Dementia: Don’t Fuhgeddaboudit

Dementia: Dementia is a general term used to describe a decline in cognitive function that is severe enough to interfere with daily life. It affects memory, reasoning, communication and the ability to carry out everyday tasks.

Dementia is not a specific disease, but rather a group of symptoms caused by damaged brain cells.

This brain cell damage can affect how different parts of the brain communicate with each other, leading to problems with thinking, behavior and emotions (e.g., forgetting recent conversations, becoming disoriented in familiar places, struggling with language & decision-making).

As the condition progresses, these symptoms tend to worsen and individuals often require more support with daily living.

Dementia is most common in older adults, but it is not a normal part of aging. Many people live into old age without ever developing dementia.

Early Onset Symptoms (Beginning Stage): These symptoms may be mild and easy to miss at first:

• Forgetting recent events or conversations

• Asking the same questions over and over

• Misplacing items in strange places (like putting keys in the freezer)

• Trouble finding the right words

• Getting lost in familiar places

• Difficulty making decisions or solving problems

• Confusion about time or place

• Losing interest in favorite activities

• Mood changes (e.g., easily becoming more anxious, sad or angry)

• Trouble concentrating or following conversations

• Loss of smell &/or taste (may also occur in later onset symptoms)

Later Onset Symptoms (Advanced Stage): These symptoms happen as the disease gets worse:

• Not recognizing family or close friends

• Needing help with basic tasks (like eating, dressing or using the bathroom)

• Trouble walking or moving around

• Speaking very little or not at all

• Major memory loss, even forgetting personal history

• Changes in sleep patterns

• Strong mood swings or behavior changes

• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)

• Acting confused or scared

• Problems with swallowing

Dementia Causes: There are many diseases that can damage brain cells and lead to dementia symptoms. Each disease has its own patterns of symptoms and underlying causes.

Some of these diseases are:

• Alzheimer’s Disease: Most common dementia type. Abnormal buildup/damage in the arteries of the brain. Starts with memory loss & confusion and gradually worsens.

• Vascular Dementia: Reduced blood flow to the brain. Often occurs after a stroke or series of small strokes. Sudden onset. Initial symptoms may include poor judgment, trouble planning & movement problems.

• Lewy Body Dementia (LBD): Abnormal protein clumps (Lewy bodies). Symptoms my be visual hallucinations, movement issues (like Parkinson’s) & sleep disturbances. Fluctuating attention & alertness are common.

• Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): Damage to the front & sides of the brain. Behavior, personality & language are impacted before memory. Can occur before 65.

• Mixed Dementia: Two or more types of dementia (most common Alzheimer’s disease & vascular dementia). Common over age 75. Symptoms can be a blend of different dementia types.

• Parkinson’s Disease Dementia: Some people may develop dementia. Cognitive decline usually appears after movement symptoms.

• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD): Rare, fast-progressing mental & physical decline caused by abnormal prion proteins.

• Huntington’s Disease: Inherited disease which causes brain nerve cell breakdown. Cognitive decline, mood changes & involuntary movements. Often beginning between ages 30 and 50.

While there is currently no cure, early diagnosis, lifestyle changes, medications and support can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Ongoing research continues to explore ways to better understand, prevent, and treat dementia.

Modifiable Risk Factors (While not all dementia risk factors are modifiable, there are many things you can do to increase or decrease your dementia risk:

• Heart & Blood Vessel Health (e.g., Coronary Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity)

  • Preventing or reversing these chronic diseases through lifestyle changes helps to lower your risk of dementia

  • Learn about the lifestyle choices that cause these chronic diseases & implement new lifestyle choices to improve & heal these heart/blood vessel diseases.

• Poor Diet

  • Diets high in processed foods, sugar and unhealthy fats may increase risk.

    • Unhealthy fats: trans fats, heavily processed saturated fats & saturated fats are found in fried foods, processed snacks, fast food & animal food products.

    • Replace unhealthy fats with healthy fats (e.g., Avocados, Nuts, Seeds, Olives, Fatty Fish (wild salmon, sardines, mackerel & trout), Soy Products.

    • Eat whole, plant forward meals - MIND Diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay)

• Lack of Physical Activity

  • Inactivity & sedentary lifestyles do not support healthy blood flow & brain function

  • Regular exercise helps maintain brain function & blood flow.

• Social Isolation

  • People who are lonely or socially withdrawn may have a higher risk of cognitive decline.

  • Actively seek out others who support your positive activities

• Low Mental Stimulation

  • Not using your brain (e.g., not reading, learning new things or doing puzzles) can increase risk.

  • Learn new things & new skills as they relate to your interests & hobbies.

• Excessive Alcohol Use

  • Heavy drinking over time can damage brain cells and lead to alcohol-related dementia.

  • Alcohol is a toxin. Eliminate or occasionally drink small quantities of alcohol with a meal.

• Depression & Chronic Stress

  • Ongoing mental health issues can increase inflammation and negatively affect brain function.

  • In additional to seeking professional health, incorporate exercise, relaxation techniques & healthy meals (unprocessed foods) in your everyday habits.

• Sleep Problems

  • Poor sleep, sleeping too much and sleep disorders (e.g., sleep apnea) can interfere with memory & brain health.

  • Continue seeking methods to improve or resolve sleep problems.

• Head Injuries

  • Traumatic brain injuries (like from falls or sports) can increase the risk of dementia later in life.

  • Wear protective head gear (e.g., bike helmet) when participating in higher risk activities.

• Hearing Loss (untreated)

  • Unaddressed hearing loss is a significant risk factor

  • Seek medical attention if hearing loss is noticed or identified by others & consider all available options (e.g., hearing aids)

• Smoking

  • Contributes to poor cardiac/vascular health. Chemicals in cigarettes and other such products damage brain cells, increases inflammation & physical stress, impairs blood flow & negatively impacts neurotransmitters that help with brain communications.

  • Don’t smoke

Make every effort to decrease your risk of dementia. If you do, you’ll be in a better mental state to say, “Thank you,” to your your younger self.