Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease: Explained Well
Dementia is a health condition that affects mental status, reducing its capabilities to affect one’s daily activities. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. While Alzheimer’s is a disease, dementia, on the other side is not.
By getting to know more and understanding the difference between the two, one will take good care of their loved ones who suffer from dementia and even their caregivers.
Dementia
Dementia is associated with symptoms such as loss of memory, flawed reasoning, and other thinking capabilities. There are several causes of dementia, just as there are several types of dementia. When more than one type of dementia affects a person, or in the situation that the brain changes for more than one time, the condition is referred to as Mixed dementia. The most common cause is Alzheimer’s disease which accounts for more than 80 percent of all dementia cases.
Caregivers and families taking care of patients with dementia undergo lots of challenges and difficulties. Dementia leads to vascular dementia, Lewy body disease, frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other medical conditions. These biological brain malfunctions make it difficult for the patient to remember things, communicate, think clearly, and even take care of their personal needs.
Dementia should not be associated with old age. Illnesses cause dementia in the brain cells, affecting their ability to feel, communicate, and even their behavior.
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is a brain condition caused by multiple brain damage due to damage to brain cells. As the symptoms persist, the situation translates to more severe dementia symptoms. Among the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease include having difficulties remembering new information. The reason being Alzheimer’s disease affects the part of the brain that facilitates the learning process.
As the disease digs deep, its symptoms escalate, leading to behavior change, confusion, and disorientation. It, later on, becomes even more difficult for the patients to walk freely, swallow food, and even speak fluently. Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented, cured, or even slowed down.
The most significant cause of Alzheimer’s disease is old age, though it is not normal. A substantial number of people who have Alzheimer’s disease are above 65 years, although there are more than 200,000 Americans with younger-onset Alzheimer’s illness and are way below sixty-five years.
Caring for an Alzheimer’s patient is a challenging task for many families and caregivers. As the illness takes root, the mental and physical demands on the caregiver and family in charge of the patient become draining and overwhelming. Personal hygiene tasks like toileting, dressing, and bathing will need total assistance from the caregiver.
Our caregivers are well trained to take care of the patients having in mind that different patients behave differently. Call us or contact us today! Visit our blog for more exciting articles about senior care in Houston.
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