People in California approach South Valley Neurology Care Center for treating chronic migraines, movement disorders, cognitive testing, brain fog, back pain, syncope, and an array of other medical issues. The certified neurologist team has been serving the residents for more than a decade.
Causes and types of dementias
Dementia is a neurological disorder, which is caused due to loss or damage to the nerve cells connected with your brain. Depending on the brain area that is injured the condition can impact people differently and trigger different symptoms. Some diseases resemble this condition, but can be due to lack of vitamin or medication reactions and can be improved with treatment.
Symptoms of dementia
The symptoms can differ but some common signs are –
- Memory loss – It means the person can find it hard to find words, reason, handle complex tasks, plan or organize as well as seem disoriented and confused.
- Psychological changes – These include depression, anxiety, paranoia, agitation, inappropriate behavior, hallucination, and agitation.
Irreversible dementia
Progressive dementia is not reversible
Alzheimer’s disease – According to experts, mutations of 3 genes passed from the parent to the child increase Alzheimer’s disease risk. E4 [APOE] or Apo lipoprotein is a crucial gene that increases the risk. In Alzheimer’s, there are tangles and plaques formed in the patient’s brain. Beta-amyloid is clumps of protein that are called plaques. Tau protein make up the fibrous tangles. These clumps and fibers connecting them damage healthy neurons.
Vascular dementias – When the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain are damaged, which causes this condition. Blood vessel issues can damage the brain’s white matter or cause a stroke. Common symptoms are loss of concentration, slow thinking, and difficulties in problem-solving.
Lewy body dementias – Abnormal protein clumps are found in the brain of people struggling with Lewy body dementias, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s. It is a progressive dementia kind. Symptoms include hallucinations, dreams in sleep, issues in focusing, uncoordinated movements, rigidity, and tremors.
Frontotemporal dementias – It is a breakdown of the nerve cells from their connections with the brain’s temporal and frontal lobes. Generally, these brain regions are linked with language, behavior, and personality. It badly impacts thinking, language, movement, judgment, and temperament.
Mixed dementias – People older than 80, struggle with the condition mixed dementia. It is a blend of Alzheimer’s, Vascular, and Lewy body dementias. Research is still ongoing on mixed dementia symptoms and signs.
Reversible dementia-like conditions
- Immune disorders & infection
- Metabolic issues & endocrine abnormalities
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Medication side effects
- Subdural hematoma
- Brain tumor
- Normal–pressure hydrocephalus
Medical conditions connected to dementias
- Huntington disease
- Traumatic brain injury
- Parkinson’s disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Factors that contribute to dementias are –
- Age
- Family history
- Down syndrome
- Cardiovascular issues
- Diet & exercise
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Air pollution
- Head trauma
- Smoking
- Nutritional & vitamin deficiencies
- Sleep disorder
- OTC medications
To prevent this condition ensure to keep your mind active, be active physically and socially, avoid smoking, get sufficient vitamins, treat health issues, manage cardiovascular risks, sleep well, treat hearing issues, and live a healthy lifestyle.