|
|
Home :: Family Health :: Dementia Dementia - Dementia symptom, treatment, causesDementia is the disturbance or loss of norma emotional expression and social responsibility. In some cases dementia may be reversible if its cause is treated, for example after head injury and in encephalitis, SYPHILIS, hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone deficiency), certain poisonings, brain tumours and alcohol dependence. Permanent, pro-gressive dementia occurs in ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. The sooner reversible causes of dementia are corrected, the better the chance of complete recovery. Dementia is a broad term for a range of conditions that involve loss of mental ability and so causes problems with memory, language, behaviour and emotions. It is caused by the destruction of brain cells. It is not a single disease. Instead, dementia refers to a group of illnesses that involve memory, behavior, learning, and communicating problems. A head injury, a stroke, a brain tumor or a problem like Alzheimer's disease can damage brain cells. Some people have a family history of dementia. The problems are progressive, which means they slowly get worse. Dementia may also change a person's mood and personality. At first, memory loss and trouble thinking clearly may bother the person who has dementia. About 4-5 million people in the United States have some degree of dementia, and that number will increase over the next few decades with the aging of the population. Dementia with Lewy bodies is a leading cause of degenerative dementia in elderly adults. This condition is linked to abnormal protein structures in certain areas of the brain. Some dementia is reversible and can be cured partially or completely with treatment. The degree of reversibility often depends on how quickly the underlying cause is treated. Dementia is one of the most serious disorders affecting the elderly. The prevalence of dementia increases rapidly with age. Conditions that damage blood vessels or nerve structures of the brain can also lead to dementia.Without careful assessment, delirium can easily be confused with dementia and a number of other psychiatric disorders because many of the signs and symptoms are conditions present in dementia. Symptoms of dementia can be classified as either reversible or irreversible depending upon the etiology of the disease. Dementia usually occurs in older age. Dementia is rare in people under age 60. The risk for dementia increases as a person gets older. The prevalence of dementia has increased over the past few decades, either because of greater awareness and more accurate diagnosis, or because increased longevity is creating a larger population of elderly, which is the age group most commonly affected. A careful history of the illness, a physical examination, and blood tests are important to identify reversible causes of dementia, such as infection. Diagnosing dementia can help the person and his or her family members seek help from many available resources.Causes of DementiaThe common causes and risk factor's of Dementia include the following:
Symptoms of DementiaSome sign and symptoms related to Dementia are as follows:
Treatment of DementiaDementia Treatment of people with progressive dementia aims to provide the best possible quality of life for them and their carers. Here is list of the methods to treat Dementia:
|
|
|
|
|||||||
 |
 |
|||||||
Copyright ©2008 http://www.health-care-clinic.com (All Rights Reserved) |
Disclaimer : Health-Care-Clinic.com is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional medical services. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Any medical or other decisions should be made in consultation with your qualified health care provider.
