Several illnesses are types of dementia. There is no cure for these neurodegenerative disorders, but there are treatments to help alleviate the symptoms and slow down the damage. Home-based healthcare is the best mode of memory care so you can continue enjoying living in your own home.
Dementia is a brain disorder that occurs when neurons in the brain stop functioning properly. When connections are lost brain cells die, though neuron function is commonly lost to some degree as we age. However, dementia itself doesn’t naturally occur with age.
As a result of dementia, the cognitive function continues to diminish. People who have it, therefore, require continual assistance as the condition progresses.
Dementia is a common occurrence with the following brain disorders:
Alzheimer’s Disease
The most common memory disorder associated with dementia is Alzheimer’s. In the United States, there are nearly six million people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.
Most people with Alzheimer’s are 65 years of age or older. Diagnosis earlier is considered early onset. It is the sixth leading cause of death among adults in the United States, and it is the fifth leading cause of death among U.S. adults aged 65 or older.
Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy body dementia is another very common type of dementia. This progressive disease is recognized by microscopic Lewy bodies which deposit in the brain and cause damage to brain cells.
Lewy bodies affect the person’s thinking, motor control, and memory. Like Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia causes memory loss and other symptoms of decline over time.
Mental alertness becomes dull with this condition, and the person affected might experience hallucinations. Persons with Parkinson’s disease have a higher risk of developing Lewy body dementia.
Frontotemporal Disorders
Frontotemporal disorders result from neuron damage in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. The frontal lobes are behind your forehead, and the temporal lobes are behind your ears. Neurons die and atrophy causes negative behavior affect.
It is a form of dementia that develops from multiple brain diseases known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Dementia associated with FTD is most common in people under the age of 60.
How to diagnose Dementia?
Dementia is difficult to diagnose since a number of its symptoms are also common in multiple diseases. Dementia is irreversible, but treatments can slow symptoms and progression.
The type of dementia treatment will depend on a proper diagnosis and rule out any underlying conditions (e.g. vitamin deficiency or thyroid conditions).
Memory Disorder and Dementia Care in New York City
Metro Medical Direct’s transitional care and memory disorders program assists patients dealing with memory loss and cognitive impairment and types of dementia. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a memory disorder, Dr. Raymond Zakhari, NP, will address the symptoms and the early signs of dementia.
Patients will benefit from a memory evaluation. Call us today at (917) 484-2709 for more information or to request an appointment. We look forward to partnering with you in home-based healthcare so you can continue enjoying life independently.
Also, check out Dr. Ray’s Podcast The Psychology of it All here. Also available on Apple Podcasts.
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