Some of the most common causes of dementia are preventable. Dementia is a condition, caused by various diseases and conditions, that leads to irreversible brain impairment. Most people who are affected are over 60 years old. The symptoms of dementia are forgetfulness, erratic behavior that can sometimes be violent, confusion, and disorientation. The sufferer begins to lose interest in activities around them, and to neglect their personal appearance. They may also suffer from depression and lack of judgment, and are therefore more subject to accidents and other illnesses.
Causes of Dementia
Common causes of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive and ultimately terminal disease where the brain is damaged by tangles in the nerve cells and deteriorates. Dementia can also be caused by a decreased blood supply to the brain caused by strokes or blood clots, and high blood pressure. Atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries due to plaque buildup, can cause dementia, as can alcoholism, syphilis or a chronic infection of the brain. Mercury or other chemical poisoning of the brain can also lead to dementia, as can drug abuse.
More Causes of Dementia
Another cause of dementia is Huntington’s chorea, an inherited and so far incurable disease that often manifests in middle age. A child with a parent who had Huntington’s chorea has a 50% chance of inheriting the condition.
Brain injury from trauma or any other cause can also be a cause of dementia. Diabetes and other diseases that affect the endocrine system can also lead to dementia, as can a brain tumor.
Mimics
Some conditions mimic dementia but can be cured, like an underactive thyroid, drug addiction, and subdural hematoma, a bloodclot or hemorrhage that increases pressure in the brain.
Symptoms of pernicious anemia, an anemia that occurs when the body can’t absorb Vitamin B-12, can also mimic dementia.
Possible Prevention
The onset of dementia can be delayed or even prevented by making sure that conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and alcoholism are treated, or prevented. Helmets should be worn when riding a bicycle, motorcycle or skateboard or when engaging in contact sports like football. Proper safety precautions, like wearing seatbelts, should be taken when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.
Homes or workplaces that contain chemical hazards should have the hazards removed or should be avoided. A healthy lifestyle, including a low fat diet and exercise, can do much to avoid atherosclerosis.
Causes of Dementia
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