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   Eight things you need to know about dementia   
      
      
      
   Lee Nyberg   
   COURTESY PHOTO   
   LEE NYBERG   
   October 21, 2014 8:32 am  *  by Lee Nyberg / Home Care Assistance0   
      
   You're wondering...here are some answers.   
      
   1. Dementia is more than memory loss. It is a group of symptoms that include   
   poor judgment, memory loss, inability to complete simple tasks, and difficulty   
   orienting yourself in your environment.   
      
   For a diagnosis of dementia, doctors evaluate whether at least two of the   
   following mental functions are considerably impaired.   
      
   * Ability to focus and pay attention   
      
   * Communication and language   
      
   * Memory   
      
   * Reasoning and judgment   
      
   * Visual perception   
      
   2. Dementia both effects our senses and can be affected by them. Two items   
   from the above list, communication and language, and visual perception, depend   
   on our ability to use our senses of hearing and seeing. Hearing loss might be   
   mistaken for dementia,    
   since it can lead to many of the same symptoms: social withdrawal, inability   
   to follow conversations, and answering questions inappropriately. People with   
   dementia often have trouble with depth perception and hallucinations. Recent   
   research indicated an    
   increased likelihood of developing dementia among seniors with hearing loss.   
   The greater the hearing loss, the higher the likelihood is. Similarly, people   
   with untreated vision problems, such as glaucoma, are more likely to develop   
   dementia. Having    
   vision treatment reduces the risk.   
      
   3. Some dementias are reversible. See your doctor if you're concerned. If you   
   have a treatable condition, you can only receive medical treatment from a   
   doctor. Here are the top conditions which might produce reversible dementia.   
      
   * Infections and immune disorders   
      
   * Metabolic and/or endocrine abnormalities (i.e., thyroid condition)   
      
   * Nutritional deficiencies (vitamins B-1,-6, and -12) and dehydration   
      
   * Medication issues   
      
   * Heart and lung problems that deprive the brain of oxygen   
      
   4. Prevention measures are especially important for women. Two-thirds of   
   Americans with Alzheimer's are women. Women in their 60's have a lifetime risk   
   for developing Alzheimer's of 1 in 6, versus a lifetime risk for developing   
   breast cancer of 1 in 11. (   
   Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia.)   
      
   5. If a relative has dementia, your risk is not necessarily higher. Only 5% of   
   Alzheimer's cases are caused by inherited genes. Neuropsychologists advise   
   exercise, a heart-healthy diet, enough sleep, and to stay connected to friends   
   and family. Worrying    
   won't help.   
      
   6. There is hope for drugs currently in trials. Researcher, Dr. Dale Schenk   
   said "biology and technology are finally coming together and enabling great   
   leaps in understanding of how the brain works and how to treat Alzheimer's."   
   Researcher, Dr. William    
   Thies says, "By improving early detection and risk evaluation, we will...test   
   potential therapies and eventually prescribe them. Ultimately, this approach   
   envisions for Alzheimer's what is now common practice in cardiovascular   
   disease, where early signs    
   of risk - such as blood pressure levels - can be treated to reduce the   
   likelihood of heart attack or stroke later on."   
      
   7. What you eat really does matter. Research has shown that a heart-healthy   
   diet may help protect the brain and even rejuvenate its functionality. Limit   
   consumption of sugar and saturated fats and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables,   
   and whole grains. (See    
   DASH and Mediterranean diets.)   
      
   8. Exercise is job one. Exercise may help delay the onset of Alzheimer's   
   disease because it increases a protein which supports new neuron growth,   
   improved brain and vascular function, and improved brain health and learning.   
   No drug can do all this. (   
   paraphrased from Dr. Carl Cotman)   
      
   Sources: Alzheimer's Association and The Mayo Clinic   
      
   Lee Nyberg seeks to help families and those living with Alzheimer's through   
   education and her company, Home Care Assistance.     
      
      
      
   http://journalstar.com/niche/neighborhood-extra/senior-scene/eig   
   t-things-you-need-to-know-about-dementia/article_421162be-24cf-5   
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)