Dementia

For some people later in their life the cells in the brain that are related to mental ability become damaged, causing a gradual decrease in the ability to think and remember. When this happens it is referred to as dementia, a condition that occurs in one in six people over the age of 85 as well as one in twenty people over the age of 65.

However, dementia has with it some misconceptions. Firstly it is often wrongly referred to as a disease, when in fact it is actually symptoms that in some cases can be caused by diseases. It is also thought of as something that happens with age; this is based on the higher risk of developing such conditions when a person reaches old age, however it is not a normal part of aging, with the majority of those over the age of 65 still living without it.

There are also various forms of dementia, all of which with their own causes and chances of developing them. The most common form of dementia and perhaps the most well known is Alzheimer’s disease, which involves ‘tangles’ forming within the brain and brain cells being killed by it. It is known to affect a lot of people in the United Kingdom, nearly up to half a million people.

There are also forms of dementia known as Vascular dementia and Fronto-temporal dementia. The former of these is caused by blood going to the brain having difficulties, causing a lack of blood supply to the brain. The latter of the two is a form of dementia more common in younger people, involving the frontal lobe of the brain (as well as temporal parts) being in some way damaged.
When someone is suffering from dementia, there are various ways in which the signs can manifest themselves. Many associate dementia with confusion and loss of memory, with the sufferer finding it hard to get used to new surroundings and people, meaning they become confused. They may also be having difficulty with names or the location of their home. Other symptoms include an inability to remember some common words or form sentences, a well as social norms that include saying things that are relevant and without repetition. They may also have difficulty in carrying out some everyday tasks and will become angry, with their mood developing as the dementia does.

There are no cures for dementia, but some forms can be treated depending on the form of dementia at hand. If an infection is causing it that fighting the infection can help, however in cases such as Alzheimer’s disease this is not possible.