What are Common Symptoms and Types of Dementia
It is human nature that we try to do everything possible to slow the aging process. We take vitamins and supplements, get plastic surgery, slather our bodies in lotions and potions, all so that we don’t appear the age we are. In addition, we change our diets and work out, doing almost anything to defy nature. And while we may look great on the outside, there are some things that we cannot control that may be happening on the inside. Continue reading to discover more about dementia and some of the common symptoms, and different descriptions and names of dementia based on symptoms.
What is Dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella of illnesses and symptoms with a lot of medical conditions under it that affect older adults. A wide range of medical conditions cause symptoms such as memory loss, problem-solving, cognitive abilities, and other issues that drive the quality of life to deteriorate. A lot of times, before a diagnosis of dementia, older adults are thought of as senile.
The cause of dementia is damaged brain cells that mess with the brain cells’ ability to communicate. The lack of communication causes those affected to act differently than usual.
Dementia is a progressive illness which means that the symptoms start slowly and gradually get worse. Dementia also involves several diseases that are diagnosed based on what part of the brain cells are damaged. Some of those symptoms include:
- Short term memory loss
- Confusion
- Trouble communicating
- Inability to understand certain communications
- Unable to perform certain tasks
- Repetition
- Loss of interest
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common type of dementia, representing 60-80% of all dementia cases. The average age for patients with Alzheimer’s is 65 years old. Diagnosis before this age is considered early onset. It usually starts with memory loss and progresses into more confusion and failure to thrive as a progressive disease. Patients typically live with Alzheimer’s Disease for 4-8 years after diagnosis but can also live up to 20 years.
There are no cures for Alzheimer’s Disease, but medication and surgery can slow the progression.
The part of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s Disease is the learning part. Patients may suffer from disorientation, mood and behavior changes, confusion about dates and times. They may also become distrustful of family members.
Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia happens due to reduced blood flow to the brain, especially from a stroke or heart attack. It can be sudden or gradual. Vascular dementia affects memory, thinking, and reasoning. Some of the early symptoms of vascular dementia are slow thought, judgment, depression, and having trouble understanding information. Some signs may go unnoticed, but high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking raise an aging individual’s risk of dementia.
- In addition to the above, some other symptoms of vascular dementia are:
- Difficulty deciding what to do next
- Restlessness and agitation
- Unsteady gait
- Sudden or frequent urge to urinate
- Reduced ability to organize thoughts or actions
Lewy Bodies
Lewy Bodies Dementia (LBD) is very similar to Alzheimer’s Disease. However, it progresses more quickly than other types of dementia. Although there are no cures for LBD, there is medication to help with symptoms. The overlap in symptoms between LBD and Parkinson’s makes them hard to diagnose and distinguish. A symptom not common in the other types of dementia are:
- Sleep disturbances
- Visual hallucinations
- Delusions
- Problems with interpreting visual information
Another difference seen more common in LBD is a disruption of the autonomic nervous system. This disruption causes the patient’s blood pressure to drop, making them dizzy, fall more frequently, and suffer urinary incontinence.
Parkinson’s Disease
Tremors, muscular rigidity mark Parkinson’s Disease, and slow movements, and reduced facial expressions. It is a progressive disease of the nervous system associated with the degeneration of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Genes and environmental factors may play a role in the development of Parkinson’s Disease. Some of the signs of Parkinson’s Disease are:
Shaking limbs – usually hands or fingers
- Speech changes
- Writing changes
- Impaired posture and balance
- Rigid muscles
As you have read, regardless of how well we take care of ourselves, there are some things that happen in life that cannot be controlled. Dementia is an umbrella of illnesses with symptoms that are similar but have different effects. Four types of dementia and their symptoms are above.
How Sleeping Incorrectly Can Affect Your Pain
When you think about your sleep, you typically think about a period of restoration and rejuvenation. Your sleep is supposed to be the time your mind and body have an opportunity to rest and repair for the next day.
What most people don’t know is that you could be sleeping incorrectly and making your pain worse instead of better.
How you could be sleeping incorrectly
You may not realize there’s a specific technique to the way you sleep. Besides, you’ve been sleeping all of your life. How could you possibly be doing it wrong?
One of the most important factors to your sleep, especially when you’re dealing with aches and pains, is your sleeping posture. Most sleepers sleep on their sides, and this can cause a lot of complications. For one thing, half of your body is crushed under the weight of the other half of your body. This can specifically target your pain points, so you’ll wake up with soreness in your shoulders, hips, and knees.
It’s not only sleeping on your side that can amplify your pain. Stomach sleepers are in an even worse position, putting undue stress on their lower backs all throughout the night, especially with thicker pillows that raise your neck up even higher.
You probably knew your sitting posture was important for your neck and back pain, but keeping proper posture while unconscious is a little more challenging to account for. Here’s how you can work on it.
What you can do to correct your sleep
If you’re a stomach sleeper, you should probably work on trying to get comfortable in other positions. It takes some time to adjust to sleeping in a new position, but it is possible to make a change. If possible, try to adjust to becoming a back sleeper. This is the best position for maintaining spinal alignment and decreasing your chances of waking up in pain.
If you’re absolutely committed to stomach or side sleeping, there are ways you can fix your technique. As a stomach sleeper, sleep with less, or no, pillows to eliminate the arching up that causes lower back pain. As a side sleeper, try to keep your body elongated rather than curled into the fetal position. This can help reduce morning pains (and snoring, too).
Author’s bio: Laurie Larson is a writer based in NC who writes on health topics.
Guest Blog: Adult day programs giving a new life to the adults
Those who had enjoyed a considerable amount of independence in their youth, the time has come
when they need help from others as they were migrated to old age. Life is never static, and it
keeps on changing from time to time because change is the integral and inherent part of life.
Once you cross the fancy days of your youth and step into adulthood, life becomes more
challenging than ever. It took a big leap when you get older and started calling by the people as
elderly.
The adult day care homes came up as a hope for many adults who are living a lonely and concise
life. They have given them many reasons to enjoy their adulthood, keeping aside all their worries
and tensions of life. Many daycare homes in the USA have gone to the extent of providing a
friendly and composite environment that even doesn’t get in their homes. The adult day
programs in Atlanta offer a welcoming environment to the adults by connecting them back to
mainstream society and expanding their outreach. They provide support and a needed break for
someone who cares for a loved one who is no longer independent.
Every adult is welcomed in an adult day care home.
The adult day care homes take care of every adult regardless of their religion, race, and ethnicity.
Caregivers in the Atlanta adult day care homes are not the ordinary people infect they are the one
who is not doing this just as a job but it’s is their passion and nature to help elders and share their
pain and joy. All the adults staying in the adult day care homes spent their day with loads of fun
and doing meaningful activities.
It is not that adult daycare homes only provide emotional or medical support to the adults; they
also facilitate adults by organizing musical events and taking them to cultural festivals. Some of
them hold weekly performances by local musicians and local entertainers. They also give them
the opportunity for interactions with pets and children, cooking projects, take them to nature
walks, games, parties, and yoga classes.
Who joins adult day care homes?
Adults in their 50s – 90s with some physical or cognitive behavioral problems.
Older adults who don’t wish to stay home alone all through the day.
Older adults can benefit from social interaction and a structured environment.
Adults who are abandoned by their family and they are forced to live alone.
Adults whose children are not living with them because either for work or study, they
have to live outside the town or country.
Loads of Surprises
It is not that the adults living in the Adult Daycare homes are entirely cut off from their families
and friends. This is not the case with every adult day care home because many Adult daycare
homes provide surprise adults’ by suddenly calling their family members and close friends for a
quick meet up or gathering.
As much as adults miss their family members, their family members also miss them equivalently.
Learn and earn schemes
Money adult Daycare homes also provide learning and earn schemes to the adults who want to
do something big in their life. It doesn’t mean that if you are elder or older, your professional life
is over. Many adults are still willing to work after their retirement from their professional life.
The adult Daycare homes provide equal opportunities for adults.
Guest Blog: 5 Signs of Mental Health Issues for Seniors
When you’ve started to notice changes in an elderly relative, you may wonder if a mental health issue is the cause. While it is important a mental health professional diagnoses these issues, some signs exist indicating that the time has come to make an appointment.
Depression
Depression can occur for a host of reasons. Elderly individuals may be suffering from the loss of a loved one, or they may feel alienated, isolated or otherwise separated from their friends or from their interests outside of the house. Individuals who seem filled with sadness and negative emotions or who are hinting about emotional turmoil may need outpatient or inpatient treatment for depression.
Anxiety Issues/Bipolar Disorder
You may also notice that your loved ones are having heightened periods of elevation followed by periods of deep sadness. They could be suffering from bipolar disorder. Serious anxieties could begin to manifest at this age too. For example, you may notice that your elderly relatives always seem to be thinking about their own death or about expected loss of other loved ones.
Memory Loss
As people age, you may think that it is a normal occurrence for them to forget information that they would have once remembered. However, these early slips could be signs of a more serious problem that is coming into fruition. Your loved ones might now be forgetting about certain dates or social events, but these struggles could turn into failures to take medication or complete other necessary medical tasks.
Personal Care
If you notice that your loved ones are not taking care of themselves as they used to, this situation could also be a sign of mental health issues. For example, you may have noticed that your relatives are no longer brushing their teeth or bathing on a regular basis. Seeking professional help can uncover the root of the issue so that a plan of treatment can be devised.
Social Withdrawal
Your loved ones might also seem to not want to participate in social activities anymore. Whether they are constantly declining invites to attend family functions or they do not want to participate in community activities any longer, these decisions could be signs that a mental health issue is present.
As your loved ones age, you may be the lookout for physical health issues. While addressing these problems is imperative, so is watching for signs of mental health struggles. May is mental health awareness month, get involved to help bring awareness to this important cause!