WHAT IS DEMENTIA 

Dementia indicates a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with a person’s normal life. It isn't itself a specific disease, but comprises several different diseases that may cause dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of a progressive dementia.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA 

The signs and symptoms of Dementia include:

• Cognitive changes

• Memory loss

• Problem communicating 

• Problem with visual and spatial abilities

• Problem with reasoning 

• Problem handling complex tasks

• Problem with planning ,organising

• Problem with motor functions

• Confusion 

• Psychological and Personality changes

• Depression

• Paranoia

• Agitation

• Hallucinations

Causes & Risk Factors: Dementia is caused by damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. Depending on the area of the brain that's affected by the damage, dementia can affect people differently. Many factors like the following can eventually contribute to dementia such as Old Age, Family History, Down’s Syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, etc

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT 

Diagnosis: Diagnosing dementia can be a challenge. The doctor must be able to recognise the pattern of the loss of functions or skills and evaluate what a person has been still left with.The doctor will review the patient's medical history, symptoms and conduct a physical examination. He or she is more likely to question someone close to the patient about prevailing symptoms.

The doctors may run a number of tests to help with diagnosis, like: 

• Cognitive and neuropsychological tests

• Neurological evaluation through Brain scans, CT or MRI, PET Scans

• Blood tests 

• Psychiatric assessments, etc.

Treatment: On the lines of treatment, though most types of dementia can't be cured, it is possible to manage the symptoms through medications, therapy, working on environment factors, reducing clutter and noise to make it easier for someone with dementia to focus and function. It also helps to set up a structured routine and to think of installing monitoring systems that can alert the dementia patient’s location, if he ever wanders.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION 

1. Consult a doctor if family member has memory problems or other dementia symptoms. It is important to determine the underlying cause in time.

2. Dementia could lead to further complications like poor nutrition, personal safety issues, infections etc

3. Not all Dementia-like conditions are untreatable. In some cases it can be reversed such as conditions of metabolic or endocrine issues, infections, immune disorders, nutritional deficiencies, side effects of medication, poisoning, brain tumours, subdural hematomas, anoxia etc.  

4. A person might be able to control certain risk factors of dementia by following: Nutritious diet and exercise regime, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, keeping high BP, cholesterol in check, keeping away depression and stress, controlling diabetes and keeping socially, mentally and physically active.