THE SAGE CONNECTION

A look at dementia

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Dementia. The word alone can fill us with fearful dread. Normal forgetfulness can sometimes be confused with a more serious condition — especially as we grow older. It seems it is almost expected by some if you are over 65. 

My mother and younger sister were both diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. So far it seems to have passed me by, although I keep close tabs on any symptoms showing up in my everyday life. 

Recently, a friend of mine feared she had developed dementia. She had many of the symptoms, but happily, further tests revealed she had a different and treatable condition. 

The moral here is do not self-diagnosis. See your health provider and take a list of questions and worrying incidents with you. 

Number of people with dementia 

According to Alzheimer’s International, someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds. There were more than 55 million people worldwide living with dementia in 2020. According to the 2024 World Population Data Sheet, the world populations is 8.1 billion.  

According to Google this means 8,045,000,000 of us don’t have it. 

Overview 

Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities. In people who have dementia, the symptoms interfere with their daily lives. Dementia isn't one specific disease. Several diseases can cause dementia. 

Dementia generally involves memory loss. It's often one of the early symptoms of the condition. But having memory loss alone doesn't mean you have dementia. Memory loss can have different causes. 

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, but there are other causes of dementia. Depending on the cause, some dementia, like the kind my friend struggled with, might be reversible with treatment. 

Causes of dementia include 

  • Infections and immune disorders: Dementia-like symptoms can result from a fever or other side effects of the body's attempt to fight off an infection. Multiple sclerosis and other conditions caused by the body's immune system attacking nerve cells also can cause dementia.
  • Metabolic or endocrine problems: People with thyroid problems and low blood sugar can develop dementia-like symptoms or other personality changes. This also is true for people who have too little or too much sodium or calcium, or problems absorbing vitamin B-12.
  • Low levels of certain nutrients: Not getting enough of certain vitamins or minerals in your diet can cause dementia symptoms. This includes not getting enough thiamin, also known as vitamin B1, which is common in people with alcohol use disorder. It also includes not getting enough vitamin B6, vitamin B12, copper or vitamin E. Not drinking enough liquids, leading to dehydration, also can cause dementia symptoms.
  • Medicine side effects: Side effects of medicines, a reaction to a medicine or an interaction of several medicines can cause dementia-like symptoms.
  • Subdural bleeding: Bleeding between the surface of the brain and the covering over the brain can be common in older adults after a fall. Subdural bleeding can cause symptoms similar to those of dementia.
  • Brain tumors: Rarely, dementia can result from damage caused by a brain tumor.
  • Normal-pressure hydrocephalus: This condition is a buildup of fluid in the cavities in the brain known as ventricles. It can result in walking problems, loss of bladder control and memory loss.

Risk factors 

Many factors can eventually contribute to dementia. Some factors, such as age, can't be changed. You can address other factors to reduce your risk. 

Risk factors that can't be changed 

  • Age: The risk of dementia rises as you age, especially after age 65. However, dementia isn't a typical part of aging. Dementia also can occur in younger people.
  • Family History: Having a family history of dementia puts you at greater risk of developing the condition. However, many people with a family history never develop symptoms, and many people without a family history do. There are tests to determine whether you have certain genetic changes that may increase your risk.
  • Down syndrome: By middle age, many people with Down syndrome develop early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Risk factors you can change 

You might be able to control the following risk factors for dementia. 

  • Diet and exercise: Research has found that people at higher risk of dementia, who followed a healthy lifestyle, lowered their risk of cognitive decline. They ate a diet that included fish, fruits, vegetables and oils. They also exercised, had cognitive training, and participated in social activities. While no specific diet is known to reduce dementia risk, research indicates that those who follow a Mediterranean style diet rich in produce, whole grains, nuts and seeds have better cognitive function.
  • Drinking too much alcohol: Drinking large amounts of alcohol has long been known to cause brain changes. Several large studies and reviews found that alcohol use disorders were linked to an increased risk of dementia, particularly early-onset dementia.
  • Cardiovascular risk factors: This includes obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and the buildup of fats in the artery walls, known as atherosclerosis. Having high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), in particular, is a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. Diabetes and smoking also are cardiovascular risk factors. Having diabetes can increase the risk of dementia, especially if it's poorly controlled. Smoking might increase the risk of developing dementia and blood vessel disease.
  • Hearing loss or vision loss that is not treated: Having hearing loss is associated with a higher risk of dementia. The worse the hearing loss, the higher the risk. Research also suggests that vision loss can raise the risk of dementia, while treating vision loss can lower the risk.
  • Depression: Although not yet well understood, late-life depression might indicate the development of dementia.
  • Air pollution: Studies in animals have indicated that air pollution particulates can speed degeneration of the nervous system. And human studies have found that air pollution exposure — particularly from traffic exhaust and burning wood — is associated with greater dementia risk.
  • Head trauma: People who've had a severe head trauma have a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease. Several large studies found that in people age 50 years or older who had a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease increased. The risk increases in people with more severe and multiple TBIs. Some studies indicate that the risk may be greatest within the first six months to two years after the TBI.
  • Sleep symptoms: People who have sleep apnea and other sleep disturbances might be at higher risk of developing dementia.
  • Low levels of certain vitamins and nutrients: Low levels of vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folate can increase the risk of dementia.
  • Medicines that can worsen memory: These include sleep aids that contain diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and medicines to treat urinary urgency, such as oxybutynin (Ditropan XL).

 Also limit sedatives and sleeping tablets. Talk to a health care professional and/or pharmacist about whether any of the medicines you take might make your memory worse. 

There is more, of course, much more to know about dementia. The information I have shared with you here is from the Mayo Clinic at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352013 

And the Alzheimer’s Disease International website at https://www.alzint.org/about/dementia-facts-figures/types-of-dementia/ 

Kathleen Anderson writes her column each week from her home in Olympia. Contact her at kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comments. 

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