♧ What is Dementia?

Mental Health (Credit: Rebecca Hendin)

"Please remember the real me when I cannot remember you"  - Unknown

Formerly and incorrectly referred to as "Senile Dementia" or "Senility", dementia is used to describe a group of various symptoms that is most commonly related to the decline in the cognitive section of the brain. It is not a single disease as most would assume but a general term to describe impairment in memory, communication, and thinking. 

Based on the World Health Organization of Dementia, there is an estimated number of 47.5 million people living with dementia and about 60%~80% of people are diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. It is also imperative to keep in mind that whilst dementia is common as individuals grow older, it is not a common part of aging as most who live into their 90s and beyond have shown no signs of dementia whatsoever. As the brain changes as it ages, the types of dementia can also vary. 

The 10 Different Types of Dementia

1. Alzheimer's Disease
2. Vascular Dementia
3. Dementia with Lewy Bodies
4. Parkinson's Disease
5. Frontotemporal Dementia
6. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)
7. Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
8. Mixed Dementia
9. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
10. Huntington's Disease

There are many factors that contribute to the neurodegenerative disorder that results in an irreversible loss of brain neurons and its functions. In most cases of progressive dementia, there are no cure and no treatment though there are some medications that may help alleviate some of its symptoms and various non-medicated therapies that may be able to assist with those who are struggling with dementia.

Risk Factors

There is no certain cause that contributes to the development of dementia though researchers have discovered certain links to the neurodegenerative disorder.

• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): medications that are used to treat various gastrointestinal illness. 44% of those who tend to use PPIs are more likely to develop dementia. PPIs such as Nexium, Prevacid, Aciphex, Protonix, and Prilosec.
• Loss in hearing: The strain of attempting to hear and make out what the other person is saying tend to put the brain in too much stress and may affect the brain at the cellular level. 
• Social isolation: Avoiding socializing with others due to poor hearing or speech may accelerate the development of dementia. This may also be in the form of those in depression.

References:

Alzheimer's Association. (2019). Alzheimer and Dementia: What is Dementia? Retrieved  from https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia
MacGill, M. (2017). Dementia: Symptoms, Stages, and Types. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142214.php
National Institute of Health. (2017). Basics of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia: What is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-dementia-symptoms-types-and-diagnosis
GreatSeniorLiving. (2019). This is Dementia: Stages, Types, Treatments, and Care. Retrieved from https://www.greatseniorliving.com/health-wellness/dementia