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June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month
The Hopeful Guide to Preventing and Treating Dementia
The words Alzheimer’s and Dementia strike fear in many adults. But the average person has little understanding of what these terms mean. Are changes in memory and thinking just a natural part of old age? Is dementia preventable? While doctors don’t have all the answers, they have some strong hunches about how to reduce your risk.
“Dementia” refers to a decline in thinking that affects daily living and social functioning. In addition to memory loss, symptoms can include disorientation, decreased attention span, slower response time, and changes in personality and mood. “Senility,” the old-fashioned term for mental and physical decline, used to be synonymous with the aging process.
Today, we understand that dementia is far from inevitable. About 1 in 10 Americans develops Alzheimer’s, a disease that’s responsible for half of all dementia cases. Rates vary from culture to culture, suggesting that factors such as diet, education level and access to proper health care can have an impact. Researchers are now testing interventions to prevent or delay dementia’s onset.
Determining the underlying cause of dementia is important to ensure the most effective treatment. Alzheimer’s is associated with brain inflammation (swelling), for instance, while Vascular dementia is caused by narrowed or blocked blood vessels. Dozens of other health conditions can cause problems with thinking: infection (such as Lyme disease and AIDS), alcohol abuse, blood clots and more. Sometimes dementia has mixed causes, and one type seems to predispose the brain to other problems.
There is no definitive test for Alzheimer’s. Doctors generally make an Alzheimer’s diagnosis only after eliminating other possibilities they can test for. Those tests may include:
- Physical and neurological exam. To evaluate reflexes, eye movements, walking and balance.
- Lab work. Blood tests can reveal cardiovascular disease and other underlying conditions.
- Brain imaging. As a last resort, an MRI or CT can reveal a tumor, stroke or blood clot.
Potentially curable causes of dementia include vitamin deficiency, thyroid problems, stress and depression. Reactions to prescription drugs are another common factor. As we get older, our liver and kidneys slow down, making medications linger in our system longer.
Certain activities are especially good for strengthening connections and keeping your brain spry:
- Learning a new language.
- Playing an instrument.
- Crafts that involve working with your hands.
- Practicing writing with your non-dominant hand.
- Focused relaxation, like meditation, prayer or listening to music.
For more information on preventing and treating dementia, read here.
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