Some memory loss may be caused by age, but increasing memory loss may be an indication of something more severe
This material is provided for informative purposes only and should not be used in place of professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Before engaging in any physical activity or making any changes to your food, medicine, or lifestyle, consult with a trained medical expert.
Forgetting where you left something or forgetting someone's name may happen to everyone. It becomes much more unpleasant, however, when recurrent memory loss begins to interfere with our everyday lives and, in some situations, causes us to lose our independence.
Memory loss can be caused by an illness, sadness, anxiety, or other physical issues, but it can also be caused by dementia.
According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, impaired memory affects more than 500,000 Canadians now and is anticipated to almost treble by 2030.
Apathy is an early indication of dementia that is often neglected, according to a recent study from the University of Exeter. Apathy, or a loss of interest, excitement, or concern, is the "most common neuropsychiatric sign of dementia," although it sometimes goes unreported by relatives and caregivers.
According to Dr. Miguel de Silva Vasconcelos, indifference often disregarded because it appears "less disruptive and less engaging," yet this shift in behavior has a significant influence on the quality of life of persons with dementia and their family.
"When individuals withdraw from activities, it might hasten cognitive deterioration, and we know that persons with apathy have higher death rates," de Silva Vasconcelos told Science Daily. "It's past time to notice and emphasize this symptom in study and understanding."
What exactly is dementia?
Dementia is not a disease, but rather a broad term for illnesses that cause progressive loss of cognitive functioning, affecting your manner of thinking, remembering, and reasoning. Many persons who have dementia will suffer changes in their mood and demeanor.
Over 500,000 Canadians suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's disease (a form of dementia). As our population ages, scientists predict that the number of persons living with dementia will reach 930,000 by 2030.
What factors contribute to dementia?
Dementia is caused by a number of illnesses and disorders that damage the brain either directly or indirectly.
Is dementia the same as Alzheimer's disease?
Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent type of dementia, despite the fact that the terms are frequently used interchangeably. It is responsible for 60-70 percent of dementia cases, according to the World Health Organization. Many people confuse the terms "dementia" and "Alzheimer's," although Alzheimer's is the cause and dementia is the result.
Dementia can also be caused by a stroke, a brain injury, or even Parkinson's disease.
What are the most prevalent dementia symptoms?
Short-term memory loss is the most prevalent indication of dementia, according to specialists. This involves forgetting what happened or was said in the past 10-15 minutes, repeating oneself, and asking the same questions.
Other signs include worsening in language, speech, and judgment, according to Dr. Andrew Frank, a cognitive neurologist at Ottawa's Elisabeth Bruyere Hospital's Bruyere Memory Program.
The unusual amnesia of a term or name that returns to you later is typical, especially as we age or when stressed or sleep deprived. When memories do not return at all, it is a symptom of a far deeper issue.
"One of the rules of thumb is that if you're noticing your own memory impairment, that's a positive indicator because you're remembering you're forgetting," Frank tells Yahoo Canada. "It's more dangerous if you're forgetting without recognizing it, which means you're forgetting that you're forgetting, which might be an indication of something more serious like dementia."
What should you do if you fear a family member is suffering from dementia?
If you notice a change in a family member's ability to recall information, repeat themselves, become confused, struggle with their vocabulary, or complete tasks that would otherwise appear simple (such as shopping or driving to a familiar location), take them to their family doctor as soon as possible.
A doctor can do memory tests as well as blood pressure and chemical, hormone, and vitamin levels checks in the body. The patient's general physician can also refer the patient to a memory clinic, where additional testing can be performed to evaluate if the diagnosis is dementia.
Who is most likely to get dementia?
There are some risks associated with dementia that we can and cannot control.
Age (one in every 20 Canadians over 65 has Alzheimer's disease), heredity, and sex are all uncontrollable factors that raise our risk of having dementia. Women have a higher risk of developing dementia than males.
The good news is that there are things we can do to reduce our chances of having dementia. It is advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle and nutrition. Making sure you're physically active every day is key, but Frank believes that exercising your brain via hobbies and puzzles is just as important.
Eliminating smoking and excessive alcohol use while following a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, can help keep your body and mind in shape.
"Another technique is to monitor and manage high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes since any variables that prevent heart attack and stroke will also prevent or postpone dementia," Franks adds.
Can early detection aid in the prevention or treatment of dementia?
While there is no treatment for dementia, early identification can help put mechanisms in place before symptoms develop.
If someone is identified early, they can begin memory therapy and use drugs to assist control the illness. Doctors also recommend that home care and day programs be implemented as extra assistance.
"Someone who has not been diagnosed may experience a crisis of memory loss, such as forgetting pills or not eating owing to amnesia, which might lead to a sudden health crisis and hospitalization," Frank explains.
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SOURCE: yahoo
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