Dementia accounts for 70 percent of all deaths from infectious diseases worldwide. Dementia is a forgetful disease that occurs in old age. It usually affects people over 60 years of age. However, it is rare for some people to develop the disease in their 40s or 45s.
Suffering amnesia: Common amnesia in healthy people is a blessing they have. Forgetfulness helps human beings to forget enmity, evil, harm, suffering etc., to lighten the mind and live a peaceful life. But the ‘forgetfulness’ caused by dementia is painful. It can reduce the patient’s ability to think; It also affects memory.
A person suffering from this disease cannot think clearly. Can’t speak properly. You can’t even do daily tasks like showering and brushing your teeth. Names will be forgotten. The face of close ones will be forgotten. Own house will be forgotten. The path will be forgotten. By and large, they cannot act on their own. This affects not only the patient, but also those around them physically, psychologically and socially.
Alzheimer’s Dementia: About 70 percent of dementia patients have Alzheimer’s disease. Medical science has not yet clearly identified the cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Because of this, there is no effective treatment for dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease. The current situation is that it cannot be fully cured.
Vascular Dementia: Dementia caused by depletion of chemicals in the brain, destruction of tissues, bleeding in the brain, blockage of blood flow, blood clots, strokes etc. is called ‘Vascular Dementia’.
Diabetes, high blood pressure, overweight, high blood cholesterol, smoking, and long-term alcohol consumption can increase the risk of vascular dementia. Some people may have Alzheimer’s dementia along with vascular dementia.
Apart from these, there is a risk of dementia due to lack of vitamin B1, vitamin B12, folic acid etc. in the blood. Dementia can also occur in older women due to undersecretion of the thyroid gland.
Treatment: If the cause of vascular dementia is identified and treated appropriately, patients have a chance of recovery.
Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s dementia, medication can slow its progression.
Treatment for depression is essential for people with dementia and depression. This will reduce their vulnerability a bit.
What to do? – Research shows that people who exercise daily have a 35 percent lower risk of developing dementia. Daily walking is good. Cleaning and maintenance of house, garden etc. will also give good results.
Avoid being alone in old age. Frequent meetings with friends and family meals together can help reduce the risk of developing dementia.
If people above 60 to 65 years of age in our house are found to have more amnesia, they should be taken to the doctors immediately and checked. Importantly, patients should completely stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Use of sleeping pills should be reduced or stopped completely.
People with dementia become completely childlike. Generally, the patient’s life expectancy after the injury is 4 to 8 years. However, a few live for more than 20 years. It depends on the care of the patient’s family.
Dementia is considered to be the greatest medical and social crisis the world will face in the near future. Therefore, it is very important for everyone to get enough awareness about dementia and avoid the factors that cause the disease.