Dementia

Dementia It is a disease of the brain which often starts with memory problems but goes on to affect many other parts of the brain producing .

• Problem coping with day to day tasks
• Problems communicating

People with dementia might become apathetic , have problems controlling their emotions or behave inappropriately in social situations . They may see or hear things that other people do not , or have false beliefs . people with dementia usually need help from friends or relatives , including help in making decisions.

Alzheimer’s Dementia Normal brain cells are replaced with damaged tissue called plaques and tangles Specific problem with memory and thinking Learning new information becomes harder Forgetting names of people /places and difficulty to communicate Changes in personality Vascular Dementia Blood vessels supplying blood to tiny parts of the brain blocked starving that region of oxygen eventually leading to dead brain tissue in that region. The problems caused by vascular dementia depends upon which part of the brain is affected but generally Memory loss Poor concentration Word finding difficulties Mood Swings Depression Sometimes hallucination Fronto– Temporal Dementia Front part of the brain affected more than other parts. More of personality changes Medication There are a group of medicines which can slow the progression of dementia

Helping self Keep a dairy and write down things you want to remember Pin a weekly timetable to the wall Put your keys in an obvious place such as a large bowl in the hall Have a daily newspaper delivered to remind you of the date and day Put labels on cupboards and drawers Place helpful telephone numbers by the phone Write reminders to yourself , e.g. put a note on front door to take the keys Prevention There is some evidence that rates of dementia are lower in people who remain as mentally and physically active as possible through out their lives , and have a wide range of different activities and hobbies. Some activities that may reduce the risk of developing dementia Reading Writing for pleasure Learning foreign languages Playing musical instruments Taking part in adult education courses Playing tennis Playing golf Swimming Group sports , such as bowling