Dementia is a debilitating disease that not only affects the brain but the body as well. It is a progressive disease that robs victims of their memories, thoughts, and, eventually, their ability to function.
The impact of dementia on your brain and body can be severe. Dementia can lead to changes in your mood and personality, problems with communication, and difficulty with activities of daily living. This can be extremely difficult for the person with dementia and their caregivers.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a decline in cognitive function. This can be caused by various conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia can significantly impact your brain and body, affecting your memory, thinking, mood, and ability to perform everyday tasks. While there is no cure for dementia, treatments available can help improve symptoms and quality of life.
How Dementia Affects the Brain and Body
Alzheimer’s disease is responsible for nearly two-thirds of all dementia cases. It is a degenerative brain disease that worsens over time and makes daily life more difficult. Alzheimer’s disease damages the brain by forming amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Beta-amyloid is a protein that aggregates abnormally and forms fibrous plaques. Known genetic changes do not usually cause Alzheimer’s disease.
Strategic infarct dementia is a type of dementia caused by a single major stroke, the size and location determine the dementias’ severity. Following a severe stroke, changes in behavior or thought processes may occur suddenly. The type of symptoms you experience will be determined by the area of your brain affected by the stroke.
If the person does not have more strokes, the symptoms of dementia may remain stable or even improve over time. Dementia symptoms may worsen if the patient has a second stroke or another disease that affects the blood vessels in the brain.
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is characterized by the accumulation of abnormal clumps of cells in the brain, known as “Lewy bodies.” The clumps form in brain cells and are composed of a protein known as alpha-synuclein. These aggregates form in specific brain areas, influencing how people move, think, and act.
People with LBD may experience significant changes in their ability to pay attention and think. They can go from acting normally to being completely confused in seconds. The perception of non-existent objects or people is one such symptom.
Coping With Dementia
The best dementia treatment is condition-specific. Although there is no cure for neurodegenerative dementias such as Alzheimer’s, medications can preserve the brain and alleviate symptoms such as anxiety and behavioral abnormalities. As a result of ongoing research, more therapeutic options are expected to become available. Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes frequent exercise, a nutritious diet, and meaningful social interactions can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and dying prematurely.
Conclusion
Dementia can have a profound impact on your brain and body. It can significantly reduce your life expectancy and quality of life. There is currently no cure for dementia; however, there are treatments available that can help to slow its progression. If you are concerned about your cognitive health, it is important to see your doctor for an assessment.
