by John Sarkis

Created on: April 24, 2008   Last Updated: October 23, 2008

Dementia is the Latin word for apart or away. This occurs when a person's cognitive function diminishes; mostly due to brain damage or other brain disease. Although dementia occurs greatly in the geriatric community, it also occurs in adults ranging from all ages.

Dementia can affect a person's cognition to an alarming level. In later stages of the disease; the person can loose touch with reality: not knowing where, or who they are. Dementia is classified as: reversible or irreversible. Less than 10% can be reverse with treatment; these being almost elderly people.

If a person starts to loose touch with reality; brief test can be done to determine whether of not someone is in the early stages of the disease. Mental tests and the likes are done to diagnose a patient. CASI (Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument) is such a test: it determines the person's cognitive level.

TREATMENT:

1. Alzheimer's disease. 2. Vascular dementia. 3. Dementia pugilistica.

SUBCORTICAL DEMENTIAS:

1. Dementia due to huntington's disease. 2. Dementia due to Hypothyroidism. 3. Dementia due to Syphilis.

There is no cure for dementia. Since dementia is often associated with neurovisceral porphyrias. Although scientists are making progress and headway; it's still a long time before a full cure will be available to people. However: they have made headway in slowing the disease. However; there's still a long way to go. Another topic of improvement is: emotional support for sufferers. Since they are oftentimes elderly. A great deal of understanding is required from both: relatives of the elderly, and also to caregivers...since they are the ones spending most of the times with them. A study has shown: people who are bilingual, acquire the disease at a later age.

MEDICATIONS:

1. Tacrine (Cognex). 2. Donepezil (Aricept). 3. Galantamine (Reminyl).

All these drugs have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treatment of dementia; induced by patients suffering from Alzheimer disease. Furthermore: may be successful in treating other diseases causing dementia such as: Parkinson's, and vascular dementia.

1. Antipsychotic drugs. 2. Antidepressant drugs. 3. Antianxiety drugs.

Since depression is oftentimes a side effect of dementia; it isn't unusual for Doctors to prescribe these drugs.

Sources for this article are from: Wikipedia.

Dealing with this can be traumatic on family members...people should seek expert advise, and expect from the onset that it won't be easy to deal with a loved one in this condition; all we can do as human beings is try to be as understanding as possible.

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