What are the main symptoms and 5 measures to prevent this disease?
dementia This is a chronic or progressive disease. It is characterized by deterioration of cognitive functions affecting memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning, speech and judgment.
Although it usually affects older people, it can occur in people of any age group. And, despite the fact that age is one of the main risk factors in appearance he is not the only one.
Having family members who have or have had dementia or brain loss may increase your chance of developing the condition.
As explained Dr. David CurtoMedical Director for Quality and Innovation at Sanitas Mayores.
- “Memory loss is common with age, but this does not mean that aging is associated with dementia. For it to be considered as such, at least two problems must appear in the functions of neurons, such as memory loss. difficulties with memory and speech.
Although it usually affects older people, it can occur in people of any age group.
Symptoms of dementia
There are a number of symptoms of dementia that can help you act quickly when it occurs. Some of them:
- Cognitive aspects such as disorientation, memory impairment, attention deficit, speech impairment.
- Temporal, spatial and disorientation in people.
- Attention deficit and loss of social skills.
- Changes in short-term and long-term memory and difficulty performing memory activities.
- Language change and communication problems.
- Behavioral changes that may be caused by the dementia itself or due to pain or certain medications.
- Apraxia: the inability to perform intentional and learned motor tasks despite physical ability and desire to do so.
- Agnosia: inability to recognize previously learned stimuli.
What can we do to avoid or delay the onset of dementia? Do puzzles, chess or playing cards work? / Freepik
Phases of dementia
Another aspect to consider is that dementia is a syndrome that usually appears and develops slowly, going through different phases.
“At the initial stage, mild cognitive impairment is observed.. Short-term memory deteriorates, the ability to learn becomes more difficult, and the first difficulties with speech begin.
In the intermediate phase, cognitive impairment is moderate.. Long-term memory begins to fail, and although they have not lost it completely, they are no longer able to absorb or remember new information, and they have difficulty retaining knowledge about space,” Curto explains.
Finally, the Medical Director for Quality and Innovation at Sanitas Mayores notes that:
At the most advanced stage, “cognitive decline is irreversible. Patients lose short-term and long-term memory. At these stages, when a person becomes completely dependent, it is necessary to be assisted by specialized staff in centers adapted as necessary.” “it was possible.”
In this sense, technology is also presented as an ally when it comes to detecting this disease and being able to monitor and support people suffering from it.
Classes to develop mental activity help you age with dignity.
Can dementia be avoided?
There is no surefire way to prevent dementia, but there are measures that can be very helpful.
Among them, the specialist lists some key elements of ensuring dignified aging:
- Do mental agility exercises.
- Lead an active social life.
- It is also important to control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Experts also recommend eating a healthy diet with enough vitamin D.
- Finally, you should avoid smoking tobacco as much as possible.