Dementia Treatment and Prevention
Dementia is a brain disorder wherein there is a decline or permanent loss of memory or other cognitive functions such as learning, understanding, judging and reasoning. This condition is usually permanent and irreversible, but some treatment can slow down the progress or even reverse the condition. Dementia usually occurs in elderly people and was considered a part of the aging process. The following are some prevention of having dementia.
Maintain a healthy diet. This means proper food and nutrition. Eating the right kinds of foods and maintaining an ideal weight depending on age. Balance diet and regular intake of vitamins and minerals.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Avoid use of abusive drugs. And, you should get adequate rest and do less stressful activities.
Regular exercise. This is a good way to maintain cholesterol level and blood pressure. Increased in both of these may be a risk factor for the development of dementia once individual ages.
Continuous learning. Idle minds are at risk in the development of dementia so make sure that you constantly learn new things and develop new hobbies as you age.
Be cautious. To elaborate this preventive measure, make sure to always wear head protection whenever engaging in activities that might result to physical injuries more specifically head injuries. Wear helmets when riding motorcycles and always be a defensive driver.
How do we treat dementia?
Several methods are used in the treatment of this disorder, depending on the condition or the stage of the disorder. Dementia has no specific cure yet as it is most of the time permanent and irreversible. Some treatment can help to slow down the development of dementia while some can reverse the condition.
Medications
These are drugs prescribed by doctors that can help to improve the symptoms of dementia. They can also prescribe drugs to treat dementia complications such as seizures, depression and sleeping disorders. Medications may include pain relievers, cholinesterase inhibitors and antipsychotic drugs. Also, vitamins and antibiotics are also prescribed.
Occupational therapy
This can help the patients with dementia to keep up and cope up with their lives. Therapists help them perform the usual tasks and activities that they normally do and also help them interact with other people and events.
Behavioural and psychological therapy
Patients with dementia are often hard to handle as their cognitive functions are impaired. They normally forget things and often are unreasonable. Caregivers should be able to assist them patiently and family members of the patient should be understanding and patient as well. Nursing homes usually provide care for this type of patients.
Other treatments
May include surgery as well, but this is rare cases such as a tumor built up inside the brain. Physical therapy sessions can also be performed to maintain the patient’s ability to do the normal daily activities such as walking, eating or interacting.
After diagnosis of dementia is done and treatment has begun always make sure that patient still undergoes regular health check-ups with the doctor to make sure that the therapies are making a positive prognosis.
Source: Healthguidance.org
Written by: Jacob Mabille (one of the administrators and publishers of Health Guidance)