Posts Tagged ‘dementia’

Ginkgo Biloba Extract – Useful For Alzheimer’s Disease And Multi-Infarct Dementia

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Ginkgo Biloba

Synonym:

Fossil Tree, Kew Tree, Maidenhair Tree, Salisburia adiantifolia.

Description:

The whole or fragment dried leaf of Ginkgo biloba containing not less than 0.5% of Flavonoids, calculated as Flavones’ glycosides with reference to the dried drug. The leaf is grayish or yellowish-green or yellowish-brown.

The dried leaf of Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgoaceae). Protect from light and moisture.

Ginkgolids:

Ginkgolids A, B, and C are isolated from Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgoaceae).

INDICATION and USES:

An extract from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba has been used in cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular. It is also being investigated in Alzheimer’s disease and multi-infarct dementia. Ginkgo biloba is used in homoeopathic medicine.

Ginkgolids are terpenoid molecules isolated from Ginkgo biloba, with platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist properties. They have been investigated a mixture of Ginkgolids A, B, and C, for asthma and other inflammatory and allergic disorders, and also in immune disorders such as endotoxic shock and graft rejection; Ginkgolids B, which has the most potent PAF antagonist properties, has been investigated in similar conditions administered alone.

Ginkgo biloba extracts have been tried in the treatment of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease . The efficacy of ginkgo biloba on cognitive function in Alzheimer disease, has been established in many research work.

Effect of a Ginkgolides mixture in antagonizing skin and platelet responses to platelet activating factor in man has been established.

Adverse effects:

Side effects occurs in case when extract is taken two times more than therapeutic doses. It includes headaches, dizziness, palpitations, gastrointestinal disturbances, bleeding disorders, and skin hyper-sensitivity reactions.

Dementia: Loss of Cognitive Ability

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Dementia is loss of cognitive ability in a person either due to global brain injury or some disease that results in memory loss. If it occurs before the age of 65 then it is known as early onset dementia. The word dementia comes from a Latin word meaning madness. It can be considered as a non-specific illness syndrome where the areas of brain concerned with memory, language, attention and problem solving are severely affected. About six months are required for the disease to be diagnosed and in later stages the affected persons may become disoriented in time. Dementia is treatable up to a certain degree but as the disease advance the symptoms become incurable. The symptoms of the disease may or may not be reversible and it depends upon the etiology of the disease.

The possibility of complete freedom from the symptoms of dementia is less than 10%. Dementia can be confused with the short-term syndrome delirium if careful assessment of the patient’s history is not done as the symptoms are somewhat similar. Depression and psychosis can be used for differentiating dementia and delirium. Many types of dementia are known that differing slightly in their symptoms. The symptoms of different types may overlap, so diagnosis is done by nuclear brain scanning techniques. Most common types of dementia include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular and frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. A person may suffer from one or more types of dementia simultaneously at a time.

Kinds

Dementia is of different types and the classification is mainly based on the intensity of symptoms whether they can be reversed or areas of brain affected.

1. Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia frequently seen in the age group of 65 years or above. Reports suggest that about 4 million people in the United States are suffering from this disease. About 360,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease are reported every year and 50,000 Americans die annually. In majority of the individuals the symptoms appear after the age of 60 but the early onset of symptoms is linked to genes. The disease causes a gradual decline in the cognitive ability of an individual within 7-10 years and nearly all brain functions associated with memory, movement, language, judgment, behavior and abstract thinking are badly affected. Two chief abnormalities of brain are typically associated with Alzheimer’s disease namely, amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid plaques are unusual clumps of protein (beta amyloid) containing degenerating bits of neurons and other cells that are present in the tissues between the nerve cells. Neurofibrillary tangles are bundles of twisted filaments present within the neurons and are chiefly made up of a protein known as tau. In healthy neurons tau protein helps in the functioning of microtubules but in this disease they twist to form helical filaments that join in the form of tangles resulting in disintegration of microtubules.

Early symptoms of the disease are identified by memory impairment, subtle changes in personality and judgment inabilities. As the disease progresses, symptoms associated with memory and language become worse and the individual finds difficulty in performing daily activities. Individuals may often suffer from visuo-spatial problems like difficulty in navigating an unfamiliar route, may become disoriented about time and places, even suffer from delusions may become short tempered and hostile. In late stages the person loses his control over motor functions and may feel difficulty in swallowing, lose bowel and bladder control. They also lose ability to recognize family members. Person’s emotions and behavior get affected in later stages and he may also develop symptoms of aggression, agitation, depression and delusions. A person survives for 8-10 years after the disease diagnosis but some may live for about 20 years or more. Individuals may often die due to aspiration pneumonia as they lose the ability to swallow food.

2. Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. It is resultant of brain damage by cerebrovascular or cardiovascular problems and accounts for 20% of all types of dementias. Genetic diseases, endocarditis and amyloid angiopathy also play an important role. It is also known to co-exist with Alzheimer’s disease whose incidence increases with advancing age and affects both men and women equal in proportion. Symptoms usually appear suddenly after a stroke. Patients may have history of high blood pressure, vascular disease or heart attacks. In some cases the symptoms recover with time. Vascular dementia is known to affect mid-brain regions so brings changes in cognitive ability of a person. Individuals may often suffer from depression and incontinence.

Several types of vascular dementia are known that differ from each other on account of their causes and symptoms for example, multi-infarct dementia (MID) are caused by presence of numerous small strokes in the brain. This type also includes multiple damaged brain areas and lesions in the white matter, nerves of brain. As multi-infarct dementia affects only isolated areas of brain only one or few specific functions of body are affected. Possibilities of dementia are increased if left side of brain or hippocampus is damaged. Another type of dementia is Binswanger’s disease, a rare disease where blood vessels of white matter are damaged so memory loss, brain lesions, disordered cognition and mood changes are noticed. Patients may often show symptoms of high blood pressure, stroke, blood abnormalities, and disease of large blood vessels of neck and heart valves. Other important symptoms include urinary incontinence, difficulty in walking, clumsiness, slowness, lack of facial expression and speech difficulty. The symptoms usually arise after the age of 60 and the treatment includes medications to control high or blood pressure and depression.

Other type of dementia can be coupled with a rare hereditary disorder known as CADASIL which stands for cerebral autosomal dominant ateriopathy with subcortical infarct and leukoencephalopathy. This disorder is linked to abnormalities of a specific gene, Notch3 located on chromosome 19. The first symptoms arise at the age of 20 or 35 or 40 and the individuals often die at the age of 65. Researchers are still working to find out the exact cause of CADASIL. Other causes of vascular dementia include vasculitis, hypertension and lesions caused due to brain hemorrhage. An autoimmune disease, lupus erythematosus and inflammatory disease temporal arteritis can also damage blood vessels resulting in dementia.

3. Lewy body dementia (LBD)

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is one of the most common types of progressive dementia sporadically occurring in individuals with no known familial history of the disease. The cells of brain’s cortex and substantia nigra die while the remaining cells of substantia nigra contain abnormal structures known as Lewy bodies that are the hallmark of this disease. Lewy bodies may also invade the cortex and are made up of a protein (alpha-synuclein) associated with Parkinson’s disease and other disorders. Researchers fail to give satisfactory answer about the accumulation of this protein in the nerve cells.

The symptoms of this form of dementia may overlap with symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in many ways and include memory impairment, confusion and judgment inability. The typical symptoms include hallucinations, shuffling gait, flexed posture. The individuals may live for 7 years after disease diagnosis. In the present scenario this form of dementia lacks any cure and the treatments include controlling parkinsonian’s and psychiatric symptoms of the disease. Studies have shown that some neuroleptic drugs like clozapine and olanzapine give positive results against psychiatric symptoms but may cause side effects. The brains of persons suffering from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease frequently contain Lewy bodies.

4. Fronto-temporal dementia (FTD)

Fronto-temporal dementia is also known as frontal lobe dementia and is characterized by the degeneration of the nerve cells of the frontal and temporal lobes of brain. This disorder however lacks amyloid plaques but neurofibrillary tangles are present that disrupt normal activities of cells resulting in their death. Experts believe that fronto-temporal dementia accounts for about 2-10% of all cases of dementia. The symptoms usually appear between the ages of 40 and 65. In some cases, people have a familial history of the disease and in such case genetic factor strongly influences the disease. People with this disorder may live up to 5-10 years after the diagnosis of disease. The frontal and temporal lobes of brain are concerned with judgment and social behavior but in this disorder as the nerve cells are destroyed so the individual finds it difficult to make decisions as well as maintain social communication. Other possible symptoms include loss of speech and language, repetitive behavior, increased appetite and motor problems like stiffness and balance problems. Memory loss occurs in later stages of the disease.

Pick’s disease is one type of fronto-temporal dementia characterized by abnormal and swollen nerve cells that later die. The brains of individuals suffering from this disorder show presence of abnormal Pick bodies which contain tau protein. Exact cause of Pick’s disease is unknown but it is believed that some genes may be associated with it. The symptoms usually arise at the age of 50 and bring changes in personality and behavior that worsen with time. The symptoms are however similar with Alzheimer’s disease but may include inappropriate social behavior, loss of mental flexibility, language problems and difficulty in thinking and concentration. Although no

SDAT (Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type)

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SDAT (Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type)

Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze Anno Accademico 2009/2010 Corso di: Tecniche audiovisive per il web (50h) Prof. Giancarlo Torri Cortometraggio

Recognized signs of senile dementia include difficult memories, procedural issues, motor problems and changes in mood and behavior. Identify the signs of senile dementia withtips from a licensed psychologist in this free video on self-help. Expert: Dr. Art Bowler Contact: www.drartbowler.com Bio: Dr. Art Bowler is a licensed psychologist with a boutique practice in New York City. Filmmaker: Paul Muller
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Understanding the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia

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An elderly mother called her son at midnight sobbing because of not finding her coat. The son rushed to comfort his mother just find out that her coat is inside the refrigerator. This funny to some but to the relatives who are experiencing this predicament, it is not a laughing matter. However, the need to know what is wrong with the mother should be understood, is this already Alzheimer’s or dementia? The difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia may be confusing to understand.

Dementia is a memory loss that is attributed to many clinical conditions. Dementia is one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It is characterized by a decrease of the level of mental and intellectual functioning of a person. Dementia can also occur in acute alcoholism, as a result of stroke.

Dementia most often diagnosed in the elderly population, with an onset of age 65. Actual brain scan will show physical difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia. Alzheimer’s disease reveals specific plaque and tangles in the brain autopsy that gives it a distinction from dementia. The main difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia is the fact that several types of dementia can be cured. Once the underlying condition that caused dementia is treated, the memory loss will eventually go back. Compare it with Alzheimer’s disease which has no cure and can progress to death. Alzheimer’s disease has an early onset with an age as young as 30 years old. It is degenerative disease that affects the brain to remember familiar people and objects. It can even affect a person’s ability to walk, speak, and eat. The end stage of Alzheimer’s is bringing the person back to its infantile state.

The importance to know the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia is very important so that proper management can be given to the patient. Judging someone with Alzheimer’s disease is not good for the patient as treatment can be an option. If a doctor diagnosed a patient with dementia, it is better to get a second opinion because it is not a diagnosis. Consultation with a geriatrician or a neurologist who is comfortable with elderly would be a good place to begin.

Want to know more about the Difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia? Visit Michael Harrah’s site at http://www.AlzheimersMedication.org/.

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Lewy Body Dementia: Causes, Tests and Treatment Options

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Lewy Body Dementia: Causes, Tests and Treatment Options

Lewy Body Dementia: Causes, Tests and Treatment Options

In “Lewy Body Dementia: Causes, Tests and Treatment Options,” the authors provide the reader with an abundance of information that is easy to understand and can be applied to the lives of those that are affected by this disease whether they are friends or family. Although there is not a specific test that determines DLB, there is a battery of diagnostics that should be performed to eliminate other disease processes. These include laboratory work, mental assessment, neurological exams, and an electroencephalogram. It is a diagnosis of elimination in that all other possible diseases are ruled out. If you or a loved one are suffering from LBD, this informative book gives you all the information you need to know about causes, tests and treatment options. Also includes a comprehensive LBD glossary and caregiver tips.

List Price: $ 19.83

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Early Dementia Facts

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Dementia is a serious disorder of the brain. No one is immune to developing this condition. This is why it is important for you to learn as much as you possibly can about early dementia facts. When a person develops this particular medical condition, it has a negative impact on the ability to handle day to day tasks.

This brain disorder is considered to be progressive, meaning that the symptoms that a person experiences advances in one way or another over time. This progression may be either slow or fact. In this guide, you will learn some basic early dementia facts.

Early Dementia Symptoms

There are many symptoms that are associated with early dementia. If you suspect that someone that you know is experiencing this complication, you will want to pay close attention to the degree in which that person functions on a cognitive level.

Observe the mental based process of the individual. Do they seem to have issues with thinking? Do they reason in unusual ways? The following represents the most common early dementia symptoms:

• Many individuals will have a difficult time learning new information. • The sufferer may start to forget quickly. • The problem solving skills of the person with early dementia are typically impacted in a negative fashion. • Many will have a challenging time speaking and using language in general. In some cases, the person may have an issue with understanding what is being conveyed to them. • Most will exhibit changes are far as their personality and mood is concerned.

Causes

Medical professionals are yet to reach a conclusion on one specific cause of early dementia. However, there are many different theories floating around out there. The first theory is that memory loss and the degradation of the mental skills are common issues associated with the natural aging process.

There are others that believe that a person has a genetic based predisposition when it comes to the onset of dementia. Regardless of the cause of the condition, it is important to learn how to properly identify it. This will allow immediate treatment of early dementia to slow the progression of the condition.

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What is dementia? – Alzheimer’s Society dementia brain video

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www.alzheimers.org.uk This film explains and defines what dementia is, and how it affects the brain. TRANSCRIPT “Dementia affects over 750000 people in the UK. It is not a disease in its own right and it is not a natural part of ageing. It is an umbrella term that describes a large group of symptoms that are caused by diseases that affect the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the brain. It is a progressive condition, meaning that it gradually gets worse. This is because when a nerve cell dies it cannot usually be replaced. As more and more cells die the brain starts to shrink. This is known as brain atrophy, which can sometimes be seen in a brain scan of someone in the later stages of dementia. Common symptoms of dementia include memory loss, impaired cognition and loss of physical coordination. However, the symptoms depend on the area of the brain that is affected. For example, if nerve cells in the temporal lobe start to die, that person may start to have difficulties in their language, while nerve cell death in the occipital lobe, at the back of the brain, can cause problems with vision. Sadly there is currently no cure for dementia and many of the diseases that cause it are terminal. The cerebellum and brain stem control our basic life functions. If cells die in these areas, the body will start to shut down.” Please watch our other videos to see how brain cells function, hear what dementia is, and to hear more about

www.alzheimers.org.uk Peter, 82, was diagnosed with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in January 2009. He and his wife Sheila, 63, go to their local Memory Café and Singing for the Brain group. “We’re very lucky to have the Memory Café to go to for two hours every week. I take a lot from it because I get to meet other carers and, most importantly, I can relax while I’m there,” Sheila. “Sarah and the volunteers at Singing for the Brain are really good fun. I love singing and have happy memories of singing with my mother. I always sing when I’m happy. Chris who runs the Memory Café and the volunteers put their whole hearts into it and are very friendly,” Peter. This film is one of a series of three films showing the impact of our work on the lives on people living with dementia throughout 2010/11.There are more than 750000 people in the UK affected by dementia with numbers set to rise to 1 million by 2021. Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading care and research charity for people with dementia and those who care for them. Support the fight against dementia. Visit us at www.alzheimers.org.uk
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Causes of Dementia Caregivers, Become Empowered to Provide Better Care

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What are the causes of dementia? Just what is dementia? How will caregivers knowledge of this disease help them provide better care? Knowledge is power. This dementia overview will help you, as a caregiver, to understand the various causes of dementia and what you can do to be prepared to provide quality care with confidence. Knowledge will take the mystery out of the condition and allow you to develop a plan for handling behaviors and changes as they present themselves.    

There are so many different causes of dementia it is difficult at times to tell them apart. There are a variety of health related conditions that can cause dementia symptoms, especially in aging adults. These causes include a variety of different diseases and infections, head injuries, nutritional deficiencies, medications, drug abuse and strokes.

To understand dementia is to become aware that this disease is the result of a disease or injury. In other words, something causes injury or insult (through a disease process) to the brain first. If the injury or insult to the brain is severe or progressive, the brains ability to properly function is compromised mentally, physically and emotionally.

All dementias affect the tissue of the brain. All affect different areas of the brain and at different levels of progression. There are times when the underlying cause does not have a permanent affect on the brain. In these cases, such as with nutritional deficits, the symptoms may be reversed.  

All dementias cause a malfunction of a part of the brains tissue. The cortex of the brain is the outer covering of the brain and plays an important role in understanding information and connecting functions of the brain such as language and memory.

When the cortex of the brain is affected, characteristic problems affect memory and the inability to recall words. As the disease progresses, the individual looses that ability to understand what others are saying (receptive aphasia) or to express their needs and wants (aphasia). Dementias in this category are Alzheimer’s, Pick’s disease, Binswanger’s and Creutzfeld-Jakob disease.

Some conditions affect the regions below the cortex of the brain. This is known as the sub cortical area of the brain. This area of the brain is responsible for the thought processes and personality areas of the brain. This can cause lack of emotions, cause a person to have false beliefs and irrational thoughts. Memory and language abilities may or may not be affected in this type of demenita. Diseases that cause dementia in this category are Parkinson’s, Huntingdon’s, and AIDs dementia complex.

So how does knowimg the causes of dementia empower caregivers to provide better care?  

Dementia is a progressive decline in the brains ability to feel emotions, remember things, problem solve, plan and organize. Cognitive abilities also include executive functions such as making decisions, judgments and morale reasoning. Over time the individual looses the mental abilities to be able to function independently.          

Knowing the causes of dementia, understanding which areas of the brain that will be affected, will allow caregivers to be able to anticipate what to expect as the disease progresses. Some with this disease will have difficulty with language, others will have behavioral and personality changes. These anticipated changes can help a care giver plan, anticipate, investigate and prepare for interventions to provide quality care.  

Understanding the disease process and understanding the possible physical, mental, cognitive and personality changes, gives a caregiver the ability to make choices. Knowledge can give caregiver information, so that they know what level of care they will or will not be capable of physically or emotionally able to provide.

Understanding the causes of dementia, acquiring the knowledge of the areas to the brain that will be affected will empower caregivers with the knowledge to provide quality care at every level of the disease. 

Diane Carbo Registered Nurse has more than thirty five years in the nursing field. Her experience as a geriatric care manager, makes her uniquely qualified to help those who want to live out their lives in their own homes. That decision may be made when you are 20, 30, 40 or in fact at any age, with sooner rather than later being ideal. Diane has developed a web site to make people aware of issues and options. You will find extensive helpful information that will be continually updated. Please visit Diane’s web site and learn more about the causes of dementia. Sign up for “The Caring Advocate” her free newlsetter and take advantage of a complimentary e-course Advocating For Yourself and Others.

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National charity joins call for dementia to be top world health priority

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(PRWEB UK) 7 March 2012

Swanswells welcoming calls from a leading expert in dementia to make the condition a top world health priority along with cancer, lung disease, diabetes and chronic heart disease.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4s The Today Programme (7 March 2012), Professor Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that due to lack of funding and research into dementia were going into the next global health time bomb (1).

Swanswell agrees that more needs to be done to tackle the condition and is about to launch a clinical study into the treatment and possible reversal of one increasing form of dementia brought on by problematic, long term drinking.

Its estimated that up to 90,000 people in the UK could have been misdiagnosed with incurable forms of dementia, when in fact they may be suffering from a form of the condition related to alcohol-related brain injury (ARBI) and which can potentially be reversed with the right treatment.

ARBI has a range of symptoms, including those related to early onset dementia and includes memory loss, balance problems and irrational behaviour, making diagnosis difficult. The condition is brought on by prolonged, significant alcohol consumption.

The national charity, which helps people overcome drug, alcohol and other problem behaviour, first published research in to alcohol-related brain injury (ARBI) in 2010 (2).

There are around 750,000 people with dementia in the UK (3), and studies suggest that ARBI accounts for between ten and 12 per cent of cases (4). This would suggest 75,000 to 90,000 patients could be affected by ARBI.

Swanswells developed a model of treatment that its trialling as part of three pilot studies beginning next month (April) in the Midlands and South Yorkshire after recently being granted approval from the NHS National Research Ethics Service (NRES).

Chris Robinson, Swanswells Director of Services, is pleased that the seriousness of dementia is again being recognised.

Dementia – Stealing The Mind

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The word “Dementia” has its roots in Latin, from “de” (without) and “mens” (the root of “mens” – the mind) i.e. “without the mind”.

Dementia is a syndrome characterized by a progressive deterioration of cognitive ability, in a previously unimpaired person, and which results in impairment of normal daily functioning. Cognitive function includes Memory, Intellect and Orientation, thus a person suffering from dementia would have impairment in these various aspects of “cognition”. Dementia is chiefly a condition which affects the elderly, and with an increasing elderly population, the number of people suffering from dementia is expected to rise.

Signs & Symptoms of Dementia

Dementia, whilst most commonly associated with failing memory, also involves impairment of other aspects of cognition eg. reduced ability to learn and reason, loss of patterns of thoughts, feelings and activities. Symptoms often begin insidiously and progress over a number of years before becoming noticeable by family members. In the early stages, patients may just appear to be a little more forgetful, or may tend to repeat himself/herself during conversations. This usually is passed off as part of aging or being “naggy”. Short term memory is usually affected first, so patients with dementia will usually have problems recalling what they had for lunch a few hours ago, but will have no problems recalling childhood events.

With the passage of time, the forgetfulness gets more severe. He/she may be confused about the time, day and date. The decline in intellect may interfere with speech and thinking, so he/she may have difficulty understanding speech. There may be personal neglect. Other problems may also set in, such as bowel and urinary incontinence, behaviour becoming odd, getting lost and not being able to find the way home etc.

Dementia is also frequently associated with other psychological problems. Depression affects as many as 20 – 30% and about 20% have anxiety. Psychotic symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, may also affect sufferers of dementia.

In the very late stages of dementia, the patient loses the ability to recognize even family members, is unable to express himself, becomes incontinent, and requires maximal assistance with all aspects of daily living eg. feeding, bathing, changing and toileting.

Types of Dementia

There are many causes of dementia, the most common being Alzheimer’s disease and multi-infarct dementia (which will be discussed here). Other causes include Parkinson’s disease, brain tumours, alcoholism, vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies, infections (such as syphilis and AIDS) etc.

1. Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia and it was first described by Dr Alois Alzheimer in 1906, the German psychiatrist and neuropathologist who noted the brain changes characteristic of this condition. The microscopic changes found in the brain, begin well before any signs of Alzheimer’s are noticeable. These microscopic changes characteristic of Alzheimer’s are known as “tangles” and “plaques”. Tangles are twisted fibers of a protein that build up inside cells. Plaques are deposits of a protein fragment called beta-amyloid that build up in the spaces between nerve cells.

The exact role that these plaques and tangles play in the development of Alzheimer’s disease is not yet fully understood, but they are believed to somehow have a role in blocking the communication among nerve cells as well as disrupting normal cellular processes required for cell survival.

The destruction and death of nerve cells in specific regions of the brain are responsible for the characteristic symptoms experienced by patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Multi-Infarct Dementia

Multi-infact Dementia is caused by multiple small strokes. These small strokes may occur without any noticeable symptoms, which is why they are sometimes referred to as “silent strokes”. Over time, however, as more areas of the brain get damaged, the symptoms of dementia may develop.

Multi-infarct Dementia is more common in people with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, as well as in those who smoke.

Deterioration of cognition in this form of dementia is typically gradual, with deterioration in a step-wise pattern after each small stroke.

Effects On Family And Loved Ones

Living and caring for a family member struck by dementia can be both physically and emotionally challenging. It can be very painful watching a loved one slowly deteriorate, becoming a totally different person from his/her former self. There is also the need to manage possible delusions, hallucinations and depression. Odd behaviour in public may often prove to be embarrassing for care-givers. As the condition enters the later stages, constant care will be required, from feeding to dressing, toileting, bathing etc.

In a previous survey of caregivers of demented patients in Singapore, it was reported that as many as 75% experienced symptoms of depression or anxiety.

The decision about institutionalized care is often a very difficult one to make, but is one which should be discussed openly and honestly amongst the family as a whole, with their doctor and social worker.

Dr Ang C.D. has been in medical practice for over 12 years. He graduated with an M.B.B.S. degree from the National University of Singapore in 1997 and subsequently completed his post-graduate diploma in Family Medicine.

He has had training in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Neurosurgery, General Surgery, Colorectal Surgery and Urology.

Dr Ang currently practices in a family clinic in Singapore, seeing a good mix of paediatric, adult and geriatric patients.

With the goal of providing local and international patients with a resource for specialist care in Singapore, Dr Ang has founded SingaporeDoc.com, a Web Directory of Specialists in Private Practice in Singapore.

For more health-related articles, see the “Health Guide” on SingaporeDoc

http://www.singaporedoc.com/index.php/health-guide.html

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