweight (obesity) increases the risk of dementia
- Fish reduces the risk of Alzheimer's
- Vegetables and nuts help
- Alcohol should be taken in moderation