Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Dementia or what is better known as disease ‘senile‘is often underestimated because the majority only suffer from those over the age of 65. However, the trend of people with dementia is increasing in Indonesia, especially in Yogyakarta.
So what exactly is dementia, what are the symptoms and how is it treated?
Dementia Care Trainer & UGM Lecturer Azam David Saifullah stated that dementia is a group of symptoms caused by certain diseases that cause gradual decline in brain function.
That is, a person is not immediately declared to have dementia, but after passing through the stages of periodic cognitive decline. However, because the main symptom of ‘forgetting’ is often underestimated, dementia is usually diagnosed only at an advanced stage.
Azam emphasized not to underestimate the main indication of dementia, namely consistent dementia. Immediately go to the nearest doctor for tests or stimulation before it’s too late.
“Senility is not something normal. Senility which keeps forgetting more and more is not part of normal aging. So if you have a father / mother who is experiencing senility, it is getting worse, you should immediately check it,” he said in a video conference, Saturday (12/9).
Dementia itself is an umbrella term for at least six types of dementia. However, what is best known to the public and the most common is Alzheimer’s dementia.
Generally, or 60 percent – 80 percent of dementia affected by Indonesian people is Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia.
Alzheimer’s dementia itself is characterized by a shrinkage of brain mass and volume, in other words the brain of people with Alzheimer’s dementia shrinks periodically.
In addition, people with dementia (ODD) also experience the addition of amyloid plaques that regulate a person’s cognitive function.
This slowing of cognitive function causes sufferers to gradually find it difficult to digest complicated questions or remember trivial things. Azam said that ODD are also often unable to determine small things such as what clothes to wear.
The causes of dementia are varied, from high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol levels, obesity, excessive cigarette and alcohol consumption, injury to and down syndrome.
Heredity is also a strengthening factor. However, it is not significant, of the total dementia cases, only 5 percent to 10 percent are caused by these factors.
Furthermore, Azam said research from Survey Meter shows that 2 out of 10 Yogyakarta residents experience dementia when they are 65 years or older. However, it is not clear why the dementia rate in Yogyakarta is so high.
Meanwhile, launching Alzheimer’s Indonesia, it is estimated that around 1.2 million people have dementia in 2016 and it will increase to 2 million people living with HIV in 2030. The trend will go up to 4 million people by 2050. Meanwhile, in the world, there are 10 million new cases of dementia each year. .
To find out if you have Alzheimer’s can only be done by means of an autopsy. However, this method was not possible for someone who was still alive.
Therefore, what can be done is to analyze the case history, cognitive tests, blood and urine tests, and perform a CT or MRI scan.
“If you want to go to a memory polyclinic, you can definitely check if someone has dementia or not,” he said.
The common symptoms of dementia are memory problems, difficulty focusing, communication problems, withdrawal, and behavior changes.
Although there is no definite recipe for avoiding dementia, Azam said the tips that can be done are eating healthy, maintaining cholesterol, and exercising regularly. Meanwhile, for those who are elderly, they can do cognitive tests such as filling in puzzles or doing activities that test other brain abilities.
(yes / dea)
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