What is Dementia ?
Dementia is not a specific disease. It is described as a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills which are severe enough to reduce a person's ability to perform everyday activities. Several different diseases can cause dementia. Vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke, is the second most common dementia type. But there are many other conditions that can cause symptoms of dementia , including some that are reversible, such as thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies and has to be treated by Best Neurologist in Kukatpally.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of a progressive dementia in older adults, but there are a number of causes of dementia.
Dementia symptoms
Dementia symptoms include memory loss, disorientation, and mood changes. A person with dementia can exhibit any number of the symptoms listed below, mostly due to memory loss. Some symptoms they may notice themselves, others may only be noticed by caregivers or healthcare workers.
Possible symptoms of dementia:
- Recent memory loss - a sign of this might be asking the same question repeatedly.
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks - for example, making a drink or cooking a meal.
- Problems communicating - difficulty with language; forgetting simple words or using the wrong ones.
- Disorientation - getting lost on a previously familiar street, for example.
- Problems with abstract thinking - for instance, dealing with money.
- Misplacing things - forgetting the location of everyday items such as keys, or wallets, for example.
- Mood changes - sudden and unexplained changes in outlook or disposition.
- Personality changes - perhaps becoming irritable, suspicious or fearful.
- Loss of initiative - showing less interest in starting something or going somewhere.
- As the patient ages, late-stage dementia symptoms tend to worsen.
On basis of the symptoms, the treatment will be provided at Best Neurology Hospital in Hyderabad
Stages of dementia
The stages of dementia are used when a progressive dementia has been diagnosed by Neurologist in Hyderabad. The stages include:
- Stage 1: No impairment. The patient has no problems.
- Stage 2: Questionable impairment. The patient begins to have some difficulty but can still function independently.
- Stage 3: Mild impairment. The patient has obvious, but still mild difficulty with daily activities.
- Stage 4: Moderate impairment. The patient needs help with caring for him or herself as well as with carrying out daily activities.
- Stage 5: Severe Impairment; patient is unable to function independently.
Treatment
Best Neurologist in Hyderabad provides the treatment of dementia which depends on its cause. In the case of most progressive dementias, including Alzheimer's disease, there is no cure and no treatment that slows or stops its progression. But there are drug treatments prescribed at Best Neurology Hospital in Hyderabad that may temporarily improve symptoms. The same medications used to treat Alzheimer's are among the drugs sometimes prescribed to help with symptoms of other types of dementias. Non-drug therapies can also alleviate some symptoms of dementia. Ultimately, the path to effective new treatments for dementia is through increased.
The following are used to temporarily improve dementia symptoms.
- Cholinesterase inhibitors:• Cholinesterase inhibitors: These medications — including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Razadyne) — work by boosting levels of a chemical messenger involved in memory and judgment. Although primarily used to treat Alzheimer's disease, these medications might also be prescribed by neurosurgeon in KPHB colony for other dementias including vascular dementia, Parkinson's disease dementia and Lewy body dementia.
- Memantine: Memantine (Namenda) works by regulating the activity of glutamate, another chemical messenger involved in brain functions, such as learning and memory. In some cases, memantine is prescribed with a cholinesterase inhibitor.
- Other medications: Medications to treat other symptoms or conditions, such as depression, sleep disturbances, hallucinations, Parkinsonism or agitation.
Therapies
Several dementia symptoms and behavior problems might be treated initially using nondrug approaches, such as:
- Occupational therapy: An occupational therapist can show you how to make your home safer and teach coping behaviors. The purpose is to prevent accidents, such as falls; manage behavior; and prepare you for the dementia progression.
- Modifying the environment: Reducing clutter and noise can make it easier for someone with dementia to focus and function. You might need to hide objects that can threaten safety, such as knives and car keys. Monitoring systems can alert you if the person with dementia wanders.
- Simplifying tasks: Break tasks into easier steps and focus on success, not failure. Structure and routine also help reduce confusion in people with dementia.