Dementia is a problem in the brain that makes it hard for a person to remember, learn and communicate. Dementia may also change a person's mood and personality. In Lewy body dementia, abnormal round structures called Lewy bodies develop in regions of your brain involved in thinking and movement. Particularly affected areas may be memory , attention , language and problem solving , although particularly 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, what month or even what year it is), place (not knowing where they are) and person (not knowing who they are ) The person will have problems doing things he or she used to be able to do, like keep the check book, drive a car safely, or plan a meal. He or she will often have problems finding the right words and may become confused when given too many things to do at once. The most common form of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, accounts for 50-75% of all cases of dementia. Another 20-30% is due to blood vessel disease ("multi-infarct dementia" or "mini-strokes"). Symptoms of dementia can be classified as either reversible or irreversible depending upon the etiology of the disease. Dementia is a non-specific term that encompasses many disease processes, just as fever is attributable to many etiologies.

Dementia is a slowly progressive brain disorder characterized by the loss of ability to think, reason and remember. Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. In some cases, the dementia can be treated and cured because the cause is treatable. In some cases, although the person may appear to have dementia, a severe depression can be causing the symptoms. Examples of this include dementia caused by drugs or alcohol, or hormone or vitamin imbalances. Because some causes of dementia can be cured or partially treated, it is very important that your doctor is thorough when making the diagnosis, so as not to miss potentially treatable conditions. The frequency of "treatable" causes of dementia is believed to be about 10%.

Causes of Dementia

The common Causes of Dementia :

Nutritional deficiencies, like vitamin B12 and folate deficiency.
Toxic reactions, like excessive alcohol or drug use.
Infections that affect the brain and spinal cord, such as AIDS dementia complex and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Certain types of hydrocephalus, an accumulation of fluid in the brain that can result from developmental abnormalities, infections, injury, or brain tumors.
Kidney, liver, and lung diseases can all lead to dementia.
Either a single severe head injury or longer term smaller injuries, like in boxers.
Diseases that cause degeneration or loss of nerve cellsin the brain such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's.

Symptoms of Dementia

Some Symptoms of Dementia :

Confusion , severe
Decrease in problem-solving skills and judgment capability
Progressive memory loss
Hallucinations and delusions
Altered sensation or perception
Inability to concentrate
Lack of spontaneity
Depression

Treatment of Dementia

Dementia Treatment of people with progressive dementia aims to provide the best possible quality of life for them and their carers.
Alzheimer's disease , Huntington's disease , Pick's disease, dementia of aging and traumatic injuries to the brain are usually not amenable to treatment.
Anti-convulsants may be effective in treating some behavioural disturbances.
Dementia generally gets worse with age but the development of symptoms can often be slowed with drugs or other treatments.
Treatment of dementia usually aims to improve memory and concentration, reduce psychiatric problems, and to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family and carers.
Anti-psychotic drugs may be prescribed for patients suffering from delusions or hallucinations.

Bowel & Stomach Diseases

Appendicitis
Barett's Oesophagus
Coeliac Disease
Crohn's Disease

Heart Problems

Angina
Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Arrhythmias
Atrial Fibrillation

Infectious Diseases

Bacterial Vaginosis
Bird Flu
Boils
Cellulitis
Chicken Pox
Cystitis

Skin Disorders

Acne
Alopecia Areata
Baldness

Women Diseases

Abnormal Periods
Atropic Vaginitis
Breast Cancer
Breast Pain
Cervical Cancer

Liver & Kidney Diseases

Cholecystitis
Cirrhosis
Fatty Liver Disease
Kidney Cancer
Liver Cancer

Mental Health

Anorexia Nervosa
Bipolar Affective Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Dementia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Schizophrenia

Disclaimer : All information on www.family-health-guide.org is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, please consult your doctor.