Dementia is a frightening, progressive, mental disorder afflicting 50 million persons throughout the world. Researchers also estimate that 10 million new cases occur worldwide each year. The disease not only exercises numerous adverse impacts on the stricken subject but their families, friends, and caretakers. We’ve come up with some information on early warning signs and ways to reduce the risk of Dementia.
Fortunately, recognizing the early warning signs of dementia might play a critical role in ensuring the individual in question receives the care they need at the ailment’s initial stages. Moreover, certain actions might reduce one’s risk of dementia, progressive condition.
Dementia Overview
Scientists categorize dementia as a collection of manifestations influencing one’s capacity to think, reason, invoke memory, and communicate with others.
Medical professionals stress that dementia is not a singular illness but a grouping of mental disorders causing the basic aforementioned issues. Arguably, the most common presentation of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.
Causes
Researchers conclude that dementia is caused primarily by the destruction and gradual death of nerve cells.
As previously stated, there are several forms of dementia. Said maladies are often differentiated into two classifications, irreversible and reversible. Irreversible presentations like Alzheimer’s disease are attributed to dying or abnormally-forming brain cells.
Certain forms of the disease are reversible. This means they are caused by a treatable medical issue, such as infections, nutritional deficiencies, the ingestion of certain medications, hormonal or metabolic issues, abnormal growths like tumors, bleeding inside the brain, and a temporary lack of oxygen.
Risk Of Dementia
An individual’s risk of dementia can be influenced by certain unchangeable and changeable factors.
Unchangeable factors are those beyond a person’s control and include:
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Age
Though dementia can occur earlier, the condition typically takes hold in persons age 65 and older.
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Having Down Syndrome
Subjects with Down Syndrome are more likely to develop dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease, during middle age.
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Genetic Predisposition
Individuals with family histories of dementia stand at an increased risk of becoming stricken with the ailment.
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Genetic Mutations
Sometimes, the disease develops because afflicted persons possess genetic flaws precipitating its onset.
Changeable factors are factors that one may be able to control.
One might reduce their risk by living a healthy lifestyle, avoiding potentially hazardous vices, and closely monitoring their overall health.
Ten Early Dementia Signs
Noticing the earliest signs of dementia play an important role in either altering reversible presentations or ensuring those with unchangeable conditions receive needed care as soon as possible. Ten manifestations family members, friends, and other close associations are urged to look out for include:
Confusion
Individuals with some form of dementia may become easily confused. This is especially true in relation to times and places. Said subjects might forget the current date or time or not remember how they arrived at their present location.
Difficulties Speaking Or Writing
Challenges vocalizing or writing effectively could indicate dementia’s onset. Oftentimes, they will repeat themselves or forget the names of common objects. Moreover, said individuals may experience noticeable difficulties following conversations.
Professional Or Social Withdrawal
Communication challenges might precipitate a withdrawal from professional or social interactions. One specific red flag is a lost interest or participation in a favorite hobby or activity.
The Inability To Finish Routine Tasks
The inability to perform routine tasks should raise serious concerns. Common examples include forgetting how to organize shopping lists or not remembering the directions to a familiar destination they traveled to on countless previous occasions.
Memory Loss
Everyone experiences a certain degree of memory loss as they age. However, even in its earliest stages, dementia often precipitates alarming memory lapses. In many instances, impacted subjects will repeatedly ask the same questions, forget important dates like birthdays and anniversaries, and forget to complete formerly mundane actions.
Misplacing Items
Once again, everyone is guilty of this from time to time. However, individuals with dementia often misplace common items like car keys, important papers, and a host of miscellaneous items with disturbing frequency and have no idea how to go about recovering said objects.
Diminished Judgment
Dementia may influence an afflicted individual’s judgment capabilities. Said persons might lose the capacity to render important personal, legal, or financial decisions or forget to engage in important activities like grooming or eating.
Difficulty Interpreting Images
The beginning stages of dementia might also precipitate challenges interpreting images, seeing colors, and determining distances.
Problem Solving
Dementia often weakens one’s ability to process numbers and words. This could render tasks like paying bills or executing other household tasks difficult.
Mood Alterations And Mental Disturbances
Arguably, two of the more common dementia signs people experience are wild mood fluctuations and mental disturbances. Oftentimes, said individuals will grow fearful, angry, mistrusting, argumentative, anxious, or suspicious for no apparent reason. In certain cases, they might even become aggressive or violent.
Methods to Reduce Risk of Dementia
Preventing dementia is not always feasible. However, persons might reduce their risk by partaking in endeavors such as:
Consuming A Balanced Diet
Diets rich in high-quality protein, fresh produce , and healthy fats are optimal. Patients should limit their intake of sugar, unhealthy fats, and salt to reduce one’s risk. Additionally, remaining properly hydrated is critical to optimal brain health.
Exercising
Physical activity often proves important to brain stimulation. Said action releases hormones geared towards improving mood and mental alacrity.
Avoiding Potentially Harmful Vices
Bad habits like cigarette smoking and increased alcohol intake could result in brain cell destruction.
Stimulating The Mind
Researchers suggest that keeping the mind active through one’s life could maintain brain cell strength and possibly reduce the risk of dementia. Specific endeavors include reading, executing crossword puzzles, and participating in logic-building activities.
How RetireEase can help patients with dementia
Individuals with elderly loved ones diagnosed with dementia are urged to contact us. Our experienced team of care providers understand just how challenging and emotionally trying such circumstances can be. We provide in-home care offering a wide range of services to patients and families in need.
People have many choices when opting for in-home care. However, we firmly believe our service is superior. Our company has been rated as a Certified Caregiver, our employees possess a dearth of experience, have undergone the most stringent training and background checks, and are expecting to display a high level of compassion and professionalism at all times.
To learn more about us, please visit our website.
