Dementia awareness week begins today and aims to spread awareness of dementia symptoms to those who may not be apprised of this often-age-related memory loss condition. There are many stages of dementia that sufferers go through, and it can be beneficial to know them when suspecting the condition in someone you know. We at Bel Marra take great pride in promoting good physical health but also recognize that mental health is a big part of the human experience.
10 early signs and symptoms of dementia in men
Dementia is a term used to describe significant cognitive impairment. These impairments are often seen in two or more critical brain functions such as memory, language, judgment, and reasoning. Deficiencies in these aspects of cognitive ability can significantly affect a person’s daily functioning, making them require constant aid.
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The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, but there exist multiple forms of dementia that exhibit a varying degree of symptoms and presentations to help differentiate them from each other. Some of these other forms of dementia include vascular dementia, which may be the result of stroke and vasculitis, and frontal lobe dementia, which is relatively rare and thought to be inherited. Continue reading…
Age-related memory loss vs. dementia
There are times when we can’t remember where we placed our keys or the TV remote, or when we realize we have forgotten a person’s name. It can be embarrassing, and not something anyone would like to happen to them, especially in front of others. Being forgetful is usually synonymous with being old, as whenever a forgetful moment happens, it is referred to as “having a senior moment.”
While it is true that as we get older our memory declines (it is an inevitable part of the aging process), all the important executive functions usually remain intact, with our mental abilities and cognitive skills being largely unaffected.
The reason why we have more episodes of memory lapses as we get older may be linked to our physiology—and neglecting to strengthen one of our body’s most important organs, the brain! Continue reading…
Air pollution may cause dementia in women
Research led by the University of Southern California is showing that air pollution may significantly increase the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in older women. The team of scientists and engineers discovered that older women who live in areas with air pollution that exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standard have an 81 percent higher risk for global cognitive decline, as well as a 91 percent higher risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s.
Professor Caleb Finch described the process of how pollution affects the brain, explaining “Microscopic particles generated by fossil fuels get into out body directly through the nose into the brain. Cells in the brain treat these particles as invaders and react with inflammatory responses, which over the course of time appear to exacerbate and promote Alzheimer’s disease.” The damage causing pollutants, known as PM2.5, are tiny, inhalable particles that are approximately 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller. Continue reading…
How dementia progresses: The 7 stages of dementia
Forgetfulness and memory lapses are part of both normal aging and dementia, but there are key differences between the two, which set them apart.
Dementia is quite different from normal age-related memory loss because it doesn’t affect just memory. In fact, dementia can involve many aspects of health and well-being, including communication ability, behavioral changes, and much more. Symptoms of dementia negatively impact a person’s everyday life, impairing their ability to live independently. Whereas in the case of normal aging, although one may have bouts of memory loss, they can still live on their own and perform daily tasks.
As a caregiver, it’s important to understand the different stages of dementia in order to be prepared and make appropriate changes to the patient’s care, ensuring they are kept safe and healthy. Continue reading…
Dementia risk lowered with aerobic exercise
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Aerobic exercise may help ward off dementia, according to research findings. The study involved 16 people who performed various aerobic exercises such as using a treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike. The participants worked out four times a week for the duration of six months. The study also included a control group of 19 individuals who completed stretching exercises for the duration of the study.
All of the participants had mild cognitive impairment and underwent brain scans after the study. The researchers found that those who partook in the aerobic exercise had greater increase in brain volume, compared to the stretching group. Furthermore, the aerobics group showed greater improvements in thinking and memory. Continue reading…
