What are the symptoms and causes of dementia? How is it different from Alzheimer's?

When dementia develops, memory impairment, etc. occurs, which interferes with daily life. It is easy to confuse with 'forgetfulness' caused by aging, but dementia is a disease, not aging. The incidence increases with age, with an incidence of 1 in 7 people over 65 years of age. It is estimated that in the near future it will be 1 in 5. It is also a disease that anyone can get because there is a risk of getting it even in the working age generation. Here's what to do if you or your family thinks you may have dementia. It is a disease, so early detection and treatment are important.

What is dementia?

What kind of disease is dementia?

Dementia refers to a condition in which cognitive function or life function is deteriorated due to a disease or disorder of the brain, not a specific disease name. It refers to a condition that interferes with daily life or work due to cognitive decline. As humans get older, they tend to become forgetful and have poor memory. This is due to brain aging. Dementia, on the other hand, is different from aging because it occurs due to the destruction of nerve cells in the brain. In addition to forgetfulness and poor memory, it can also cause delusions of harm or wandering.

What are the specific symptoms of dementia?

Specific symptoms of dementia include: It may be indistinguishable from aging and is likely to be overlooked at an early stage.

• have severe forgetfulness
• I don't know the time or place
• deterioration of judgment
• unable to do personal work

In addition to these core symptoms, there are also psychological symptoms such as anger, blocking, and thinking that someone has stolen your belongings.

What causes dementia?

It is known that the main cause of dementia is damage to the brain nerves. There are several types of dementia, among which Alzheimer's dementia is famous. It is known that Alzheimer's dementia is caused by atrophy of the brain caused by the deformation of the cranial nerves. The reality is that there is no explanation as to why the cranial nerves are deformed. However, it is thought to be related to lifestyle-related diseases such as high blood pressure. Cerebrovascular dementia also occurs when nerve cells are damaged by cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage. There are many different causes of dementia.

Do you necessarily get sick when you become an elderly person?

Dementia becomes more prevalent with each passing year. However, older people do not necessarily develop dementia. It is estimated that there are approximately 6 million people with dementia over the age of 65. In the future, it is predicted that the number will exceed 7 million, which is 1 in 5 people over the age of 65. In other words, 4 out of 5 elderly people do not develop dementia. Conversely, younger people are also at risk for dementia. Dementia under the age of 65 is called juvenile dementia. The average age of onset is around 50 years of age.

I've heard that the number of people with juvenile dementia is increasing.

Juvenile dementia is a generic term for dementia in people under the age of 65. Although the causes of young dementia are diverse, Alzheimer's dementia is reported the most. Compared with dementia in the elderly, the rate of frontotemporal dementia, cerebrovascular dementia, and alcoholic dementia is high. Although it is reported that the incidence rate of juvenile dementia is increasing considerably, the number of patients is decreasing. This is due to the declining population of the younger generation.

Differences from Forgetfulness or Alzheimer's

How are forgetfulness and dementia different?

Everyone develops forgetfulness as they age. This is due to a decline in the ability to regenerate memories. But there is awareness of forgetfulness. And if you have a hint, you can remember what you have forgotten. On the other hand, in dementia, the memory function is impaired. So it becomes difficult to remember new things. Because it is not remembered, even if there is a hint, it does not come to mind. Also, in the case of dementia, there is no awareness of 'forgetting/not remembering'.

I thought dementia = Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's disease is officially called Alzheimer's dementia. Alzheimer's is one of the most common types of dementia. About 60% of dementia is reported as Alzheimer's. It is known to be caused by atrophy of the brain, and forgetfulness is a typical symptom. Although the exact cause is not known, it is thought to be related to lifestyle-related diseases, smoking, drinking, and stress. But you can't expect it to get better.

There are other types of dementia other than Alzheimer's.

In addition to Alzheimer's dementia, cerebrovascular dementia, esophageal type dementia, and frontotemporal dementia are typical dementias.

Cerebrovascular dementia occurs when nerve cells or neural networks are damaged by cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage. It is characterized by more gait disorders than Alzheimer's. Levy's solid dementia is characterized by vision and muscle stiffness. In frontotemporal dementia, personality changes and a lack of social skills appear. Because each symptom is different, it is necessary to see a specialist for treatment and care.

What do you do when you or your family thinks you may have dementia?

Can dementia detect itself?

There are many people who realize that 'maybe dementia' when the forgetfulness becomes worse as they get older. However, the reality is that few people visit medical institutions on their own. There are also people who are reckless and do not admit that they have dementia. It is inevitable that he will not admit it because he has forgotten that he was originally forgetful. It is also true that there are prejudices against dementia. The 'Dementia Checklist' is publicly available on the Internet. If it is difficult for you to go to a medical institution, please do a self-check first.

What should I do if I suspect a family member has dementia?

If you suspect that your family member has dementia, first consult a specialist. It may be another disease that has similar symptoms to dementia. Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia is necessary in order to receive appropriate treatment and care. In a nutshell, even if it is dementia, the symptoms are different depending on the type, and the content of care is also thought to be different. It is important to know the types and characteristics of dementia in order to have a comfortable life for you and your family.

Early detection and treatment of dementia is important.

While forgetfulness due to aging is not a disease, dementia is a disease caused by brain disorders. Therefore, early detection and treatment are very important. This is because early detection allows you to quickly start cognitive training or lifestyle re-examination. I think that if you start early, you will be able to spend a long time on your own. There are also some types of dementia that can be cured with early treatment. Dementia caused by causes such as chronic subdural hematoma, hypothyroidism, and encephalitis can be cured by treating the original disease. In particular, idiopathic hydrocephalus is known as 'resolving dementia'. Idiopathic hydrocephalus is a common disease in the elderly and causes cognitive impairment or gait disturbance.

It is believed that early detection and treatment of dementia can make life easier in the future. Do not miss the changes in your daily life, and if you have any questions, seek medical treatment at a medical institution. In addition, Alzheimer's dementia and cerebrovascular dementia account for most of the dementia, but there are many other types of dementia. Therefore, if you are going to see a doctor, you should see a dementia specialist.

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In an aging society, it is estimated that the number of dementia patients will increase every year. In order to prevent dementia, it is important to treat lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Let's take care of moderate exercise, a balanced diet, and good quality sleep. If you are concerned about anything, we recommend that you consult a specialist immediately.