Dementia

Dementia

Introduction

Dementia is a type of syndrome (the group of associated symptoms). This syndrome is associated with the enduring decline of the mind and the abilities of brain. These abilities include:

Thinking

Judgment

Memory

Understanding

Language

People with the syndrome of dementia might also become lethargic; they have issues in controlling their behavior or emotions appropriately in societal situations. The personality aspects of these people having syndrome of dementia might change and they might hear or see things that the other people do not see or hear, or they can have forged beliefs. The majority of the dementia cases are caused due to any kind of damage to the brain structure. People with this syndrome of dementia generally need aid from relatives or friends; they also need help from relatives or friends in decision making.

Etiology of Dementia

There are several forms of dementia. The most important forms are:

Alzheimer's disease

In this type of disease, the small protein clumps that are called plaques, these plaques are begun to grow around the cells of brain. This development of plaques disorders the normal functioning of brain.

Vascular Dementia

In this type of dementia, the problems with the circulation of blood cause the inability of the section of brain to receive enough oxygen and blood.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies

In this type of dementia with lewy bodies, the irregular structures, which are called lewy bodies, grow within the brain.

Frontotemporal Dementia

In this type of dementia, the temporal and frontal lobes (that are two main sections in the brain) start to shrink. Not like other dementia types, the frontotemporal dementia mostly develops in those people who are under that age of 65. The frontotemporal dementia is much rarer as compared to other dementia types.

Alzheimer's disease is very common type of dementia. The Alzheimer's disease affects for about 5 percent of the people that are above the age of 65. This disease occurs usually with the age development, affecting for about 20 percent to 50 percent of the people that are above the age of 80 ears. For about 5 percent to 10 percent of the dementia is in the from of vascular dementia, which is also termed as the dementia that is caused due to any kind of stroke. From the overall dementia cases, for about 10 percent of the cases are caused as a result of combination of several strokes and Alzheimer's disease.

Prevalence of Dementia

About 2 million of the people in U.S experience severe form of dementia and the other 1 to 6 million of the people suffer from slight to average from of dementia. Among these people for about 5 to 8 percent of the people are those who are above the 65 years of age. These people suffer from various types of the dementia and the number of these people doubles after every five years above the age of 65.

The dementia prevalence has increased in recent decades, whether due to better awareness and much more proper diagnosis, or due to increased life expectancy has formed a larger population of older people, who are in ...