How much do you know about dementia?
Have you ever tried to find your keys or wallet when leaving home? Or where do you put the document you just had? In daily life, many citizens will be distracted due to work and life pressure, resulting in the above situation. Is this memory loss or a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease?
What is Dementia?
Dementia is a disease related to memory. Dementia is defined as “a general term for a severe decline in mental ability that affects daily life.” Symptoms include effects on thinking, memory, mood, reasoning and behavioral abilities. The metaphor of dementia is a big tree. All diseases related to the decline of memory and mental ability are simply called dementia. This big tree has many forked branches. These branches are the diseases that cause dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, brain damage, long-term alcoholism, reduced vitamin B12, etc. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60% to 80% of cases.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease in which brain tissue is lost, resulting in a loss of connections between neurons, affecting memory, thinking, emotions or self-care abilities. This is not a normal aging phenomenon. According to statistics from the National Institutes of Health, more than 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease. As the population ages, the number of patients is increasing. In addition to the elderly, people in their 30s and 40s may also develop early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
There are three main categories of dementia:
1) Degenerative: including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal lobe dementia, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson’s disease, etc. The patient’s brain develops lesions due to long-term deposition of abnormal proteins, leading to brain degeneration.
2) Vascular: About 20% of vascular dementia cases are caused by stroke. Long-term chronic infarction of small blood vessels may also lead to dementia.
3) Reversibility: A small number of dementias are reversible, that is, when other diseases are treated or controlled, there is a chance that dementia can be reversed. For example, drugs, depression, hypothyroidism, lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid, neurosyphilis, hypoglycemia or AIDS, etc.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
1) Memory decline affects life
2) Plan things and make decisions regardless of law
3) Confusion about places, getting lost in familiar places
4) Difficulty in verbal expression
5) Changes in mood and personality and dislike of social interaction
6) Day and night are reversed, and sleep quality becomes worse.
7) Behaving inappropriately, such as being deeply suspicious of everything
8) Difficulties with vision and comprehension
9) Decreased judgment 1
0) Inability to master familiar things
Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic disease that can last up to 30 years. Patients will experience mild symptoms initially, then gradually decline and eventually become unable to take care of themselves. Caregivers may also feel physically and mentally exhausted. If someone around you has the above symptoms, please seek medical advice immediately.
When the patient meets with the doctor, please tell the doctor in detail about the patient’s current situation, such as any changes in behavior, personality, or daily activities. Patients need blood tests and undergo computed tomography (CT) and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These scans can track changes in brain structure.
If you want to know more about Alzheimer’s disease, such as prevention methods, how to communicate with patients, information for caregivers, etc., please visit the Alzheimer’s Association website https://www.alz.org/asian/overview.asp?nL=ZH&dL=ZH
The Alzheimer’s Association also has a 24/7 hotline. If you have any questions, please call 1800-272-3900
Christina Chow, RN, MSN, Alzheimer’s Association Community Mentor
The Alzheimer’s Disease Association sincerely invites everyone to participate in the 16th “Chinese Alzheimer’s Disease Forum – Let’s Walk the Journey of Dementia Together” on Saturday, March 16, 2024. The online forum includes caregivers’ stories, Alzheimer’s disease News about Alzheimer’s disease, community resources, and more.Registration: Please register online in advance to receive the forum participation link TINYURL.COM/24ALZCHINESEFORUM Details: Please contact Zhang Peining [email protected]Or call 408.372.9943
2024-03-14 18:15:47
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