Dementia

From ArticleWorld

Dementia is a mostly irreversible condition which is the result of damage to the brain and manifests itself in a steady decline in cognitive functions. Damage to the brain may be the result of trauma or a degenerative disease and the affect on cognitive functions such as memory, language and problem solving greater than what could be expected from the process of ageing.

Fewer that 10% of dementia cases are reversible and that depends on the cause of the condition. The most common causes are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, which is a combination of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and frontotemporal lobar degeneration, which affects the frontal lobe of the brain. It may also be due to Creutzfeldt-Jacobs disease, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, HIV infection, and head trauma; but to a lesser extent.

Symptoms

Onset of dementia is usually manifested in personality or behaviour change and, quite often, the first symptom is an attack of delirium, which is a disturbance of consciousness. The condition affects language and comprehension, reaction time and motor skills and is capable of influencing personality traits.

Diagnosis

There are several short tests which are carried out initially if dementia is suspected which evaluate cognitive function. In addition, in order to rule out other causes of confusion and disorientation such as vitamin deficiencies or infections, blood tests are performed. Long term substance abuse may also result in symptoms similar to that of dementia.

The proper diagnosis, however, requires the services of a geriatric psychiatrist or neurologist who usually require a CT scan to be performed.

While there is no cure for dementia – with the exception of the few cases originating from treatable causes- the use of Snoezelen rooms, which provide patients with a soothing and stimulating atmosphere, have proven effective in therapy.