What Does senile dementia Mean
The Dementia is a disorder of reason which is a progressive and irreversible impairment of mental faculties. Those who suffer from dementia experience serious disorders in behavior and cognitive functions, to the point of not being able to continue carrying out their daily activities.
Senile , on the other hand, is that which belongs to or is related to an elderly person in whom a physical and / or mental decline is evident.
The notion of senile dementia refers to the disorder of the mind that appears in old age . It is an organic syndrome characterized by memory impairment, abstract thinking and judgment disorders, and personality disturbances.
When senile dementia reaches an advanced stage, the person cannot interact normally or carry out activities autonomously. That is why those who suffer from the disorder must receive permanent care. However, one of the first pieces of advice that doctors give to relatives of patients with senile dementia is to allow them to do as many things for themselves as possible.
Other very common recommendations are: establish routines and schedules, to prevent the person from being disoriented in their daily life; keep the things you usually use always in the same places; put clocks and calendars well visible; avoid access to dangerous substances and sharp objects.
Although there are many associated or similar disorders and syndromes, which makes a precise definition difficult, specialists agree that senile dementia begins after 65 years of age .
Among the first signs of its onset are anxiety , paranoid ideas, social isolation, stress , obsessive traits, confusion of dates and locations, constant forgetfulness, extreme mood swings and personality changes. the difficulty to remember terms of everyday use and the loss of trust in those closest to them.
To proceed to diagnose senile dementia, medicine is based on a series of methods that begin by ruling out other disorders whose symptoms are temporary memory loss and confusion. Next, it is necessary to look at the patient's medical history to look for cases of senile dementia in their ancestors and closest relatives. Confirmation of the diagnosis can be obtained through brain scans and a neurological examination, essential steps to detect changes at the physical level.
However, it is important to distinguish between senile dementia, normal aging, depression, schizophrenia, and other disorders with cognitive impairment. Each case has different characteristics and requires different treatments.
The supply of drugs , prescribed and controlled physical exercise and a specific diet can help reduce the disorders associated with senile dementia.
The most common cause of this problem is Alzheimer's disease, which is found in almost half of senile dementia patients. It is a genetic disorder that destroys neurons, preventing the formation of new memories and gradually ending the functionality of the human brain .
On the other hand, there are alcoholism, the abusive consumption of steroids, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, bacterial or viral encephalitis and multiple sclerosis; The reason is that taking certain medications to treat these problems can cause damage to brain tissue.
Another cause of senile dementia can be a deficiency of niacin and thiamine (two vitamins of group B); once your levels are restored, your symptoms may reverse. Finally, exposure to mercury or lead can also cause senile dementia.