Alzheimer’s disease mainly includes vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (also known as senile dementia or progeria). Vascular dementia is a dementia syndrome caused by cerebrovascular lesions. Alzheimer’s disease (A D ), is a neurodegenerative disease that can cause a gradual decline in brain function. It is the main type of dementia in old age, with memory impairment as the initial manifestation, followed by progressive language and orientation impairment, and eventually the inability to live independently.
According to the 2009 annual report of the nonprofit organization Alzheimer’s Disease International, the number of people with the disease is currently 35 million worldwide and is expected to increase to 115.4 million in forty years. In the United States, Alzheimer’s disease has become the fourth leading killer of death after cardiovascular disease, cancer and stroke. Alzheimer’s disease not only threatens the health and well-being of the elderly in their later years, but also causes great worry and difficulties for families.
The root cause of dementia in old age is the aging of the body. The aging, atrophy and degeneration of brain tissue are the basis for the occurrence of dementia in old age, which is perhaps the reason why the older the age, the higher the incidence of dementia.
The causes of morbidity can be summarized as follows.
I. Age. The older you are, the higher the chance of developing dementia in old age.
Genetics. People with a family history of the disease are more likely to develop it.
Lifestyle. Such as smoking and alcohol abuse, unreasonable diet (such as oversaturated and partial diet), lack of exercise, and low social interaction.
Fourth, the level of education. The lower the level of education, the higher the prevalence of the disease.
V. Various diseases. Such as arteriosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, encephalitis, gas poisoning, etc., can induce dementia.
From the above-mentioned causes, it can be seen that, in addition to some natural physiological factors, bad habits are also an important reason for the onset of dementia in old age because they damage the brain and accelerate the aging of the brain. For example, some people do not like to eat fish and vegetables, but only meat. In fact, fish contains unsaturated fatty acids, which are the material for making brain cells, and can also make the blood flow smoothly. Vegetables and fruits contain vitamins with antioxidant effect, which is also very important for brain health. It is clear from this that partial eating leads to an unbalanced intake of nutrients, which accelerates the aging of the brain. The new concept of “Alzheimer’s disease as a disease of lifestyle” is now gaining attention in Japan.
The following are some of the bad habits that may cause dementia in old age.
(1) Sleeping with your head covered. When you sleep with your head covered at night, the concentration of oxygen decreases as the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blanket rises, and long-term inhalation of moist and dirty air in the blanket is quite harmful to the brain.
Second, work with illness. In the case of physical discomfort or illness, reluctantly adhere to the study and work, not only inefficient, but also cause damage to the brain.
Third, lazy brain. Thinking is the best way to exercise the brain, only more brain, diligent thinking, people will become smart.
Fourth, silent and less speech. The brain has a lobe area dedicated to language, often speak will promote the development of the brain, and can play a role in exercising the brain. Therefore, usually say more content, a strong philosophical or logical words, can strengthen the exercise of the brain.
Five, unreasonable diet, such as too many sweets. Excessive consumption of sweets will damage the appetite, reduce appetite, reduce the intake of high protein and a variety of vitamins, resulting in malnutrition, which in turn affects brain development.
Sixth, do not eat breakfast. Not eating breakfast will make a person’s blood sugar levels below the normal supply, thus making the brain’s nutritional supply is insufficient.
Seven, long-term smoking. German medical research shows that long years of smoking will make the brain tissue shows varying degrees of atrophy, making people vulnerable to dementia in old age.
Therefore, efforts to develop good habits for the prevention of dementia in old age has a very positive significance, these habits include.
First, the diet should be light and varied to ensure the supply of protein, less animal fat, more foods rich in vitamins and fiber, and a diet low in salt and sugar and control the intake of aluminum. Quit smoking, drink alcohol in moderation, moderate diet, not too full.
Second, regular life, adhere to the nap, to ensure sufficient sleep, watch TV time should not be too long, sexual life should be moderate.
Third, do appropriate physical exercise, step by step, moderate, do not strenuous exercise.
Fourth, the active use of brain, work and rest. Generally after 1 hour of continuous brain should rest 15 minutes. Diversify brain activities, such as reading books, playing chess, doing intellectual games, etc. Patients who have sleep disorders need to arrange their rest time reasonably and gradually improve their sleep status in order to facilitate intellectual recovery.
Fifth, maintain a warm and harmonious family atmosphere and comfortable and beautiful living room environment, and can carry out some beneficial activities at home, such as raising flowers, fish, painting, etc.
In addition, according to a study released at the International Alzheimer’s Conference, the elderly often drink tea may slow down the rate of decline in their cognitive function.
Psychological factors are also important for the onset of dementia in old age. According to clinical observations, optimistic and cheerful elderly people are much less likely to develop dementia in old age than silent and depressed elderly people, so it is beneficial to maintain an open and calm state of mind and a positive and happy spirit after entering middle and old age to prevent the disease.
To prevent and treat dementia in old age, we should start by being alert to the signs of the disease and detect them as early as possible.
A. Memory is declining, affecting daily living activities
Difficulty in handling familiar things
Confusion about time, place and people
Diminishing judgment
V. Often put things in inappropriate places
6. Problems with abstract thought begin to appear
Emotional instability and abnormal behavior than before
A change in personality
Loss of initiative in doing things
Difficulty in understanding things and expressing oneself verbally
When five or more of the above ten signs appear, it is necessary to pay attention to them and receive medical examination in time.
Among the diseases of the elderly, there are also some diseases with clinical manifestations similar to dementia in old age, so we should pay attention to the difference.
First of all, “forgetfulness” is not necessarily Alzheimer’s disease, but Alzheimer’s disease needs to be distinguished from physiological forgetfulness. Poor memory is not the same as dementia in old age. If there are no intellectual manifestations, simple memory loss may be a benign amnesia.
Second, there is a condition called geriatric depression that can easily be mistaken for dementia in old age. These patients show reduced activity due to mental depression, seldom speak, appear to be lazy, and have dull expressions, appearing to be demented but not dementia, hence the term “pseudodementia”. The difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is that the onset of depression is fast, the development is rapid, the depressive symptoms last longer, the intellectual impairment is temporary and partial, and there are no symptoms of the central nervous system, after the use of antidepressants, the patient will be cured and resume the laughter and talk freely before the disease.
Other diseases such as amnesia due to hydranencephaly are often mistaken for incurable senile dementia or stroke, which can be distinguished by medical tests such as computed tomography.