Dementia, called a major or mild neurocognitive disorder in DSM-V, is a gradual change in areas of the brain that results in changes in memory, behavior, language, and personality that directly interfere with a person’s quality of life.
Dementia can be interpreted as a set of signs and symptoms associated with brain changes that can have different causes, most often associated with aging.
Depending on the person’s cause and symptoms, dementia can be classified into several types, the main being:
Alzheimer’s disease is the main type of dementia and is characterized by progressive degeneration of neurons and impaired cognitive functions.The development of Alzheimer’s disease is the result of a combination of factors, such as genetics, aging, physical inactivity, head trauma and smoking, for example.
Main symptoms: Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease develop in phases, with the first symptoms related to difficulty finding words and making decisions, inattention and problems of memory, concentration, attention and reasoning.Here’s how to identify symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
How the diagnosis is made: The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is made by evaluating the symptoms presented by the patient and the clinical and family history, in addition, the neurologist may request tests to identify brain changes, in addition to the cerebrospinal fluid test to check for the accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins that occurs in Alzheimer’s disease.
Reasoning tests, which should be performed by the neurologist or geriatrician, are also recommended in order to check for brain disorders.Find out how the Alzheimer’s disease test is going.
Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, after Alzheimer’s disease, and occurs when blood supply to the brain is affected by cerebrovascular or cardiovascular problems, leading to brain disturbances and, consequently, dementia.this type of dementia is a stroke. To better understand what vascular dementia is, its symptoms, and how to treat it.
Main symptoms: In this type of dementia there is a great cognitive decline, which makes it very difficult for the person to carry out simple daily activities, resulting in addiction, in addition, as the disease progresses, the person may be malnourished, more susceptible to infections and difficulty swallowing, for example.
How the diagnosis is made: The diagnosis of vascular dementia is made by neurological imaging tests, such as MAGNETIC imaging and CT, in which brain disturbances are verified by decreased blood supply to the brain.
Parkinson’s dementia occurs as Parkinson’s disease worsens as a result of changes in the brain, as there are changes related to a person’s cognition and behavior.It is most common in people over the age of 50 and its cause is not yet well established, but it is known that there is wear and tear in the areas of the brain responsible for the production of neurotransmitters.
Main symptoms: In addition to the characteristic symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as tremors and muscle stiffness, there is a progressive loss of memory and an alteration of reflexes due to the wear and tear of the brain regions responsible for the production of neurotransmitters. the first symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are.
How to make the diagnosis: Diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is made by the neurologist through the signs and symptoms presented by the patient and imaging tests, such as MAGNETIC resonance imaging and CT scan of the skull, for example.that can exclude other diagnostic hypotheses.
Senile dementia occurs most often in people over age 65 and is characterized by a progressive and irreversible loss of intellectual functions, such as memory, reasoning and language, making it one of the leading causes of disability in the elderly.Dementia is often the result of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, for example.
In addition, this may be the result of frequent use of certain medications, such as sleeping pills, antidepressants and muscle relaxants, for example.Learn more about senile dementia.
Main symptoms: The main symptoms associated with senile dementia are disorientation, memory loss, difficulty making decisions, forgetting simple things, weight loss, urinary incontinence, difficulty driving or doing activities alone, such as running, cooking or showering, for example.
How the diagnosis is made: Diagnosis of this type of dementia is done by laboratory tests, to exclude other diseases, and imaging tests, such as CT scans of the skull and MRI, for example, to evaluate the functioning of the brain.In addition, diagnosis should be made based on the patient’s complete medical history and tests to assess memory and mental state, as well as the degree of care, concentration and communication.
Frontotemporal dementia or FTD is a type of dementia characterized by atrophy and loss of nerve cells in one or both frontal and temporal lobes of the brain; the frontal lobes are responsible for regulating mood and behavior, while temporal lobes are related to vision and speech.Depending on where brain degeneration occurs, symptoms may vary.
Main symptoms: The main symptoms associated with FTD are changes in social behavior, personality variations, changes in language, with limited speech, in addition, the person can repeat phrases pronounced by others several times and not remember the names of the objects, just to describe them.
How the diagnosis is made: DFT is diagnosed through a psychiatric evaluation, which checks for behavioral changes and those related to social perception, and some tests, such as brain imaging and electroencephalogram, may be necessary. Find out how the electroencephalogram is.Fact.
Pick’s dementia, also known as PiD, is a type of frontotemporal dementia characterized by an excess of Tau proteins in neurons called Pick Cups.Excess protein usually occurs in the frontal or temporal lobes and is one of the leading causes of early memory loss., which can start from the age of 40.
Main symptoms: Pick’s main symptoms include decreased reasoning ability, difficulty speaking, mental confusion, emotional instability and personality changes.
How the diagnosis is made: Pick’s disease diagnosis is made by analyzing the behavioral symptoms of the person, which is usually done by psychological tests, as well as imaging tests, such as MRI, for example.Your doctor may be asked to evaluate the concentration of Tau protein in the fluids of your nervous system, and cerebrospinal fluid collection is indicated.
Lewy body dementia is the involvement of specific regions of the brain due to the presence of protein structures, called Lewy bodies, which develop in brain cells and cause their degeneration and death, leading to dementia.This type of dementia is more common in people over 60 years of age and can occur simultaneously with Alzheimer’s disease, for example.Learn how to identify and treat Lewy body dementia.
Main symptoms: People diagnosed with this type of dementia have as main symptoms loss of mental capacity, mental confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, tremors and muscle stiffness.Mental changes usually occur first and, as there is greater brain involvement, changes in movement appear and mental confusion becomes more severe.
How the diagnosis is made: The diagnosis of Lewy body dementia should be made by a neurologist by assessing symptoms, the patient’s and family medical history, and imaging tests, such as CT or MRI, to identify degeneration in certain parts.brain.
The association between excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages and a greater predisposition to early dementia is still being investigated, but there is already evidence that excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages interferes with memory, cognitive and behavioral abilities.Alcohol can have a detrimental effect on nerve cells, impairing their functioning and causing symptoms of dementia, for example.
In addition, if excessive alcohol consumption is associated with a diet low in vitamin B1, there may be irreversible brain damage.Find out which foods are rich in vitamin B1.
Main symptoms: Learning issues, personality changes, decreased social skills, logical thinking difficulties, and short-term memory changes are characteristic symptoms of alcohol-induced dementia.