What can be done about senile dementia?

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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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 Zhang Hui
Neurology
51sec home-news-image

Is senile dementia hereditary?

The disease referred to as dementia mainly refers to Alzheimer's disease. Only a very small number of cases are hereditary, where patients have a certain family history caused by genetic mutations, thus having some hereditary traits. However, the vast majority of Alzheimer's cases are sporadic, unrelated to genetic mutations, and these sporadic cases are not hereditary, so there is no need to worry about transmitting it to offspring. Nevertheless, it is important to note that, with the progression of population aging, the incidence of this disease remains relatively high, especially for those over the age of 65, who need to pay close attention to this disease. If a patient exhibits a decline in memory function, do not assume it is just forgetfulness; it is crucial to visit a hospital for diagnosis and timely treatment.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 8sec home-news-image

progression of Alzheimer's disease in the elderly

The progression of dementia in the elderly mainly includes the following aspects. The first is the pre-stage of mild cognitive impairment, during which patients show no clinical symptoms. Some may only report slight memory impairment, with a possible slight decline in learning ability and a mild decrease in the capability to learn new things. As the disease progresses to the second stage, the period of mild cognitive impairment occurs, where patients will experience impaired memory, but it is not particularly obvious, and daily life is not affected at all. Then, entering the third stage, some periods of dementia occur, during which patients' memory, executive abilities, computational skills, and judgment are significantly impaired. Patients might even get lost or possibly forget their own names. As the disease further progresses into the later stages of dementia, the elderly may exhibit some psychiatric symptoms. They become delirious, talk to themselves, and may see things that do not exist. Eventually, the elderly may end up bedridden, with complications such as pulmonary infections and bedsores.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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early signs of dementia

Dementia in the elderly, mainly referring to Alzheimer's disease, is primarily characterized by a significant decline in the patient's memory and learning abilities. Of course, there are some prodromal symptoms before the onset of dementia. For example, patients might show no clinical signs of cognitive impairment or only display very slight memory decline. Patients might exhibit mild impairment in memory, a decrease in the ability to learn and retain new information, and mild impairments in other cognitive areas such as attention, executive function, language skills, and visuospatial abilities. However, these impairments are very slight and can go unnoticed by family members. Moreover, these mild impairments do not affect the patient's basic daily life abilities and do not reach the level of dementia. Patients can live independently and manage their routine daily tasks, which are mainly some of the early signs of dementia.

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Written by Zhou Yan
Geriatrics
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Causes of Alzheimer's Disease

The causes of Alzheimer's disease are related to multiple factors. For instance, advanced age is the most significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, with the incidence increasing by 5% with each additional year. Secondly, it is related to gender, with women being more prone to Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, there is a certain relationship with genetics. The fourth factor is vascular factors, such as hypercholesterolemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, diabetes, and hypertension. The fifth factor is lifestyle, including smoking, excessive drinking, diet, sleep disorders, depression, and obesity, all of which are risk factors for Alzheimer's disease.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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symptoms of senile dementia

The symptoms of dementia mainly include the following aspects: First, there is evident impairment in cognitive functions, primarily involving memory decline. Initially, it may predominantly affect recent memory, with patients often forgetting recent events. As the disease progresses, they may start forgetting events from the distant past as well. Additionally, patients may experience a decline in calculation skills, judgment, execution, and comprehension abilities; their capacity to learn and work is comprehensively impaired. Spatial dysfunction can also occur, causing disorientation and frequent episodes of getting lost. Secondly, in the later stages, patients may display changes in behavior and personality, alongside corresponding psychological symptoms. For example, the patient might become aggressive, restless, and exhibit hallucinations visually and auditorily. Wandering at night is another common symptom. Thirdly, in the later stages, patients might show clinical signs such as muscle atrophy and paralysis. Incontinence is also a common symptom.