What is Dementia?
Dementia can be characterized as a disease occurring in people above the age group of 65, particularly, in those who haven’t had any symptoms before as to that of memory loss. When this unusual loss of abilities come to action before the age of 65, it is termed as the ‘early-onset dementia’. Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most commonly occurring disorders in the branch of dementia. In general two classifications of dementia are used – reversible or irreversible – depending on the cause of the affected cognitive areas. The disorder of Dementia is hugely responsible due to damage in the brain. The brain can be damaged by several causes, one of them being a major symptom of neurodegenerative diseases. In the case of neurodegenerative diseases, brain cells die quicker than expected with comparison to ‘normal aging’ in people.
What are the symptoms of Dementia?
Symptoms generally include problems related to remembrance and the capacity of the brain to keep a hold on happenings, recent or late resulting in memory loss, decreased ability to understand something or learn, lack in attention or proper reasoning or judgement.
Other symptoms include apathy, restless behaviour, anxiety, irregular mood swings, depression and psychosis.
Treatment for Dementia
Dementia can cause permanent memory loss and in some cases, there’s no cure for it. However, in the case of exceptions, surgeries and supplements included in the diet can help to cure this problem.
Medication is mostly prescribed to modify risk factors, prevent symptoms from getting worse or for coexisting conditions, such as Depression. Psychological treatments, such as Cognitive Stimulation, Reality Orientation Therapy, Validation Therapy and Behavioural therapy can provide support in dealing with the symptoms of Dementia as in treating the patient to reduce his or her mental disorders dealing with anxiety, depression and the like. Neurofeedback is also a treatment of chronic disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. However, it should be noted that Neurofeedback training facilitates the function of the healthy parts of the brain to work conditionally, physiological self-regulation to be maintained and some other symptoms to be delayed.