[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dementia is a progressive condition that currently has no cure. The elderly are more likely than younger people to be diagnosed with some form of dementia. As the aging population grows, dementia cases are expected to rise. In fact, the US will see cases skyrocket over the next three decades.
What is dementia?
Abnormal changes in the brain trigger a decline in cognitive function. The gradual loss of memory, problem solving skills and other thinking abilities are symptoms of dementia. Dementia is not a disease in itself, but is an umbrella term that covers specific brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and makes up 60 to 80 percent of cases. The second most common form of dementia is Vascular Dementia, where blood vessel blockage in the brain occurs. Patients who experience multiple types of dementia suffer from mixed dementia.
What causes dementia?
Damage to brain cells causes dementia. It is critical that brain cells communicate. When normal paths of brain cell communications are damaged, an individual’s behavior and ability to think are affected. Most changes in the brain that cause dementia are permanent and progressively worsen.
What are symptoms of dementia?
Dementia symptoms oftentimes begin slowly and, over time, cause severe deterioration in cognitive function. An individual living with dementia will have problems with short-term memory, for instance, losing track of a purse or wallet. Bills may go unpaid and appointments are missed.
As dementia progresses, self-care is often hampered. The individual living with dementia may no longer remember how to use a stove to prepare meals. Travel becomes risky, since the individual living with dementia will be unable to follow simple directions and might get lost — even in familiar places.
Dementia Cases Projected to Rise
Various symptoms of dementia will affect a greater number of people over the next three decades. Recent Alzheimer’s studies conclude that more than 152 million individuals around the world will suffer from some form of dementia by 2050. Following are three factors that support this forecast.
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Booming Aging Population
Increasing age is the strongest known risk factor for developing dementia. The National Institute on Aging predicts that people aged 65 and over will make up 16 percent of the world’s population by the year 2050. As the numbers of aging people surge, dementia cases will correspondingly rise.
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Uptick in Chronic Diseases
Lifestyle is a large contributor to developing dementia. Smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure are on the rise, leading to millions of additional dementia cases worldwide. In the US, consuming an unhealthy diet and having little access to healthcare are risk factors for Alzheimer’s mortality rates.
Fortunately, lifestyle habits can be adjusted. Healthy modifications to diet and exercise have a large impact on brain health. By reducing the risk of illnesses, like diabetes and heart disease, through healthy eating and exercise, many diseases, including Alzheimer’s, are prevented.
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Younger-age Onset
While the majority of dementia diagnoses are given to older people, younger individuals can also develop some form of the condition. Research into younger populations has led to worrying statistics: Every year, 10 out of every 100,000 people under 65 will develop some type of dementia.
These concerning numbers are likely an underestimate, since the research does not include data from low-income countries, including those in Asia and Africa. As a result, dementia experts believe the number of people with younger-age onset dementia is far higher than supposed.
While experts predict 350,000 younger-age onset dementia cases annually, the condition is particularly difficult to diagnose in younger people. The reason is that physicians normally link dementia with the older population. Plus, dementia symptoms differ between young and old people.
How is dementia treated?
As mentioned, dementia has no cure. Depending on the cause of the dementia, treatment may offer some relief. In progressive dementias, like Alzheimer’s disease, removing the amyloid is effective in reducing the cognitive decline experienced by people living in the early stages of the condition.
The removal of the amyloid is achieved by taking a drug called aducanumab, which reduces amyloid plaques in the brain. While aducanumab does not restore lost memories, patients relying on this therapy may reduce clinical decline—allowing patients to hold onto memories longer.
Despite the hope of treatment, without a cure to stop or prevent dementia, the number of dementia patients is predicted to grow substantially over the next 30 years and beyond. Health care systems, governments, and caregivers may become overwhelmed by the multitude of cases.
Interventions, such as engaging in regular physical activity and eating a diet rich in nutrients, reduce dementia risks. Being educated and informed about the condition and its causes are also important factors in helping individuals lower their risk of developing dementia.
Right now, in the US, six million people live with some type of dementia, and more than 11 million caregivers support these individuals. Helping a loved one with dementia can be challenging for families, which is why experienced memory care providers from Assisting Hands Home Care are invaluable.
Assisting Hands Home Care
If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, home care can help maintain or even improve their quality of life. Assisting Hands Home Care Richmond has a Certified Dementia Coach on staff to help customize the care plan for the individual living with dementia. We provide additional coaching and training to all of our Caregivers in providing specialized dementia support. Our Caregivers understand how to compassionately handle dementia symptoms, like nighttime wandering, aggressive outbursts, incontinence and confusion, and restore an individual’s sense of calm.
Our Caregivers will also provide your loved one with assistance with all the activities of daily living. Our caregivers prepare healthy meals, provide timely medication reminders, shop for groceries, help with personal care activities, provide transportation, and serve as pleasant companions.
When dependable senior care at home is right for your loved one, turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. We take pride in providing compassionate care to aging individuals living in Richmond, Virginia, and its surrounding communities. Schedule an in-home consultation to start dementia care.
For more information, check out our dementia articles and videos.
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