Dementia is not a single disease; rather, a number of diseases can cause dementia. Though dementia typically involves memory loss, which has various causes, dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that severely impair thinking, memory, and social abilities.
SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA
- Memory loss,
- Disorientation,
- Mood changes.
- Recent memory loss
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Problems communicating
- Disorientation
- Problems with abstract thinking
- Misplacing things
- Mood changes
- Personality changes
- Loss of initiative
The signs of late-stage dementia typically get worse as the patient ages.
STAGES OF DEMENTIA
There are generally four stages of dementia:
Mild cognitive impairment :Many people experience general forgetfulness as they get older, but for some people it only gets worse and leads to dementia.
Mild dementia :Memory loss, confusion, personality changes, getting lost, difficulty planning and carrying out tasks, and other cognitive impairments are common in people with mild dementia and can occasionally affect their daily lives.
Moderate dementia :The individual may require more assistance with daily tasks, such as getting dressed and combing their hair, and may experience significant personality changes, such as becoming suspicious or agitated without cause. Sleep disturbances are also likely to occur. Symptoms are similar to mild dementia but more severe.
Severe dementia :At this point, symptoms are severe, there may be a loss of communication skills, the person may require round-the-clock care, simple activities like sitting and holding one’s head up become challenging, and bladder control may be lost.
TYPES OF DEMENTIA
Dementia comes in a variety of forms, including:
- A person with Alzheimer’s disease has progressively fewer nerve cells and connections in their brain tissue, which is characterized by “plaques” between dying brain cells and “tangles” within the cells (both caused by protein abnormalities).
- Dementia with Lewy bodiesThe brain changes are caused by a protein called alpha-synuclein and are linked to a neurodegenerative condition where abnormal brain structures develop.
- Mixed dementiaA person may exhibit both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia at the same time, for example. -It refers to a diagnosis of two or three types occurring simultaneously.
- Parkinson’s diseaseParkinson’s disease is frequently thought of as a movement disorder, but it can also cause dementia symptoms because Lewy bodies are present.
- Huntington’s diseaseIt also includes dementia and is characterized by particular kinds of uncontrollable movements.
The following illnesses also cause dementia-like symptoms:
- Frontotemporal dementia-Also referred to as Pick’s illness.
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus-when the brain becomes overfilled with cerebrospinal fluid.
- A different area of the brain with characteristics similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease is called posterior cortical atrophy.
- Alzheimer’s disease with early onset is more likely in people with Down syndrome.
EARLY SIGN OF DEMENTIA
Dementia can show early symptoms like:
- Changes in short-term memory.
- Changes in mood.
- Words are difficult to come by.
- Apathy.
- Confusion.
- Being repetitive.
- struggles to keep up with a plot.
- Trouble completing everyday tasks.
- Poor sense of direction.
- Difficulty adapting to changes.
CAUSES OF DEMENTIA
Dementias can result from the death of brain cells, and the majority of dementias are linked to neurodegenerative diseases, or the progressive death of brain cells over time.
The cause of the dementia or the cause of the death of brain cells is unknown, though.
However, dementia can also be brought on by a sudden loss of brain cells, similar to that seen in Alzheimer’s disease.head injury, a stroke, or a brain tumor, among other causes.
- Vascular dementia (also called multi-infarct dementia)– Coming from the oxygen deprivation of brain cells brought on by conditions like cerebrovascular disease, which blocks normal blood flow and leads to conditions like stroke that cause brain cell death.
- Injury– The loss of brain cells brought on by injury is a direct cause of post-traumatic dementia.
There is weak evidence that a single brain injury increases the risk of developing a degenerative dementia like Alzheimer’s disease, but certain types of traumatic brain injury, especially if repeated, like those sustained by athletes, have been linked to certain dementias manifesting later in life.
Additionally, the following factors may contribute to dementia:
- Prion diseasesConsider the disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob (CJD).
- HIV infection– Although it is known to happen, the virus’s ability to harm brain cells is unknown.
- Reversible factors– Reversing the effects of underlying causes of dementia, such as drug interactions, depression, vitamin deficiency, and thyroid disorders, can be used to treat some cases of dementia.
HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR DEMENTIA
MERCURIUS :It is beneficial for patients who are naturally submissive, have lost their sense of decency, or have weak memories. The tongue is heavily coated, and the patient has bad breath and an offensive mouth odor.
NUX VOMICA :Given when patient is irate, vindictive, and argumentative. Helpful when patient may have suicidal thoughts but lacks courage. Useful for patients who are naturally very attention-seeking and very sensitive to other people’s actions and words.
IGNATIA :Patients who are grieving or depressed can benefit greatly from this medication.
CALCAREA CARB :helpful for patients who forget things easily and learn things slowly.
LYCOPODIUM :Suitable for patients who are constipated, angry, and irritable. Helpful for patients who are sad, depressed, and worry about themselves constantly.
STAPHYSAGRIA :Recommended for patients who would rather be alone than in the company of others. Helpful for patients who have trouble falling asleep, are cowardly, afraid, anxious, apprehensive, and full of disgust, shame, and shyness.
CHAMOMILLA :helpful for people who are easily upset, sensitive people.
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