What is dementia?
Q: What is dementia?
A: Dementia is a group of diseases that affect the way people think and interact with each other, which can be linked to a disease or damage done to the brain. It often affects short-term memory, mind, speech and motor skills, and can cause changes in personality.
Q: Who is most likely to suffer from dementia?
A: Dementia is more common in older people, but younger people can also be affected. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for between 50 and 60 percent of all cases.
Q: What are some symptoms associated with dementia?
A: Symptoms associated with dementia include worsening decision-making ability, judgment, orientation in time and space, problem solving and verbal communication. Behavioral changes may include eating difficulties, dressing issues (needing assistance), lack of interest in activities they used to enjoy and difficulty performing household tasks.
Q: Are there any forms of dementia that are reversible?
A: Yes - some types of dementia are reversible meaning the damage can be undone. Reversible causes may include diffuse axonal injury after injuries to the head or brain (known medically as Traumatic Brain Injury) or Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease caused by prions.
Q: What are some known causes of irreversible dementia?
A: Irreversible dementia is usually caused by an incurable disease such as Alzheimer's Disease or Multi-infarct Disease (caused by multiple strokes). Glioma related tumors are another known cause as well as alcohol abuse leading to Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Possible metabolic causes include liver failure or kidney failure; chronic subdural hematoma; brain infection like meningitis leading to viral encephalitis; drug toxicity from anticonvulsant drugs; and poor oral health according to recent research at the University of Bergen in Norway.
Q: Is there any treatment available for those suffering from dementia?
A: Certain forms of dementia can be treated to some extent although it depends on what type it is - whether it's reversible or irreversible - as well as its underlying cause(s).
