The fitness app that helps you stay healthy! Check it out on our website.
Coping with dementia is not easy, neither for the patient nor for the family members. We have compiled comprehensive information on the subject for you.
Most people tend to forget something from time to time, or get confused, enter a room and not remember what they were looking for. In people dealing with dementia we will see it in the frequency of the cases.
If there are signs on the list that raise red flags, we recommend you consult a neurologist, psychiatrist or geriatrician for a thorough examination:
Memory loss that affects work, difficulty completing familiar tasks, language problems that include forgetting words or replacing them with inappropriate words, disorientation in time and place even when it comes to familiar places, incorrect or deteriorating judgment, problems with abstract thinking, putting things out of place or in completely illogical places , changes in mood or behavior for no apparent reason and in short periods of time, noticeable changes in personality or affection towards loved ones, loss of initiative and becoming passive and difficulty in daily functioning, which includes difficulties in bathing, dressing, self-care and more.
There are various diseases that cause dementia. The causes of the disease may affect the progression of the disease and the possible treatment methods.
The most common cause of dementia. A degenerative disease of the brain, which causes degeneration of cells in brain tissue and the formation of deposits of the substance amyloid beta and tau protein when phosphorylated, which apparently disrupt the function of the cells.
As a result of damage to the cerebral blood vessels, oxygen supply to the brain is interrupted. May appear after a stroke due to blockage of large blood vessels, as a result of damage to small cerebral blood vessels (lacunar infarctions) also as a result of blood and bleeding diseases. Diabetes, hypertension, high level of lipids in the blood, hypercoagulability and heart rhythm irregularities are risk factors for vascular dementia.
An instance of tiny proteinaceous globular structures that develop inside nerve cells. The first symptoms will be deficits in cognitive functions and behavior, and later - will manifest similar to Parkinson's disease. Patients may suffer from hallucinations.
Brain depletion in the frontal brain areas, the frontal lobes and the temporal lobes. The first symptoms will mainly be changes in behavior, and sometimes deficiencies in language functions. Later the disease resembles Alzheimer's.
Deficits in memory or other cognitive functions in people who are considered relatively young (around the age of 50). The degree of severity is mild, but does not correspond to age, the ability to function is not impaired and it is not dementia. MCI is a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer's in the future.
A rare disease caused by a special protein called prion that attacks the brain tissues and causes them to crystallize. This disease has been linked to mad cow disease, which is a similar disease that attacks cattle.
Seen mainly in patients suffering from depression. Patients will suffer from clinical symptoms of dementia, which resolve with appropriate depression treatment.
A condition in which vitamin deficiency, urinary tract infection, high fever, brain tumor, or decreased thyroid function cause dementia symptoms, which go away with the treatment of the underlying medical condition.
People can live with Alzheimer's disease for many years. Over the years, the degree of independence will decrease, when in the end they will need support in their daily conduct and functioning. It is important to help a person to be active at the highest level possible, for as long as possible. It is possible to assist, help and support the performance of a daily task, but as long as possible - encourage the dementia sufferer to perform the task themselves, while ensuring safety by protecting the home with detectors, alarms and more.
Complex behaviors such as depression, psychomotor restlessness, repetitiveness, behaviors that include a lack of inhibitions (such as increased sexuality), sleep disorders, eating disorders and also physical and verbal aggression may appear in different stages and many times they are affected by the person's physical condition (such as hunger, thirst, constipation that may cause stress or restlessness, for example), or from environmental conditions such as light, heat, noise, etc. In these situations, the cause of the behavior can be treated, and it can be avoided in the future. In such situations it is recommended to make sure that the person is safe and protected.
You can try to distract them, wait with them until they calm down or try to calm them down by different means. It is recommended to document unusual situations, in order to look for possible triggers and avoid them in the future.
With time and the progression of the disease, the situation worsens until the person does not remember how to eat and does not even understand the instruction "eat please". These changes will require changes in the foods themselves, their composition and feeding methods.
It is important to be alert during meal times for possible swallowing problems or for pain, constipation or problems in the mouth that may make eating difficult. In these cases it is important to contact the family doctor and offer a consultation with an otolaryngologist, speech therapist or dentist.
In cases of advanced dementia, the body's defense mechanisms that fight bacteria weaken. Many people with advanced dementia also have problems swallowing and clearing secretions from the throat. This can cause food or saliva to "go down the wrong tube" and reach the lungs and cause pneumonia. Yes, most people with advanced dementia develop infections. Another common infection is a urinary tract infection.
The main treatment options include treating the symptoms with or without a combination of antibiotics.
The decision-making regarding the treatment of infections should be shared between the primary caregivers and the patient's medical team. Since the appearance of infections is a predictable fact in cases of advanced dementia, it is recommended to discuss the preferred approach to their treatment even before their appearance.
