Dementia refers to symptoms caused by the deterioration of the brain. Dementia is usually diagnosed when two or more symptoms indicating loss of brain function are detected. Memory loss, behavioural problems, hallucinations, inability to reason or think clearly, personality changes, agitation, disorientation, loss of language skills, perception and cognition are all common symptoms.
Damage to brain cells can be caused by a number of factors including Alzheimers disease which is the most common cause of dementia. Vascular disease generally caused by a stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure and vascular disease. Lewy body dementia caused by abnormal structures in the brain's nerve cells. Dementia can also be caused by HIV-associated disease, Huntingtons disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Boxer's syndrome.
According to a report recently published in the journal "Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders" and funded by the National Institutes of Health, factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes also increased the risk of dementia in later life.
About 1% of adults over the age of 60 get dementia and its frequency doubles every five years after 60 years. It is currently estimated that over 6 million people in the US have dementia.
Can Dementia be prevented?
Dementia is not a normal part of the aging process and people can live into their 90s without any dementia symptoms.
There are several steps that can be taken to prevent or delay dementia
- Challenge the brain with mentally stimulating activities such as crossword puzzles, searching the internet, learning a new language, learning to play a musical instrument and social interaction.
- Lower cholesterol
- Lower blood sugar levels
- Control blood pressure levels
- Control inflammation
- Taking herbal supplements such as Turmeric and Bacopa can help prevent dementia.
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