A loved one suffering through dementia is a difficult and emotional process. It can change many aspects of your relationship and can have a deep impact on not only the person suffering from dementia, but the people who are closest to them. While there is no known cure for dementia, understanding the early signs is key to knowing what available treatments can be utilised, and how to support your special someone.
What is dementia?
Most people are familiar with the term dementia but may not realise what it actually entails. Dementia is an umbrella term for multiple disorders that affect memory and cognitive behaviour. These disorders are Alzheimer’s, Vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, Frontotemporal dementia, mixed dementia, and other less common types. These all represent abnormal brain changes that can trigger a decline in many day-to-day abilities.
When we age, our brains typically shrink to a small degree, and this is completely normal. Despite this shrinking, our brains do not lose any neurons. However, with dementia diseases such as Alzheimer’s, the damage is more widespread, and neurons are lost. When these neurons stop functioning and die off, it disrupts vital processes. Typically, the first process that is affected by this change is memory. Later down the track, processes such as language, reasoning, and social behaviour can also be affected.
What are the symptoms?
As memory is one of the first processes that is affected by dementia related diseases, these changes are one of the first symptoms to look for. This can look like:
- Difficulty remembering words, names, dates, and places
- Losing common items such as a phone, wallet, or keys
- Forgetting to pay bills or attend appointments
- Difficulty remembering basic tasks such as hygiene and eating
While most of us have days where we forget some of these things, these symptoms should not be ignored. If you notice somebody in your life having problems with memory, book an appointment to see their regular GP as soon as possible. Professional evaluation will reveal whether it is dementia, or normal age-related memory loss.
If left unattended, more developed dementia cases will start to show symptoms such as:
- Difficulty reasoning and using problem-solving skills
- Getting lost easily
- Forgetting familiar faces and people
- Difficulty with coordination and motor skills
- Disorientation and confusion day-to-day
What can I do about it?
While dementia is not curable, early diagnosis is key to getting the most out of the treatments that are available. There are many medications that can be used to manage symptoms. Some of these are:
- Memantine: This regulates the activity of the chemical messenger “glutamate”. This messenger is involved in key brain functions such as learning and memory, and if regulated, can help manage some dementia symptoms
- Cholinesterase inhibitors: There are multiple medications that fall under this type. These treatments work by boosting the level of chemical messengers that are involved in memory processes and can also help manage symptoms.
These are just the beginning of potential treatment options for dementia related diseases. Before making any decisions or judgements, it is important to visit your regular GP and receive a proper diagnosis. From here, the GP will decide which treatment will best help manage the symptoms that are being experienced.
Other alternative therapies such as speech and occupational therapy may also be beneficial to certain dementia patients, on a case-to-case basis.
Is it avoidable?
Unfortunately, no. It is largely not avoidable. Genetics play a big part in dementia, as well as other common risks factors such as age. However, one study completed in 2019 by the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) suggested that healthy lifestyle choices may decrease the risk of future cognitive decline. The AAIC proposed that factors such as a healthy diet, exercise, and cognitive stimulation can limit this decline even when faced with other risk factors such as genetics.
The main lifestyle factors that were assessed and proved to be beneficial were:
- Not smoking
- Only light to moderate alcohol intake
- Cognitively stimulating activities such as reading, brain training, and puzzles
- 100-150 minutes per week of light to moderate exercise such as walking
The AAIC completed a 9-year follow-up on people involved in the study and found that those who adopted the lifestyle factors had a 60% less chance of developing Alzheimer’s. While adopting these lifestyle changes is no guarantee of avoiding dementia related diseases, there is a strong connection between a healthy lifestyle and lower risk.
If you or somebody you love is suffering from dementia or experiencing early symptoms, get in contact with a GP as soon as possible. At Glenvale Villas, we offer 24/7 care including care for those suffering with dementia and are here to support you and your family every step of the way.
