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Dementia is a classification of symptoms as opposed to a specific condition. It is an umbrella term for several indicators of a decline in thinking, which can include age-related symptoms like forgetfulness. But being forgetful doesn’t mean you have Alzheimer’s disease, or even dementia.
As people age, it’s natural to become a little more forgetful as brain cells die off. But for seniors who begin to exhibit several examples of decline in thinking, it’s a good idea to see a doctor.
The most common form of chronic, progressive dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which affects about 5.4 million people in America, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Scientists still don’t know what causes Alzheimer’s disease. Plaques called beta-amyloid proteins often form in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as chunks of tau protein. Genetics is also believed to play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, our genes are believed to play a role in several forms of dementia, including some rare dementias that affect younger people, such as frontotemporal dementia.
Frontotemporal dementia occurs as the frontal lobes of the brain begin to disintegrate. When this happens, people with the disease lose the ability to carry out tasks. This is known as executive function. Eventually, people with frontotemporal dementia forget how to swallow, and die.
In younger people with frontotemporal dementia, early symptoms often include impaired ability to speak or understand language. This is known as aphasia-variant frontotemporal dementia, and it can affect people as young as in their twenties. This type of dementia is rapidly progressing, and some people with the disease die in just a few years.
In older people, such as those in their 40s, symptoms often include outrageous, inappropriate behaviors. This is known as behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia, and these people do not develop the deadly aphasia symptoms until later.
Most people with behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia do not live a normal lifespan.
Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia next to Alzheimer’s. As the name implies, vascular dementia occurs when there isn’t enough blood getting to the brain.
Vascular dementia can be the outcome of a stroke, a blocked carotid artery, high blood pressure, or other problems. Vascular dementia is not necessarily permanent or progressive.
In addition to vascular dementia, there are other dementias that are not necessarily progressive and may even be reversed, such as alcoholic dementia, or Korsakoff syndrome.
Korsakoff syndrome is caused by a deficiency in B1, or thiamine, commonly associated with drinking too much alcohol. Staggering, mumbling, and involuntary eye movements can mean more than intoxication. It can be a dangerous brain disorder resulting in memory loss.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, not much data exists about outcomes of people who suffer Korsakoff syndrome. However, by some estimates, about 1 in 4 people recover. Heavy drinkers sometimes take thiamine to prevent the disorder.
Lewy bodies are protein chunks found in the brains of people not only diagnosed with Lewy body but also with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Problems with mobility, rigidity, and spasms are common symptoms.
While not specifically classified as dementia, many people with Parkinson’s disease develop dementia symptoms. Parkinson’s generally is considered a mobility disorder that commonly involves tremors.
According to Johns Hopkins University, Parkinson’s is caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is considered a “feel good” chemical.
Permanent brain damage can cause long-term dementia symptoms, including anger, depression, and memory loss. Motor skills also are impacted, and people with traumatic brain injury may have difficulty speaking.
Mixed dementia is just that; a combination of dementia symptoms that do not necessarily fall into one of the above-mentioned categories.
Huntington’s disease occurs in people with a genetic mutation. Cells in the brain and spine rapidly begin to disintegrate. By 30 or 40, dementia can be severe and thinking severely impacted.
This form of dementia comes without warning in people not known to be at risk for dementia. Scientists think the disease may be caused by a foreign protein. The disease can be inherited or even contracted by exposure to infected brain or nervous system tissue.
Dementia medications tend to work best when used during an early stage of the disease. Donepezil (Aricept), Rivastigmine (Exelon), and Galantamine (Razadyne) are three commonly prescribed medications. Sometimes doctors prescribe both at once.
The medications are in a class called cholinesterase inhibitors. Cholinesterase inhibitors work by boosting a chemical called acetylcholine, which keeps brain cells alive longer.
For later stages, memantine (Namenda) and donepezil (Namzaric) often are prescribed, together and separately. They also can be prescribed as a second medication to a patient already on a cholinesterase inhibitor.
Side effects can include frequent bowel movements, including diarrhea, and may make symptoms of confusion worse. This can be frustrating for families who sometimes feel hopeless with the situation, particularly if the patient is unruly, or, conversely, depressed and will not eat.
In many instances, the loved ones of people with dementia look for natural dementia remedies. Many also look to clinical trials. You can learn about clinical trials for people with dementia through the Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch service.
Although there needs to be much more research on using natural dementia remedies, a few natural solutions have proven their mettle at least to some degree in both animal and human studies.
Green tea long has been thought to prevent aging, but studies have shown mixed results when it comes to whether it is effective at treating dementia, according to a 2016 review of existing research published in Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Green tea contains antioxidants known as polyphenols in addition to caffeine and the amino acid theanine, which can help reduce anxiety by crossing the blood-brain barrier and increasing activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.
The results of a 2012 clinical trial of more than 400 volunteers published in Pharmacopsychiatry showed gingko biloba improved learning, psychiatric symptoms, and overall function in both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia patients.
The subjects in the study took 240 milligrams of gingko biloba extract daily or a placebo. Improvements in function were based on scores of activities of daily living, or ADL, assessments.
Laboratory studies have shown gingko biloba works both as an antioxidant which attacks free radicals that damage cells and as an anti-inflammatory, according to a 2016 review of research published in Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Turmeric is a popular Indian spice celebrated for its anti-inflammatory effects. It is known to treat several ailments in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.
In laboratory and animal studies, turmeric has been shown to keep toxins from killing brain cells through several different mechanisms, according to the review in Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
In a small 2008 clinical trial of only 22 Alzheimer’s patients, turmeric proved to improve dementia symptoms slightly at maximum doses of 4 grams daily. The study appeared in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacopsychology.
A 2013 review of six clinical trials treating seniors with Brahmi at a dose of 350 to 450 milligrams per day showed that while Brahmi does help with secondary memory, there is not enough evidence to show it helps with learning and understanding. The review appeared in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Licorice root is rich with flavonoids known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In laboratory studies, licorice root has been shown to keep key oxidative processes of the brain working properly, according to a 2016 review of research published in Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
In addition to natural dementia remedies, dementia lifestyle changes also can prolong the progression of the disease.
There are lots of ways to prevent or prolong the onset of dementia symptoms, and even the worsening of them.
The old saying “If you don’t use it, you lose it” holds very true of the human brain. Here are some dementia lifestyle changes worth trying to keep your brain young.
If you enjoy word finds, work them. If you like to argue with the women on The Talk, do. Read books. Go places. Talk to people.
A 2017 study in Germany showed that three 30-minute sessions per week of bicycle exercise among seniors 65 and older improved “brain metabolism.” In other words, it kept brains free of indicators of dementia-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
The researchers assessed the brains using MRI imaging technology before and after subjects exercised. The paper appeared in the journal Nature.
Dementia-fighting foods listed by Mayo Clinic include those found in the Mediterranean Diet, such as fruits, vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids from nuts and fish, and whole grains.
Smoking reduces the amount of blood going to the brain, making vascular dementia risks worse. Smoking and drinking both increase the risk of high blood pressure, which scientists also believe may lead to dementia.
Emerging research shows that vitamin D may improve cognition and stave off dementia. A recent review published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease cited extensive animal studies but said more human trials are needed.
Regardless, vitamin D can be obtained by being outdoors in the sunlight (not to the point of sun overexposure) or through nutritional supplements. Vitamin D also is found in fatty fish such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon.
With 10,000 Baby Boomers per day turning 65, scientists know that finding solutions to dementia is one of the world’s top public health concerns.
