Channel Button

There are 2 articles on this title. You are reading the article ranked and rated #1 by Helium's members.

Health & Fitness   >

Alzheimer's and Dementia

What is dementia?

DESCRIBING WHAT IS DEMENTIA.

The definition of Dementia:

It is best described as a loss of basic mental abilities for example,

Difficulty with thought processes
Problem remembering
Issue with basic reasoning
Problem communicating

The above examples all intefere with one's ability to handle activities of daily living.

Such as:
Eating issues
Ability to dress
Bathing and cleanliness issues
Problem with toileting ( not using the bathroom to urinate or have a bowel
movement.)
Inabilty to communicate clearly.

SOME EXAMPLES OF REVERSIBLE CAUSES OF DEMENTIA:
Brain trauma such as a subdural hematoma
Reaction to a medication
Metabolic imbalance
Severe emotional stress or depression
Poor eating habits leading to malutrition or anemia
Cirrohis of the liver or other liver disorder
Cardiac or lung disesaes

SOME EXAMPLES OF IRREVERSIBLE CAUSES OF DEMENTIA:
Parkinson's disease
Alzheimers's disese
Huntington's disease
Arteriosclerotic brain disease
Brain tumors

Parkinson disease:
This is a progressive neurological brain disorder. Statistics states
this disese affects one million Americans. The onset of this disease is usually
in middle age, most often around 50 years of age. The disease is a lack of dopamine
which is a neurotransmitter that controls muscle activity. Symptoms of this
disease includes stiffness in limbs and joints and tremors. You wil also see
dificulties in body movements.Later in the disease some patients will develop
dementia. There are medications to decrease motor changes but they will not correct
mental changes in the patient.

Alzheimer's Disease:
This is the most common form of dementia, This disease usually occurs after
age 65, but it can appear in a younger person. It should be
known that the risk of alzheimer's disese increases with age but it is not a
part of the normal age process.
Symptoms of Alzheimers disease appear slowly, beginning with memory
losses. As time goes on, the symptoms get more serious.They can become
disoriented about place and time. You will see the patient have problems


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

What is dementia?

  • 1 of 2

    by Nurse Donna RN

    DESCRIBING WHAT IS DEMENTIA. The definition of Dementia: It is best described as a loss of basi... read more

  • 2 of 2

    by Duncan Kelly

    What is dementia? The short answer is that it is any deterioration of the brain that causes regression into perhaps a... read more

Add your voice

Know something about What is dementia??
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Cancer vaccine: Should the FDA approve Provenge?

Click for your side. Must be logged in.

91517

Featured Partner

Chesapeake Service Systems

Chesapeake Service Systems (CSS) has partnered with Helium, giving you the chance to write for a cause. Browse C...more

What is Helium? | User Guide | Community | Link to Helium | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA