Vascular Dementia Symptoms
The cardinal sign of dementia is a decline in a person’s normal intellectual functions–most notably, a decline in memory. Problems with short-term memory typically show up first. There may be general forgetfulness, or a tendency to misplace household items. But over time, the memory lapses become more severe, and the dementia begins to take a debilitating toll on thinking, judgment, communication, and emotional stability. Read more
Information On Senile Dementia
Senile dementia is the mental deterioration (loss of intellectual ability) that is associated with old age. Two major types of senile dementia are identified: those due to generalized atrophy (Alzheimer type) and those due to vascular problems (mainly strokes). Senile dementia is often used when referring to Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is most likely to affect older people: of all people over 80, 20% suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Read more
Information On Pick’s Disease
Pick’s disease is a form of dementia characterized by a slowly progressive deterioration of social skills and changes in personality, along with impairment of intellect, memory, and language. Onset typically occurs sometime in the 50’s, though it can occur as early as age 20 or as late as age 80. As with all FTDs, the course of Pick’s disease will vary from one person to another. Read more
Information On Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is a form of dementia that occurs when parts of the vascular system, such as small blood vessels in the brain, are blocked by blood clots or fatty deposits, causing parts of the brain to be damaged by lack of blood. Multi-infarc means that multiple areas in the brain have been impacted. Read more
Treatment For Alzheimer’s Disease
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and no way to slow the progression of the disease. For some people in the early or middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease, medication such as tacrine (Cognex) may alleviate some cognitive symptoms. Donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Reminyl) may keep some symptoms from becoming worse for a limited time. A fifth drug, memantine (Namenda), was recently approved for use in the United States. Combining memantine with other Alzheimer’s disease drugs may be more effective than any single therapy. Read more
Brian Injury Dementia
Head injury occurs when an outside force hits the head hard enough to cause the brain to move violently within the skull. This force can cause shaking, twisting, bruising (contusion), or sudden change in the movement of the brain (concussion). In some cases, the skull can break. If the skull is not broken, the injury is a closed head injury. If the skull is broken, the injury is an open head injury. Read more
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease
Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. The most common form of dementia among older people is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which initially involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language. Although scientists are learning more every day, right now they still do not know what causes AD, and there is no cure. Read more
Alcohol Related Dementia - Symptoms
Alcohol related dementia is a form of dementia related to the excessive drinking of alcohol. This affects memory, learning and other mental functions. Korsakoff’s syndrome and Wernicke/Korsakoff syndrome are particular forms of alcohol related brain injury which may be associated with alcohol related dementia. Read more
Pick’s Disease - Causes, Symptoms, Prognosis
Pick’s disease is a form of dementia characterized by a slowly progressive deterioration of social skills and changes in personality, along with impairment of intellect, memory, and language. Onset typically occurs sometime in the 50’s, though it can occur as early as age 20 or as late as age 80. As with all FTDs, the course of Pick’s disease will vary from one person to another. Not every symptom will be experienced by every person, nor will these symptoms develop in a pre-ordained sequence. All patients with Pick’s disease will experience a gradual, steady decline in functioning. Read more
Vascular Dementia - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
Vascular dementia is a common form of dementia in older persons that is due to cerebrovascular disease, usually with stepwise deterioration from a series of small strokes and a patchy distribution of neurologic deficits affecting some functions and not others. Risk factors include high blood pressure, an unsteady way of walking, and advanced age. Read more
