With the increasing number of dementia patients, the public’s attention to dementia has gradually increased. Let us give you 5 common questions about dementia, such as is dementia the same as Alzheimer’s disease? How Long Can You Live With Dementia? Answers to all your doubts about dementia.

Five Common Problems with Dementia

1. Is dementia the same as Alzheimer’s disease?

Many people use Alzheimer’s disease to mean dementia, but Alzheimer’s disease is actually just one of the types of dementia.

Dementia can be roughly divided into two types: degenerative and vascular, but there are also patients with two or more causes of dementia simultaneously. The following are the main types of dementia:

1. Degenerative dementia
   

   It is caused by the degeneration or disease of brain nerve cells, but the actual cause is unknown. Current research believes that its cause is related to genes, head trauma, heart and brain health.

   1. Alzheimer’s disease: The most common type of dementia, about 50-60% of dementia patients belong to this type. The early symptoms are memory loss, unable to recognize time, place and people.
   2. Frontotemporal lobe degeneration: Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, which is memory deterioration, the early symptoms of frontotemporal lobe degeneration are behavioral abnormalities, executive function deficits, and language impairments.
   3. Dementia with Lewy Bodies: The second most common degenerative dementia. In addition to cognitive impairment, patients may have body stiffness, hand tremors, and unsteady walking in the early stage, accompanied by more obvious symptoms. Psychiatric symptoms, such as mood swings and hallucinations.
2. Vascular dementia
   Poor blood circulation in the brain caused by stroke or chronic cerebrovascular disease causes brain cell death and mental retardation, which is the second leading cause of dementia.Generally, if a stroke patient survives, about 5% of the patients will have dementia symptoms, and 25% of the patients will suffer from dementia for 5 years or more. Its characteristics include sudden deterioration of cognitive function, slow movement and mental symptoms

2. Can dementia be cured?

The treatment of dementia can be divided into drug treatment and non-drug treatment. Neither of them can prevent or restore the damaged brain cells. They can only improve the symptoms or slow down the deterioration of the disease. cured disease.

However, through drug and non-drug therapy, such as cognitive training and nostalgia therapy, the disease can be effectively controlled, the time for patients to be sent to hospice centers can be delayed, the quality of life of patients can be improved, and the burden on caregivers can be reduced.

3. How long can people live with dementia?

Depending on factors such as the patient’s age, timing of treatment, care status, and progression rate of the disease (mild, moderate, severe, and end-stage), the number of years of survival after the onset of dementia varies, but the average is about 5 to 8 years.

Since the self-care ability and physiological functions of dementia patients will gradually degenerate, the age of onset plays a key factor in the survival of dementia. Those 65-70 years can live an average of 10-11 years, and those over 90 years will be shortened to 10 years. 3~4 years. As dementia cannot be cured, early diagnosis and treatment can effectively control the disease and delay the progression of the disease.

4.Can dementia be prevented?

The causes of dementia are complex. Like cancer, it is difficult to attribute it to a single cause, and the disease takes a long time to evolve. Taking Alzheimer’s disease as an example, patients may have brain lesions as early as 20 years before the disease onset. Therefore, early prevention and avoiding bad luck can prevent problems before they happen and reduce the risk of dementia. The key points of dementia prevention are listed below:

• Increase brain protection factor

1. 1. 1. Regular exercise
      2. Engage in mental tasks (calculations, brainstorming, scheduling)
      3. Adopt a Mediterranean diet
      4. Increase social interaction (eating with friends, participating in interest clubs, participating in volunteer activities)
      5. Maintain a healthy weight

• Avoid dementia risk factors

1. 1. Three highs (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar)
   2. Head trauma
   3. Smokes
   4. Melancholy
   5. Hearing impairment

5. Are you prone to dementia or Alzheimer’s when you get older?

Since the development process of dementia before the onset is long and the causes are complex, although age is not a causative factor of dementia, it is the most important indirect factor.

However, even if you are old, you are in good health, do not have the three highs (patients with the three highs are at high risk of stroke, and stroke can lead to vascular dementia), and taking preventive measures can effectively reduce the risk of dementia. risk of disease.

Books for Taking Care Dementia

What I Wish People Knew About Dementia

What can a diseased brain tell us about being human, living our own lives better and helping those with dementia get the best from theirs?
When Wendy Mitchell was diagnosed with young-onset dementia at the age of fifty-eight, her brain was overwhelmed with images of the last stages of the disease – those familiar tropes, shortcuts and clichés that we are fed by the media, or even our own health

Somebody I used to Know

How do you build a life when all that you know is changing? How do you conceive of love when you can no longer recognise those who mean the most to you? A phenomenal memoir, Somebody I Used to Know is both a heart-rending tribute to the woman Wendy Mitchell once was, and a brave affirmation of the woman dementia has seen her become.

Understanding Behaviour Dementia Challenges

As people grow older, their physical and psychological needs become more complex. Unmet needs often result in challenging behaviour, particularly if the person suffers from dementia. Ian Andrew James looks beyond the behaviour itself to the causes behind it, suggesting both medical and non-pharmalogical approaches to lessening suffering and improving quality of life

Supplement to Improve Dementia

Supplement for Brain Health

Most Useful Accessories For Dementia

Wireless Floor Pressure Mat & Pager Set

• Used at home to prevent falls & wandering
• Stepping on the mat will cause the bleeper pager to activate from anywhere in the home
• Can be placed next to a bed. Anti-slip base included.
• Bleeper pager vibrates, flashes and bleeps

Talking Photos Album

• Record a separate message on each page using the built-in microphone. Re-record as many times as you wish.
• Each of the 20 pages will hold a single photo in a clear pocket, 5×7 inches, (125x175mm). Each page has an individual Play/Pause button.
• Total recording time of 6 minutes, set at 18 seconds per page. Playback via the built-in speaker.
• Bring your memories back to life by adding a new dimension to your photographs. Create your own talking books for speech and language projects in school. Create speaking and listening activities and display classroom projects.
• Also ideal for people with Dementia, Alzheimer’s or Huntington’s Disease. Display family photos, audible instructions, medication management, daily reminders and procedures.

CPR Guardian III Personal Alarm for Elderly

• FREE SETUP AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT – The CPR Guardian Watch arrives with a pre-installed SIM which provides maximum mobile coverage at all times by intelligently switching between mobile networks based on the best available signal; Please check you have a 2G signal and you activate the SIM card by signing up for either the Bronze, Silver or Gold service plans; Just contact us on the number on the box and we will do everything for you
• FALL DETECTION – is designed to automatically detect a serious fall and raise an alert, Confirmation that an alert has been raised will be given by the watch asking if the user is OK. To cancel an alarm, the user must press NO on the watch screen
• SOS EMERGENCY ASSIST BUTTON – In the event of an emergency, the wearer will be able to voice call and alert the designated SOS contact by holding the red SOS button; The GPS location of the wearer will also be sent to the Guardian Monitoring APP
• SMART LOCATION TRACKING & GEO ZONES – Built-in GPS tracking on the dementia wandering alarm ensures accurate outdoor location tracking and estimated location tracking when indoors; Receive alerts every time the wearer enters or leaves a Geo-Zone
• TWO WAY PHONE CALLING & VOICE MESSAGING – Make and receive voice calls to friends and family almost anywhere in the world without the need of a mobile phone; Send and receive voice messages to friends and family

Robin, 2022 Version, Digital Day Clock

• Ultimate clarity – The 8 inch crystal clear high definition color display ensures a sharp, crisp image displaying the full color spectrum with a 170° viewing angle that can be seen from all sides of the room. Choose from custom or preloaded display themes
• Reconstructed design – Thoughtfully developed user interface and easy-access side buttons make this clock ideal for seniors. The smart design allows for placement in the bedroom, kitchen or bathroom and a sleep button is perfect for those midday naps
• Alarms, reminders and custom messaging – Create as many alarms as you need. Easily adjust the volume, length, sounds and messaging. Automatically adjusts for daylight saving time with a worldwide schedule built in. Adjust each alarm and message separately
• Talking clock – One touch button announces the day and time in a loud, clear voice. You can also schedule periodic time announcements, as well as screen reminders such as birthdays, events and holidays. Choose from 20+ preloaded events or write your own. This day clock also has battery back up a in case of a power outage, it automatically resets to the correct time and date when the power returns
• The perfect gift – The packaging and manual do not include words such as ‘dementia’ and ‘memory loss’. Makes for a perfect retirement gift to sensitive elders or loved ones. Enjoy US customer service, and US based phone support. Additionally, the clock is equipped with a battery backup, one-touch sleep button, one-touch talking clock button, and many other unique features that are exclusive to our clock.

Related Topics

3 Ways to Effectively Prevent Dementia!

Want to Prevent Brain Aging! You Need Exercise

How to Take Care of Someone With Dementia?

7 Practical Ways to Care for People with Dementia

Reference

About Dementia – NHS

Dementia guide – NHS

What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis – NIH

Dementia – World Health Organization (WHO)