Dementia

Premier Medical Group’s Neurology division provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment of all adult neurological disorders that involve the brain and nervous system.

 

What is dementia?

Dementia is not a singular disease but rather a general umbrella term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities. A dementia diagnosis suggests a condition that is severe enough to interfere with an individual’s daily life.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Other diseases that are grouped under the general term are ones that are caused by abnormal brain changes. Dementia is also capable of affecting a person’s behavior, feelings, and relationships. Dementia is not the same as “senility” since lumping them together is now regarded as an incorrect representation of the aging process.

What are the types of dementia?

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Knowing the specific type of dementia that you or a loved one may be at risk of developing is the best way to tailor any treatments and prepare for the future. There is:

  • Alzheimer’s disease: Alzheimer’s is the most common dementia diagnosis in older adults. Abnormal buildups of proteins in the brain and a loss of connection among a person’s nerve cells can be identified with a PET scan.
  • Frontotemporal dementia (FTD): FTD is rare and it typically occurs in individuals who are younger than 60. An individual who is diagnosed with FTD will experience changes in the frontal lobe that manifest as behavioral symptoms. Changes that will occur in the temporal lobe result in language and emotional disturbances.
  • Lewy body dementia (LBD): Problems with thinking, movement, behavior, and mood might be indicators of LBD. Abnormal deposits of a protein known as Lewy bodies, or alpha-synuclein, is found in people with LBD.
  • Vascular dementia: Vascular changes in the brain that are brought on by a stroke or an injury to small vessels can result in a dementia diagnosis. Changes that have developed in the brain’s white matter, or connecting “wires”, can be seen by doing an MRI.
  • Mixed dementia: Many changes can occur in the brain at the same time. There is still a great deal of research needed on why multiple dementia-related brain changes occur at the same time in people.

 

Understanding all of the changes that may be occurring in the brain is easier when you speak with your healthcare provider or a neurologist. Your doctor(s) can run exams or discuss other potential options with you.

What are symptoms and signs of dementia?

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Signs of dementia will generally vary between each person. Warning signs may include:

  • Short-term memory issues
  • Trouble keeping track of belongings
  • Forgetting to pay bills
  • Difficulty remembering appointments
  • Problems with preparing meals
  • Issues when traveling outside of the neighborhood

 

Cognitive decline often starts out slowly and gradually worsens over time until it progresses to dementia. It is important not to ignore it if you or someone that you know has exhibited recent signs of memory challenges or changes in thinking abilities. Speaking with a doctor can help determine the cause and a professional evaluation may detect a treatable condition.

What causes dementia?

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There can be numerous possible causes of dementia in people of different ages. The bottom line is that dementia is caused when there is significant damage to the individual’s brain cells, generally either by disease or by an injury. The damage makes it so that a person’s brain cells cannot communicate with each other. Brain cells not functioning properly can result in different thinking, behaviors, and feelings.

Most dementia-related changes to the brain are permanent and progressively worsen over time. There are some thinking and memory problems that can be caused by other conditions. These conditions may be improved over time if you speak to a doctor about your or a loved one’s:

  • Depression
  • Excessive drinking
  • Thyroid problems
  • Vitamin deficiencies
  • Medication side effects

How is dementia diagnosed?

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There is currently no singular test that determines whether an individual has dementia. A doctor will diagnose Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia by:

  • Carefully reviewing medical history
  • Doing a physical examination
  • Running laboratory tests
  • Reviewing characteristic changes in thinking, daily function, and behaviors

 

Dementia is easier to determine on a general basis than it is to pinpoint the exact type. A doctor may have difficulty with a diagnosis due to overlapping symptoms or brain changes. Making an appointment with a specialist, like a neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, or geriatrician, may offer a fuller picture of an individual’s condition and treatment options.

What is the best dementia treatment and care?

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There is no treatment to date for Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, but individuals can take actionable steps. Medicines are constantly emerging to treat dementia-related disease progression. Certain medications can temporarily stabilize or improve thinking skills, or they may help manage symptoms and certain behavioral issues.

Certain individuals experience issues with:

  • Mobility
  • Speech
  • Swallowing

 

A team of doctors, nurses, and therapists can help a person navigate the loss of certain everyday skills. Aside from non-drug therapies, there are some medications for the most progressive types of dementia like Alzheimer’s disease. Two treatments are:

  • Donanemab (Kisunla™)
  • Lecanemab (Leqembi®)

 

These drugs help remove beta-amyloids from the brain that are responsible for reducing the cognitive and functional abilities of people who are experiencing early stages of Alzheimer’s.

Who is at risk of developing dementia?

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There are certain associated risk factors for individuals developing dementia later in life. Ones that cannot be changed are age-related dementia and a genetic disposition. Researchers have found that there may be steps taken to decrease the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. It may look like embracing:

  • A healthy diet
  • Not smoking
  • Cognitive stimulation
  • Regular exercise

 

Even when dementia is not preventable, it is important not to lose hope. Speaking with a doctor can offer comfort by gaining insight into what you or a loved one can expect from any treatment options moving forward.

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