Dementia

There are different causes that lead to dementia. Vascular dementia can occur if the brain is exposed to multiple strokes. Also, some degenerative neurological diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and certain types of multiple sclerosis can cause dementia. In addition, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and some central nervous system infections, such as meningitis (inflammation of the brain membrane), can trigger the development of dementia.  

Other causes include traumatic injury to the brain caused by falls or motor vehicle accidents, excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs, depression, a family history of dementia and increasing age. Some diseases that increase the risk of dementia include diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Also, the build-up of excess fluid in the brain due to infections or tumours can promote the development of dementia.

Dementia affects a person’s ability to live safely and independently, and the symptoms worsen with time. Symptoms may include:

• Changes in mood, behaviour and personality
• Difficulty completing familiar jobs
• Difficulty in tackling problems
• Loss of interest in work and social activities
• Memory loss that affects day-to-day performance
• Misplacing things
• Poor judgement
• Problems in communication
• Uncertainty about time and place

Some treatments exist to reduce symptoms and treat underlying causes of dementia. These include:

• Appropriate care facilities
• Behavioural therapy
• Counselling
• Education about the illness
• Eliminating alcohol and drug consumption
• Medications to treat illnesses that trigger the onset of dementia

• Decreased lifespan
• Delusions and hallucinations
• Depression
• Not enough nutrition
• Increased risk of infections anywhere in the body
• Loss of the ability for social interactions
• Loss of the ability to live safely and independently, and care for themselves
• Side effects of medications
• Sleep difficulties