Lost in time - dementia

 

Senility is defined as the weakness or mental infirmity of old age, and is associated with the deterioration of the body and mind in the elderly (usually defined in this context as over 65 years of age). It is commonly referred to as dementia.

Different areas of the brain control different skills and abilities. When mental functions such as memory, language, orientation or judgment deteriorate, this may be a direct result of the way dementia has affected the brain. In simple terms, it refers to a loss of brain cells to a point where mental disability results.

Causes

There are various diseases associated with senility though not all of them are directly associated with advanced age and can occur in children and babies.

These degenerative brain diseases include:

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Vascular Dementia
• Huntington’s Chorea
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob
• Lewy Body Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of senility, where people experience extreme forgetfulness such as difficulty remembering past events (especially the more recent ones) as well as learning new things. Damage to the brain begins years before symptoms appear. Abnormal protein deposits form plaques and tangles in the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Connections between cells are lost, and begin to die. In advanced cases, the brain shows significant shrinkage.

Other causes of senility include:

• Drug addiction
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Stroke
• Poor nutrition
• Thyroid dysfunction (e.g. Hashimoto’s Disease)
• Alcoholism
• Constant lack of sleep

A recent study conducted found people in their 30s and 40s who are constantly lacking sleep could find themselves with dementia by their 60s.  This is because in our slumber the brain is clearing the protein wastes (beta amyloid) that develop when it processes the energy required. The rate of clearance is estimated to be 6 times during this time as compared to awakening hours.  Failure to reduce this accumulated pile can result in brain damage in the years to come.

Other less common conditions which may accompany senility include:

• Urinary Tract Infection
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Wilson’s Disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Brain Tumor
• AIDS Dementia

Diagnose

Properly diagnosing degenerative brain diseases like senility requires a professional screening and/or evaluation by a healthcare practitioner. An accurate assessment is after 6 months of signs and symptoms present observed by the sufferer or close family and friends. In all types of general cognitive dysfunction, higher mental functions are affected first in the process.

Signs & Symptoms

Senility is caused by the degeneration of the brain cells. As a result, senility symptoms can include:

• Progressive memory loss
• Anorexi
• Poor judgment
• Impaired concentration
• Confusion

Often, noticeable personality changes are signs of senility.

Symptoms of dementia can be classified as either reversible or irreversible, depending upon the etiology of the disease. Less than 10% of cases of dementia are due to causes that may presently be reversed with treatment. Causes include many different specific disease processes, in the same way that symptoms of organ dysfunction such as shortness of breath, jaundice, or pain are attributable to many etiologies.

Pain

As people age, they experience more health problems, which mostly carry a substantial burden of pain. Statistics put between 25% and 50% of older adults experiencing persistent pain. Seniors with dementia experience the same prevalence of conditions likely to cause pain as seniors without dementia. Pain is often overlooked in older adults and, when screened for, often poorly assessed, especially among those with dementia. Beyond the issue of humane care, unrelieved pain has functional implications. Persistent pain can lead to decreased ambulation, depressed mood, sleep disturbances, impaired appetite and exacerbation of cognitive impairment, and pain-related interference with activity is a factor contributing to falls in the elderly.

Help needed

+ Generally, because it is a degenerative condition, individuals suffering from senility become progressively worse with time. Especially in the later stages of the condition, affected persons may be disoriented in time (not knowing what day of the week, day of the month, or even what year it is), in place (not knowing where they are), and in person (not knowing who they are or others around them).

+ Additional mental and behavioral problems often affect people who have dementia, and may influence quality of life, caregivers and the need for institutionalization. As dementia worsens individuals may neglect themselves and may become disinhibited and incontinent as their condition worsens. Dementia, though often treatable to some degree, is usually due to causes that are progressive and incurable.

+ Even for incurable cases, early recognition can allow you to create a management plan that will ensure the greatest quality of life for the greatest amount of time, while lessening common senility symptoms. A thorough examination and accurate diagnosis is necessary to create a successful management plan.

+ Adult daycare centers as well as special care units in nursing homes often provide specialized care for dementia patients. Adult daycare centers offer supervision, recreation, meals and limited health care to participants, as well as providing respite for caregivers.

+ While some preliminary studies have found that music therapy may be useful in helping patients with dementia, their quality has been low and no reliable conclusions can be drawn from them.

+ Medications can be prescribed to slow the progress of senility and other degenerative brain diseases, but success is often coupled with unwanted side effects, particularly in the elderly patient. In any case, medication should be used in conjunction with psychiatric or behavioral therapies.

+ Unlike prescription medications, alternative therapies like natural remedies are virtually free of these unwanted side effects, and are a welcome treatment option for managing senility symptoms. They also work well in combination with psychiatric or behavioral therapies.

+ Additionally, proper nutrition, exercise, and positive lifestyle choices are important in sustaining mental clarity. As we grow older, it is important to participate in stimulating activities, thus keeping our minds active, this is especially true for the elderly.

+ To be healthy in late life, a rich accumulation of life experiences – education, marriage, socializing, a stimulating job, language skills, having a purpose in life, physical activity and mentally demanding leisure activities help to keep the brain going. One can even have significant Alzheimer’s pathology and no symptoms of dementia due to such high cognitive reserve, says David Bennett, M.D., of Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center.

 

Hence, do not neglect the importance of social interaction, good friends and family relationships to enjoy a fruitful ripe age.

Source: http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailment/senility-degenerative-brain-diseases-info.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia

Nutritional benefits

+ A combination of herbal and homeopathic remedies such as Ginkgo biloba, Hawthorn, Rosemary and American Ginseng provide safe, effective relief and support the brain and mental health.

+ Vitamin deficiencies and chronic infections may occur at any age, with symptoms manifesting before dementia occurs. Hence, routine blood tests can be performed to rule out treatable causes when an elderly is suspected of abnormalities like confusion or disorientation.

+ Degenerative dementia can be due to deficiencies of vitamin₁₂, folate or niacin (all found in the Vitamin B family). High levels of the amino acid homocysteine are linked to brain shrinkage and an increased risk of Alzheimer's and B vitamins are known to suppress it. In a study conducted among participants taking high doses of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12, blood levels of homocysteine were lowered as was the associated brain shrinkage – by up to 90%!


+  A “severe deficiency” of vitamin D boosts older Americans’ risk of cognitive impairment 400%, an alarming study by England’s University of Exeter finds. Experts recommend a daily dose of 800 IU to 2,000 IU of vitamin D3.  Researchers believe that optimal vitamin D levels may enhance the amount of important chemicals in your brain and protect brain cells by increasing the effectiveness of the glial cells in nursing damaged neurons back to health.

VIVA corner

+  Ageguard and Royal Jelly increases and balances hormones respectively and thus retards aging.


+  Biolecithin improves neuro transmission of messages with its protective mechanism on the myelin sheath covering the neurons.

+  Dailyguard provides a host of nutrients to feed the cells for healthy growth.

+  High intake of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA is essential for preserving the brain cells and eliminates any inflammation, thereby slowing down its progression and lowering your risk of developing brain disorder.

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