Dementia
Dementia, a progressive brain dysfunction, leads to a gradually increasing restriction of daily activities. The most well-known type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia not only affects patients, but also those surrounding them, as most patients require care in the long-term.
Dementia is the loss of mental functions such as thinking, memory, and reasoning that is severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily functioning. Dementia is not a disease itself, but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. Symptoms can also include changes in personality, mood, and behavior.
In some cases, the dementia can be treated and cured because the cause is treatable. Examples of this include dementia caused by substance abuse (illicit drugs and alcohol), combinations of prescription medications, and hormone or vitamin imbalances. In some cases, although the person may appear to have dementia, a severe depression can be causing the symptoms. This is known as pseudo-dementia (false dementia) and is highly treatable. In most cases, however, a true dementia cannot be cured.
Treatments available now cannot reverse the brain damage caused by a stroke once the injury is more than a few hours old. The goals of treatment are preventing new strokes by enhancing vascular health, slowing the progression of cognitive decline, and treating the symptoms related to it. Treatments include medication, behavioral interventions, and surgery.
If you are concerned or have questions about yourself or a colleague, LAP can provide a confidential consultation.