What is Dementia?

As someone who has worked in memory care for about four and a half years, I have had the humbling pleasure to engage intimately with many of those who suffered greatly from this progressive dis--ease. Although caring for someone with dementia can be extremely emotionally and physically demanding, I can say, I truly love what I do and the people I’ve had the pleasure of caring for. Many people have questioned how or why I do what I do and honestly besides the rewards I receive daily such as laughter, it’s truly due to the deep insights about life and spirituality that I’ve been given via interacting with my residents that continues to drive me. What they’ve given and taught me spiritually is far greater than any assistants I’ve given them.

So, what is Dementia?

In very simple terms, dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking remembering and reasoning—to such an extent that interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells and this damage interferes with how cells communicate with one another. When brain cells cannot communicate normally, one’s overall functionality becomes affected. Dementia is not a single disease however, it’s an overall umbrella term that covers a wide range of specific medical conditions. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the major types of dementia.

Types of Dementia?

I’m not even going to lie to you, I didn’t even know this despite working in the field for so long (shaking-my-head), but while doing research I’ve learned there are 400 different types of dementia. And although I would actually be nice enough to research and regurgitate all of them, your girl doesn’t have time for all of that (and I know you don’t either) So I’ll just go over the major ones that are usually diagnosed. So here goes:

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease the most widely known form of dementia. Even if one has no idea what it is, they’ve heard of it. (My first time hearing about it was in Tyler Perry’s movie: The Family That Prey in 2008).  The cause of Alzheimer’s is actually very complex but according to the Alzheimer’s Society, “one key part is the build-up of two substances inside the brain called amyloid and tau. When conditions in the brain aren’t right, these clump up and form tiny structures called plaques and tangles. These make it harder for the brain to work properly. Over time the disease causes certain parts to become smaller. It also reduces the amount of important chemicals needed to send messages around the brain. Eventually the brain struggles to cope with the damage and the person begins to have problems with memory and thinking”.

            There are also four subservient and lesser known versions of Alzheimer’s known as atypical Alzheimer’s which are logopenic aphasia, posterior cortical atrophy, frontal variant Alzheimer’s disease, and corticobasal syndrome. According to the Alzheimer’s Association “more than six million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s…seventy-three percent are age 75 or older”. While there are many different things that can increase a person’s chances of getting Alzheimer’s, age is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s, as it is for most types of dementia.

Vascular

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia and there are several types of vascular dementia. Some of the main types are subcortical, stroke-related, and multi-infarct.

Subcortical vascular dementia is the most common. It is caused by very small blood vessels that lie deep in the brain that over time develop thick walls and become stiff and twisted. When this happens blood cannot travel through them easily and parts of the brain supplied by theses vessel become starved of oxygen and nutrients. Eventually they stop working altogether and the affected brain cells are lost.

            Stroke-related dementia is caused by its name; a stroke. When one has a stroke, a blood vessel in the brain becomes narrowed and is blocked by a clot. The clot may have formed in the brain or heart disease that formed in the heart. And traveled to the brain. The symptoms of post-stoke dementia can depend on the part of the brain that was affected.

            Multi-infarct dementia is caused by a series of smaller strokes. Some people may not even be aware that they have had smaller strokes or TIA. If the blood supply is interrupted for more than a few minutes or hours, the stroke may lead to permanent brin damage. The areas of the brain affected by these strokes are known as infracts. If a person has several small strokes over times, infarcts will build up in their brain. This could eventually develop dementia.

Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)

Lewy body dementia is caused by Lewy body disease. In this disease tiny clumps pf protein known as Lewy bodies appear in the nerve cells of the brain. It is not yet known why Lewy bodies develop in the brain or exactly how they cause dementia. But according to Alzheimer’s Society Lewy body disease can cause different symptoms depending on what parts of the brain have the biggest build-up of faulty proteins, reduces the levels of important chemicals needed to send messages around the brain, breaks the connections between nerve cells, eventually causing these cells to stop working, and usually develops over a period of many years – typically when a person is approaching old age. Lewy bodies can be developing in the brain for a long time before any symptoms show.

Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal dementia is a type of dementia which affects the front and sides of the brain known as the frontal and temporal lobes. These areas of the brain deal with planning and control of emotions, language, behavior, recognizing faces and familiar objects, and problem solving. Proteins build up in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. This protein build-up causes nerve cells to die, affecting the way messages are being transmitted in the brain. As more and more nerve cells are damaged and die, the brain tissue in these affected area starts to get smaller.

Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Lewy body, and Frontotemporal dementia are among the major types that are diagnosed. And although estimates vary, according to the World Health Organization, currently more than 55 million people have dementia world-world, with nearly 10 million new cases every year. With Dementia diagnosis steadily rising, I believe it’s good to be proactive, not reactive. It’s good be informed of the sign and symptoms as well as being intentional about daily habits. Below are some common signs and symptoms.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms can vary depending on the type but may include:

• Experiencing memory loss, poor judgment, and confusion

• Difficulty speaking, understanding and expressing thoughts, or reading and writing

• Wandering and getting lost in a familiar neighborhood

• Trouble handling money responsibly and paying bills

• Repeating questions

• Using unusual words to refer to familiar objects

• Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks

• Losing interest in normal daily activities or events

• Hallucinating or experiencing delusions or paranoia

• Acting impulsively

• Not caring about other people’s feelings

• Losing balance and problems with movement

I strongly believe that all sickness and disease can be prevented and cured if one believes and puts in the time and effort toward their health. Dementia is no less preventive. And although getting older is the biggest risk factor, evidence shows there are things you can do to help reduce your own risk. Here is a list of a few things you can both do and avoid to have a happy brain:

• Stay physically active

• Healthy eating

• Avoid smoking

• Avoid drinking alcohol

• Staying mentally and socially active

• Trying CHASITEA’S Dementia preventive tea (wink wink)