Dementia

[Gregory Matthews]

Dementia is a word that is often bandied about today, and often by people who have little understanding as to what may be involved with it. So, I thought I would give you some background as to its background.

 Mental health workers in the United States typically go to the current edition of the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) to inform on issues of mental health. Physicians in the U.S. and International clinicians commonly use the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Those books are typically revised and updated on a 10-year cycle.

 As people age, a decrease in physical function often occurs. This may, not always, be accompanied by a minor decrease in cognition. This is not dementia. Dementia is a more advanced form of a decrease in function. Dementia is believed to occur about 41% of the time in people in which a mild decrease in cognition has occurred.

 Dementia occurs in multiple forms. The following are several of the most common forms.

 Alzheimer’s Disease: is thought to occur in 60% to 80% of the people with dementia. “Aphasia is a common symptom. Issues with memory, confusion, and judgment are common. Changes take place in the brain which are not fully understood.

 Vascular Dementia: is thought to occur in 10% of the people with dementia. The etiology is thought to include changes in the vascular system in the brain to includes prior strokes.

 Lewy Body Dementia: is thought to occur in 4% of the people with dementia. It is quite similar to Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.

 Fronto-temporal dementia: is getting recent attention as an important form of dementia. In this form, changes occur in that specific region of the brain. Those changes include, behoravial, personal and language.

 NOTE: Nothing in my comments here should be thought to imply that any individual currently in the news either has, or does not have, any form of dementia. In short, I do not engage in diagnosis from news reports.

 

[phkrause]

An ‘unjust’ reality

Someone who lives just a few miles away could have a higher chance of receiving a timely dementia diagnosis than you. How could this be? A new study breaks it down by ZIP code, highlighting the health disparities that happen across the US. See how your region fares.

[phkrause]

A missing Wyoming man with dementia is safe after being spotted on TV hundreds of miles away

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Wyoming man with dementia who wandered away from home and hitchhiked to Salt Lake City is safe after his wife spotted him in a TV news segment about helping those in need.

https://apnews.com/article/missing-wyoming-man-dementia-found-tv-news-48ee70ccf3da615d8f7d9688e83f3a7e?

[phkrause]

New Study Finds Link Between Sleep Issues and Dementia Risk

Nov. 8, 2024 — Older adults who feel very drowsy during the day and lack enthusiasm for everyday activities may be more likely to develop a condition that increases the risk of dementia, according to a new study in the journal Neurology.

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20241108/link-sleep-issues-dementia-risk?

[phkrause]

Top 5 Ways to Tell Memory Lapses From Dementia

Medically Reviewed by Daniel Kantor, MD, FAAN on October 13, 2024

Written by Rachel Reiff Ellis

https://www.webmd.com/brain/ss/cm/slideshow-top-5-ways-to-tell-memory-lapse-from-dementia?

[phkrause]

Up to 4 in 10 people could develop dementia after 55. What you can do to lower your risk

WASHINGTON (AP) — About a million Americans a year are expected to develop dementia by 2060, roughly double today’s toll, researchers reported Monday.

https://apnews.com/article/dementia-alzheimers-aging-brain-health-82b74dd1834b6387284164da655eaad8?

[phkrause]

Your brain's 20-year window

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

Alarming stat: By 2060, researchers expect about a million Americans to develop dementia a year, according to a study out this month in Nature. The big picture: That estimate is based on the fact that the study found a higher lifetime risk for dementia than previously thought, AP reports. After age 55, people have up to a 4 in 10 chance of eventually developing dementia — if they live long enough. 🔎 Between the lines: Risk varies a great deal by age. In the study, researchers looked at the health data of around 15,000 older adults across decades. They found that just 4% of people developed dementia between the ages of 55 and 75. Risk jumped to 20% in the next decade, 75–85, and then 42% in the decade after that, 85–95. 💡 The two-decade window between 55 and 75 is a critical time for protecting brain health, Josef Coresh, a doctor at NYU Langone Health and a co-author of the study, told AP. What you can do: As we've reported, one strategy is to train your brain, just as you would your body. Play brain games, mix it up, and try learning new skills or languages to challenge yourself. Staying social as you age can also keep your brain healthy. 💸 The money quote: "What's good for your heart is good for your brain," James Galvin, a University of Miami Alzheimer's specialist, told AP. That means getting exercise has perks for your brain, too. One tip: If you're already getting your steps in every day, try picking up the pace. Research shows brisk walks can curb dementia risk.

[phkrause]

Dementia: My Personal Story

The neurologist told me I have mild cognitive impairment. I left his office in complete shock, unable to grasp this news.

https://aish.com/dementia-my-personal-story/?

[phkrause]

How Is Dementia Diagnosed?

Medically Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD on February 19, 2025

Written by Angela Nelson, Alicia Racelis, PhD

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/diagnose-dementia?

[phkrause]

Brain Foods That May Help Prevent Dementia

Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on August 28, 2023

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/ss/slideshow-dementia-foods?

[phkrause]

Dementia study bucks conventional wisdom

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

Unmarried older adults in the U.S. were less likely to develop dementia than those who were married, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum writes from a new study of 24,000 Americans. The intrigue: The finding runs counter to previous studies showing that marriage is associated with better cognitive health and longevity. 👀 Zoom in: "Widowed, divorced, and never-married older adults had a lower dementia risk, compared to their married counterparts," the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center researchers say, based on a study of adults age 50+, who were tracked for up to 18 years. Yes, but: The study relied on volunteers — mostly white and married — so the findings may not reflect the broader U.S. population. Previous research has linked marriage to positive health outcomes, including: Lower risk of heart disease Longer life expectancy Even reduced dementia risk 💡 "This finding can change the way we understand the connection between marital status and risk of dementia," said study co-author Selin Karakose of Florida State University College of Medicine in Tallahassee, to MedPage Today. She noted that marriage — which has benefits — can also come with stress, smaller social circles and caregiving burdens that may affect brain health. 🔭 What we're watching: It's possible that unmarried individuals may be diagnosed later, simply because they don't have a spouse encouraging them to seek care — which could skew the findings. Changes linked to dementia can begin up to 20 years before symptoms appear, so midlife — your 40s to 60s — may be a critical window for protecting your brain.

[phkrause]

Things That Raise Your Chances of Dementia

Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on February 15, 2025

Written by Janie McQueen

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/ss/slideshow-raise-chances-dementia?

[phkrause]

As dementia rates increase, experts warn hospital emergency rooms are underprepared

One in six visits to the emergency department in 2022 that resulted in hospital admission had a wait of four or more hours, according to an Associated Press and Side Effects Public Media data analysis. Fifty percent of the patients who were boarded for any length of time were 65 and older, the analysis showed. Read More.

[phkrause]

Science Reveals 4 New Ways to Lower Your Dementia Risk

May 5, 2025 – The list of ways to reduce your dementia risk just keeps getting longer.

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20250505/science-reveals-4-new-ways-to-lower-your-dementia-risk?

[phkrause]

10 Ways to Improve Your Memory

Medically Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on October 14, 2024

Written by Rachel Reiff Ellis

https://www.webmd.com/brain/ss/cm/slideshow-10-ways-to-improve-memory

[phkrause]

Signs of Dementia

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is a term for a group of symptoms that affect your ability to think and remember things. It can also cause changes in the way you act and your mood. These symptoms are often bad enough to impact your daily life.

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/signs-dementia?

[phkrause]

Hearing Loss and Dementia: Why They're Linked and How You Can Lower Your Risk

Hearing loss is about more than hearing what your spouse is saying. (The difference between hearing and listening is another subject.) Losing aural function over time can also raise your chances of getting dementia, according to new studies. 

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/features/cm/hearing-loss-dementia-risk?

[Joe Knapp]

Quote

How Is Dementia Diagnosed?

....like count backward from 100 by sevens.

That would be very difficult for me at any age. 

 

[Joe Knapp]

Quote

How Is Dementia Diagnosed: FAQs

What can prevent dementia?

While you can't prevent dementia, you can take steps to reduce your risk. If you have high blood sugar or blood pressure, keep it in check. Other things can help, like:

• Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight
• Doing regular aerobic exercises and strength training
• Keeping your mind active with activities such as learning new skills
• Staying connected with others
• Getting at least 7.5 hours of sleep each night
• Avoiding alcohol and tobacco use
• Trying to prevent falls to avoid injury to your head
• Taking steps to protect your heart health and keeping your cholesterol levels in check
• Treating any hearing or vision loss you have

Who is more susceptible to dementia? 

Things such as age, genetics, or Down syndrome can raise your risk for certain types of dementia like Alzheimer's. Other things that contribute to dementia include drinking a lot, late-life depression, high cholesterol, obesity, sleep apnea, and untreated hearing and vision loss. But treating these medical conditions can help slow down your dementia symptoms. 

What are the early signs of dementia?

Everyone can have different signs, but you may get some early ones such as:

• Frequently forgetting things
• Problems with concentrating, planning, or organizing things
• Trouble communicating 
• Not understanding what you see, such as misjudging distances
• Confusion about where you are or what time it is
• Difficulty with your moods, or personality changes

If you or a loved one has any signs for dementia, get medical help or ask your doctor.

At what age does dementia start?

It depends on the cause for your dementia. For example, if you have early-onset Alzheimer's, you can get signs around the age of 30. But late-onset Alzheimer's may not show up till you're 65 or older.

• Related:Alzheimer’s Financial Planning Tips

Is there any specific diet for people affected with dementia? 

There's no specific diet to help with dementia. But some studies suggest following a Mediterranean-style diet. This diet focuses on veggies, fruits, fish, healthy oils, fiber-rich whole grains, and nuts.

Well, there are some Youtube doctors who believe that dementia is caused by an insulin problem in the brain. They believe that lowering glucose levels in the blood can help many body parts, including the brain.  

Fasting is one method for that. I doubt people have tried fasting for dementia. 

 

[phkrause]

Dementia

Dementia, also called major neurocognitive disorder, isn’t a disease. It's a group of symptoms caused by other conditions.

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/types-dementia?