Dementia, in simple terms, is a medical complication that affects the thinking and cognitive functions of afflicted individuals. With every passing day, people are affected by this disease and eventually become individuals with very few instances or memory from the past.
Following are the essential facts about dementia and dementia care that should be taken note of
1. Disease Complication
Since the afflicted individuals tend to lose their memory, it happens in the reverse order, i.e., their most recent memory fades out. Thus, they shouldn’t be questioned frequently about recent incidences.
2. Prevalence
The records and epidemiological data indicate that disease affects nearly 10 million people annually. This implies one new case of diagnosed dementia every three seconds.
3. Symptoms
The major symptoms of dementia include fading memories about recent happenings, lack of judgment, limited social skills, and impaired daily functioning. These symptoms may not come suddenly, but they are progressive. It may take a person a few weeks or sometimes months to fall into the deep hollow pit of this disease.
4. Nature of the Disease
One crucial thing to note is that dementia isn’t a part of normal aging and is a progressive disease. Also, every dementia patient may experience the medical condition differently, so their disease study cannot be compared.
5. Treatment
Currently, there is no effective pharmacological cure for the disease, as no researcher or research group has successfully determined the etiology of the disease condition. Many doctors call this disease a dead end for the patient, but several studies and research are going on to find a treatment.
6. Therapy
Modern treatment approaches mainly rely on changes in the lifestyle of the individual, physical fitness, and occupational therapies. Apart from them, exposure to music therapies and aromatherapies can also provide some relief. A positive change can help to improve the condition of the patient.
7. Ray of Hope
Through various surveys and intensive studies, it has been found that in certain cases, when the stressful reasons resulting in the loss of memory are removed, the condition can be successfully reversed. Thus there is a specific ray of hope in this dark disease which otherwise dulls the life not only of the patient but also his loved ones.
8. Suggested Patient Care
Most people tend to live in their past and forget the current situation. Therefore, freshening up their past incidences would improve patient care and disease management. This can be done by retelling their favorite stories and allowing them to relive their memories.
9. Advanced Stages
They might not remember their home address, basic survival habits like brushing, and even their name in advanced stages. The person may not even cope with the changes that he or she encounters. Healthy surroundings and a safer environment are essential for people suffering from this disease. Professional attention apart from the caretaker would be very helpful in such cases.
10. Alzheimer’s Disease
One thing to note is that dementia is the prime cause of one of the most chronic neurodegenerative conditions known as Alzheimer’s disease. In most cases, the dementia conditions later progress towards Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that progresses with time, and the brain cells begin to die. It is a life-threatening disease.
11. Shocking Revelation
The disease is an important cause of concern as, according to the WHO estimates, it will affect around 80 million individuals by 2030 and around 152 million by 2050. Due to the gaps and faults in their lifestyles, people are becoming increasingly exposed to it.
12. Disease Susceptibility
As per the latest studies, women are more susceptible to dementia as the chances of brain shrinkage and brain damage are higher in women. This is a lesser-known fact, but it holds relevance, and many studies state its credibility.
13. High-risk Individuals
Apart from women, individuals with altered lifestyles and health are also more susceptible to the disease. Those suffering from hypertension, hyperglycemia, and diabetes are at higher risk. Once a person is at risk, the chances of reaching a safe point are nearly limited.
14. Don’t Smoke
Smoking can be lethal for your health and can worsen your body’s immunity. If a person has dementia, then smoking can degrade the health condition. One of the prominent preventive measures for dementia is to avoid smoking. Habits like smoking can include the expression of undesirable proteins for memory extinction and may result in dementia.
15. Parkinson’s Disease
When dementia gets linked with loss of the sense of smell, then, medically, it is believed that a disease will soon turn towards the development of Parkinson’s disease. Also, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are very different forms of dementia. These diseases are linked with low levels of immunity and self-esteem.
So, this was all about dementia, its susceptibility, prodromes, and modern treatment approaches. I hope it helps to generate awareness among the people regarding this disease.
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