Dementia – SP Medifort Hospital

Dementia Treatment

Dementia Treatment in Trivandrum

Dementia refers to a set of symptoms caused by damage to the brain that affects memory, thinking, behavior, and daily functioning. It is not a single disease but a clinical description of cognitive decline resulting from various underlying causes, the most common being Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms are serious enough to interfere with daily life and independence.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of dementia?

Common symptoms include:

Persistent memory loss.
Confusion and disorientation.
Problems communicating or finding words.
Trouble with planning and organizing
Problems with reasoning and problem‑solving
Personality changes.
Depression.
Anxiety.
Agitation.

Different types of dementia

Here’s a clear list of different types of dementia:

Alzheimer’s Disease: Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and mainly affects memory and thinking. People often struggle first with remembering recent events or conversations. As the disease progresses, they may have trouble speaking, walking, or recognizing loved ones, and personality changes can occur. Genetics can increase the risk, but it is not guaranteed.
Vascular Dementia: This type happens when blood flow to the brain is reduced, often after strokes or small vessel damage. Symptoms can vary depending on which part of the brain is affected and may include trouble with planning, judgment, and reasoning, and sometimes physical symptoms like changes in walking or balance.
Lewy Body Dementia: Lewy body dementia is marked by abnormal protein deposits in the brain. In addition to memory and thinking problems, people may experience movement issues (like stiffness or tremors), fluctuations in alertness, visual hallucinations, and sleep problems.
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): FTD primarily affects the front and side parts of the brain involved in behavior and language. Early signs often include changes in personality or behavior—such as impulsivity or speaking without thinking—and difficulties with language or understanding. Memory problems may come late.
Mixed Dementia: In mixed dementia, more than one type of dementia exists at the same time—most commonly Alzheimer’s with vascular dementia, but other combinations are possible. This can lead to a blend of symptoms, often progressing faster than with a single type.

What causes dementia?

The causes of dementia can vary depending on the types of changes seen in the brain. Certain factors responsible for causing dementia are as follows:

Genetic factors and heredity: Certain rare genetic mutations can increase the likelihood of some dementias, and having a family history of dementia raises risk.
Damage to brain cells: Dementia happens when nerve cells in the brain are damaged or lose their connections—this disrupts thinking, memory, and behavior.
Brain trauma and tumors: Serious head injuries or space-occupying lesions like brain tumors can lead to dementia symptoms by injuring brain tissue.
Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies: Low levels of vitamins (especially B vitamins like B12) and other nutrients can contribute to cognitive decline and dementia-like symptoms; some of these are reversible with treatment.
Medication side effects: Certain medicines, especially in older adults, can cause memory or thinking problems that resemble dementia.

Diagnosis of Dementia

There is no single test that can diagnose dementia on its own.

Cognitive and Neuropsychological Tests: These tests check how well your brain is working. They look at things like memory, understanding of time and place, reasoning and judgment, language, attention, and problem-solving skills. Doctors use these tests to see if thinking abilities are weaker than expected and to guide further evaluation.
Brain scanning: Brain scanning helps doctors look for strokes, tumors,and other changes in the brain that could explain dementia symptoms. Scans also show structural and functional brain changes related to different dementia types, supporting the overall diagnosis. Common imaging tests include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET), each providing useful information about brain anatomy or activity to guide clinical decisions.
Psychiatric Evaluation: Doctors check a person’s mood and mental health to see if depression, anxiety, or other conditions might be causing or contributing to memory and thinking problems. This helps distinguish dementia from treatable issues.
Genetic Testing: Some rare inherited genes can increase the risk of certain dementias. Genetic testing may be offered when there’s a strong family history, but it isn’t done for everyone. It doesn’t confirm dementia by itself but can indicate risk.
Blood tests: Blood tests can measure proteins like beta-amyloid that are linked with Alzheimer’s disease, and newer blood tests are being used to help detect Alzheimer ‘s-related changes as part of the overall diagnosis.

Dementia risk factors

The following factors increase the risk of dementia:

Age: The risk of dementia increases with age, especially after 65 years, and becomes more likely the older a person gets.
Family history: If close relatives such as parents or siblings have had dementia, your chances of developing the condition are higher than someone without that family history.
Poor medical condition: Having untreated medical conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol can increase the risk of developing dementia later in life, especially if they are not well managed.
Air pollution: Exposure to polluted air, especially fine particles from traffic and smoke, is associated with increased dementia risk.
Unhealthy diet and poor heart health: Diets high in unhealthy fats and sugars, and conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, raise dementia risk.
Excessive alcohol: Drinking large amounts of alcohol over time is linked to brain changes and a higher risk of dementia.
Smoking: Tobacco use increases inflammation and blood vessel damage, contributing to higher dementia risk.
Physical inactivity: Lack of regular exercise is associated with poorer cardiovascular and brain health.
Hearing or vision loss if untreated: Sensory impairments can increase dementia risk, but treating them may help lower it.

Treatment options available for dementia

There is currently no cure for dementia. But there are medicines and other treatments that can help with dementia symptoms.

Medication: Doctors often prescribe medicines that can help ease dementia symptoms by improving brain chemistry and communication between nerve cells. Cholinesterase inhibitors like donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine can boost levels of a chemical needed for memory and thinking, while memantine helps regulate another brain chemical involved in learning and memory. These medicines don’t cure dementia but may help slow symptom worsening and support daily functioning for a time, and sometimes they are used together depending on the person’s needs.

Therapies: Therapies such as occupational therapy can help people with dementia by teaching ways to stay as safe and independent as possible, adapting the home to reduce accidents, and breaking everyday tasks into easier steps.