Dementia

Dementia is mostly a disease of the elderly but has been known to occur in any age. It is associated with chronic decline in intellectual function. To the young population it is usually associated with a structural brain damage or dysfunction either chemically, metabolic, infections or trauma.

In the elderly it occurs usually after the age of 65 but most noticeably after age 80. The pluralities of the Nursing home population are mostly demented patients.

There are many causes of Dementia, prominent among them are:

• Severe vitamin deficiency
• Endocrine disorders
• Neurological diseases such as
  • Alzheimer
  • ALS (Amyotrophic (Lou-Gehrig Disease) Lateral Sclerosi) s
  • MS (Multiple Sclerosis)
• Parkinson Disease
• Brain Infections

Severely depressed elderly patients have often being dismissed as demented therefore depression has to be ruled out first in patients being considered as demented.

Treatment: The first treatment option is to try and identify an underlining cause if any possible and then try to treat that underlining cause and associated conditions. Conditions such as aggression should be treated with appropriate medications.

Marked mental stimulation via various modalities such as music, lights, children are encouraged. Having done all above social service help would be of great help.