Senile dementia is characterized by progressive and irreversible loss of intellectual functions, such as memory impairment, reasoning and language, and a loss of ability to make movements and recognize objects.
Senile dementia occurs most often from the age of 65 and is one of the leading causes of disability in the elderly. The memory loss is that the person at sea is able to orient himself in time and space, easily has trouble recognizing bad people, leaving the person less and less able to understand what is happening in his environment.
- These are several symptoms of senile dementia and dependence on the cause of the disease.
- Which can take years to develop.
- With the most common symptoms being:.
Memory loss, confusion and disorientation;
Difficulty understanding verbal or written communication;
Difficulty making decisions;
It is difficult to recognize family and friends;
I forget common facts, such as the day it is;
Personality change and critical sense;
Agitation and night walks;
Lack of appetite, weight loss, urinary and fecal incontinence;
Tips missing in family settings;
Repetitive movements and speeches;
Difficult to drive, buy alone, cook and personal care;
All of these symptoms will lead to progressive dependence and can lead to depression, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, mistrust, delusions and hallucinations.
Causes that can lead to the development of senile dementia include
Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that causes progressive degeneration of brain neurons and impaired cognitive functions, such as memory, attention, language, orientation, perception, reasoning and thinking.
The causes are not yet known, but studies suggest an inherited factor, especially when it begins in middle age. Learn more about this disease.
It has a faster onset, and is associated with multiple strokes, usually accompanied by high pressure and shocks. Brain engagement is most evident in attention, such as processing speed in previous executive functions, such as movement and emotional response. Learn more about stroke and how to avoid it.
Some medications taken regularly may increase your risk of developing dementia. Some examples of medications that may increase the risk if taken frequently, antihistamines, sedatives, antidepressants, medications used for heart and gastrointestinal problems and muscle relaxants.
There are other diseases that could lead to the development of senile dementia, such as Lewy body dementia, Korsakoff syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Pick’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and brain tumors.
Diagnosis of senile disease is usually made with problems of hematology, kidney, hepatic and thyroid function, serum levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid, syphilis serology, fasting glucose, skull CT and MRI.
Your doctor should perform a complete medical history, a memory and mental state assessment test, an assessment of the level of care and concentration, and problem-solving skills and level of communication.
Diagnosis of senile dementia is made by excluding other diseases with similar symptoms.
Diagnosis of senile dementia is made by excluding other diseases with similar symptoms.
Treatment of senile dementia at an early stage includes medications such as: acetylcholinesa inhibitors, antidepressants, mood stabilizers or neuroleptics; physical therapy and occupational therapy exercises; advice for family members and caregivers.
Currently, it is preferable to keep the senile dementia patient to a favorable and familiar degree, as long as it remains active, participating to the greatest extent possible in daily activities and communication in order to preserve the capacities of the individual.