What is dementia called?

Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
Updated on September 06, 2024
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The commonly mentioned senile dementia, also known as Alzheimer's disease, is the most common type of dementia. Its incidence generally increases in people over the age of 65 and continues to increase with age. It is a degenerative disease, with risk factors including age and gender, usually higher in women than in men. It is also related to educational level, whether there has been trauma, genetics, thyroid function, exposure to toxic substances, as well as vascular factors. Diabetes and depression are also risk factors for senile dementia.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What to do about senile dementia?

For patients with dementia, if the diagnosis is confirmed, the recommended treatment is as follows: First, it is very important to pay attention to nursing care. Patients with dementia often get lost, which can lead to a series of dangers, so it is necessary to take good care of them to prevent getting lost. Secondly, for the improvement of cognitive functions, it is recommended to use some cholinesterase inhibitors, which can increase the level of acetylcholine in the brain and improve the patient's cognitive functions to a certain extent. Third, symptomatic treatment should also be provided. Since patients with dementia often exhibit psychiatric symptoms, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, appropriate antipsychotic medications can be used for treatment. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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Mild manifestations of senile dementia

Mild dementia, especially in its early stages, often goes unnoticed by family members. The initial symptoms generally include being particularly forgetful. This particularly affects short-term memory; for example, a person might repeat what was just said or be repeatedly clumsy in daily tasks, sometimes losing keys or forgetting to turn off the stove while cooking. This might seem like a lack of concentration, but in reality, it is due to forgetfulness. Emotionally, individuals who were once lively might become indifferent or detached, sometimes showing signs of excitement or agitation. Behaviorally, there can be changes, such as previously generous individuals becoming stingy. Interests and hobbies that were once loved may no longer hold appeal, and individuals may become lethargic and less concerned with cleanliness and personal appearance.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Late-stage symptoms of dementia

In the later stages of dementia, symptoms become very severe. Patients experience significant impairment in memory function, forgetting not only recent events but also events from the past. Additionally, patients show obvious impairments in visuospatial abilities, having trouble locating the bathroom in their own home, and often getting lost when they go out. There is also a noticeable change in behavior, with patients exhibiting aggression, cursing, and inappropriate actions like urinating or defecating in random places. Some patients may experience recurrent visual and auditory hallucinations. As the disease progresses, elderly patients may eventually become bedridden for life, not interacting with anyone, remaining silent, and refusing to eat. They ultimately may die from complications such as lung infections, urinary tract infections, malnutrition, and bedsores. Therefore, the symptoms of dementia in its later stages are quite severe, with cognitive impairments, abnormal mental and behavioral symptoms, and various infections all posing serious threats to the health of the elderly.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What can be done about senile dementia?

Once a patient is diagnosed with dementia, it is crucial to promptly visit a hospital for treatment. The doctor will conduct some auxiliary examinations based on the patient's medical history to rule out other diseases. If the diagnosis confirms dementia, firstly, family members must pay attention to care. The living abilities of patients with dementia decline significantly, and they may experience wandering, thus enhancing caregiving to prevent any accidents in the elderly; Secondly, it is essential to encourage the patient to engage in physical activities. Exercise can slow down the progression of aging and delay the further deterioration of dementia; Thirdly, it is vital to enhance communication for the patient, encouraging them to converse more with others, as interaction can slow down the progression of dementia; Fourthly, some specific medications should be administered for treatment. These drugs mainly include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists, which current research confirms can alleviate certain symptoms of dementia.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
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Is spinal bifida prone to dementia?

Spina bifida is a common congenital malformation caused by incomplete closure of the vertebral canal during embryonic development. If the spina bifida is occult, it does not affect anything and does not cause dementia. If it is overt spina bifida, it can be diagnosed through physical examination, and confirmed with radiographic examination, CT, or MRI. Typically, the patient has a swelling along the midline of the back, which grows as they age. The cystic tension increases when the child cries, and may be accompanied by varying degrees of flaccid paralysis of the lower limbs and incontinence. Occult spina bifida generally has no symptoms and does not require intervention. However, overt spina bifida is best treated surgically, or if the occult spina bifida is accompanied by spinal cord tethering, then surgical treatment is recommended as it would be for all cases of overt spina bifida. In cases where the cyst wall is very thin and ruptured, emergency surgery is necessary and can be curative. For other cases, surgery within one to three months is optimal to prevent aggravation of the condition due to cyst rupture. Generally, adult patients with stable conditions in recent years may not need surgery.