I. What is dementia?
Dementia is a comprehensive set of symptoms caused by different etiologies and characterized by impairment in memory and cognitive function. The degree of impairment is sufficient to affect the patient’s ability to work and live. There are many causes of dementia, ranging from neurodegenerative disease, cerebrovascular disease, traumatic brain injury, tumors, infections, nutritional metabolism, and many other problems. Tang Yi, Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University
Second, what is Alzheimer’s disease (dementia)
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. It accounts for more than 60% of all dementias and is also known as Alzheimer’s disease in China.
Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of the brain. It destroys brain cells and causes abnormalities in memory, cognition, thinking and behavioral abilities, severely affecting people’s work and life until the organism loses its functions.
As a result of neuronal degeneration, two typical pathological changes occur in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients – beta-amyloid plaques and neuronal fiber tangles. At the same time, a large number of apoptotic neurons also lead to extensive and diffuse shrinkage of the brain.
Third, the common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (dementia)
Early stage.
Some of the symptoms in the early stages of the disease are often overlooked by the patient’s family and close friends, or even misunderstood as a sign of old age or just normal aging, because these symptoms arise gradually and it is difficult to determine when they started. In fact, family members should be alert and visit a memory clinic when older people, even some middle-aged people, experience the following symptoms.
1. Difficulty in expressing themselves verbally, with family members feeling that “words don’t fit together”, often with obvious logical errors.
2. difficulty in remembering recent events and conversations, often forgetting appointments.
3. Confusion about time.
4.Likely to lose objects.
5.May lose their way in an otherwise familiar environment.
6.Difficulty in making decisions about things.
7.Lack of initiative and loss of motivation.
8.Sometimes depressed or agitated behavior.
9.Lack of interest in daily life hobbies and activities.
Middle stage.
As the disease enters the middle stage, the problems may become more pronounced. It may be more difficult for the patient to manage daily life and may appear to be
1. become very forgetful, especially of recent events and names of people, and unable to live alone for long periods of time.
2.It is difficult to do things like cooking, cleaning and shopping alone, and becomes very dependent.
3.Relying on others to help with hygiene issues, such as going to the toilet, washing clothes and dressing.
4. Having more and more difficulty in speaking.
5. Losses occur even in the familiar neighborhoods and homes.
6. Behavioral problems, such as irritability, paranoia, trance, repetition, hallucinations, etc.
3 Terminal.
In the end stage, the patient shows complete dependence and loss of mobility. Memory loss is severe and other physical symptoms become more pronounced, while the patient may experience
1, unable to feed themselves.
2. Inability to recognize family, friends and familiar objects.
3. Slow loss of comprehension and judgment about things.
4. Difficulty in finding the way home and walking.
5. Incontinence, inappropriate behavior in public places.
6. Beginning to be wheelchair-bound or bedridden.
Four, Alzheimer’s disease (dementia) before the appearance of the ten warning signs
Do not assume that this is a normal aging phenomenon.
1. Memory loss and forgetfulness.
2, confusion about time, place and people.
3. Inability to perform everyday tasks.
4. Gradual changes in personality and behavior.
5. Difficulty in communication.
6.Decreased judgment.
7.Moods fluctuate.
8, often misplacing things.
9.Wearing unclean and inappropriate clothes.
10.Loss of initiative in doing things.