Dementia is defined as a loss of brain ability that has progressed to the point where it is interfering with your everyday activities and capacity to remain engaged. Dementia can affect your memories, language, and perception of the world surrounding you.
This is a dangerous disorder that can limit your independence and is not a typical part of aging. There are varieties of dementia that affect people in many different ways:
Alzheimer’s disease
This kind of disease is caused by an abnormal accumulation of proteins between the brain cells and a lack of contact between the brain’s nerve cells, which affects elderly people.
Lewy body dementia
An accumulation of proteins in the brain creates Lewy body dementia, which causes cognitive difficulties and abnormal motions in the body.
Vascular dementia
Changes in the brain caused by a stroke/atherosclerosis, or artery hardening, are referred to as vascular dementia.
Dementia affects almost 5 million Americans. The skilled neurology team of South Valley Neurology provides compassionate dementia care. They tailor the management of all your symptoms of dementia to preserve your life quality, from the initial assessment to a certain long-term treatment plan.
What are the various symptoms and signs of dementia?
When healthy neurons/nerve cells, inside the brain cease working, break connections with the other brain cells, or die, dementia signs and symptoms appear. While everyone burns some neurons when they become older, dementia patients lose significantly more.
The symptoms of Dementia may include any of the these:
- Experiencing confusion, memory loss, or poor judgment
- Difficulty speaking, understanding or expressing thoughts, and also reading and writing
- In a neighborhood that is familiar may wander or get lost
- Trouble handling money in a responsible manner
- Repeating questions
- Using certain unusual words for referring to familiar things
- Taking longer for completing normal daily activities
- Losing interest in usual daily events/activities
- Hallucinating/experiencing delusions/paranoia
- Acting impulsively
- Not at all caring about any other people’s feelings
- Often losing balance and also problems with movement
What treatments can be given for dementia?
Your South Valley Neurology practitioner can tailor a suitable treatment plan for helping you maintain your mental stability and good quality of life after an in-office review of your symptoms of dementia and medical history.
While dementia has no cure, with proper care, you can maintain your freedom for an as long period as needed. Dementia treatment possibilities include:
Medications
Medications help improve your memory and can slow the progression of dementia. You may also require medication to treat dementia-related symptoms such as anxiety, sadness, or sleep problems.
Speech therapy
Also, speech therapy can help you keep your ability to communicate. As your dementia worsens, your therapist also can help you with swallowing problems.
Mental health counseling
There are specialists available at the South Valley Neurology who can refer you to counseling for helping you cope with the difficulties dementia brings. Treatment can help you cope with any health problems by helping you regulate your emotions and habits.
Call today to book a consultation with South Valley Neurology if you have any concerns about your present forgetfulness or any signs of dementia in anyone in your family.
