Dementia

What is dementia?

Dementia includes several diseases that cause abnormal brain changes that affect your cognitive function. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, followed by vascular dementia. Additionally, conditions like thyroid disease and vitamin deficiencies can also cause dementia symptoms. 

Dementia is typically a progressive illness, which means that your symptoms gradually worsen until they interfere with your ability to complete your daily activities or live independently.

What are the early warning signs of dementia?

Dementia often begins slowly, and you might not notice your symptoms right away. Your family might observe your symptoms before you do. Some of the early signs of dementia include:

• Forgetfulness
• Not being able to think of a word
• Lost problem-solving skills
• Misplacing items like you keys or wallet
• Apathy
• Repeating stories
• Mood changes

Everyone experiences an occasional memory lapse or struggles to find the right word. If these problems persist or become worse, however, you should talk to a neurologist like Dr. Elkayam right away. 

What causes dementia?

The precise cause of dementia isn’t understood. Medical researchers know that brain cell death is associated with dementia, but it’s not clear if brain cell death causes dementia or vice versa. 

Your genes may play a role in your risk of dementia, and you can develop dementia as a long-term result of a traumatic brain injury like a concussion. You might also develop dementia after a stroke or if you have a tumor. 

How is dementia treated?

While there is no cure for dementia, Dr. Elkayam can provide treatments to slow or even stop the progression of your disease. He can prescribe medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors and NMDA receptor antagonists. 

Additionally, he can help you adjust your diet and lifestyle to enhance your brain health and overall wellness. For example, ensuring you consume omega-3 fatty acids can strengthen your brain health. Also, occupational therapies or “brain training” can help you improve cognitive function and address forgetfulness in the early stages of dementia. 

If you’re concerned about dementia, call Ezra Elkayam MD Neurology to make an appointment today for comprehensive diagnosis and customized treatments to help you maintain your quality of life.