Dementia affects memory, thinking, and daily activities, mainly affecting older individuals. Risk factors include age, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Moreover, Diseases destroy nerve cells and damage the brain, leading to deteriorated cognitive function. Dementia impacts physical, psychological, social, and economic aspects, with stigmatization and barriers to diagnosis.
Currently, dementia has no cure, but there are medications and treatments available to reduce symptoms.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Dementia?
Early Signs and Symptoms:
- Forgetting or misplacing things.
- Losing or misplacing things.
- Need clarification, even in familiar places.
- Losing track of time.
- Difficulties solving problems or making decisions.
- Problems following conversations or trouble finding words.
- Difficulties performing familiar tasks.
- Misjudging distances to objects visually.
Expected Changes in Mood and Behavior:
- Feeling anxious, sad, or angry about memory loss.
- Personality changes.
- Inappropriate behavior.
- Withdrawal from work or social activities.
- Less interest in other people’s emotions.
Disease Impact:
- Depending on underlying causes, other health conditions, and cognitive functioning.
- Most symptoms worsen over time.
- As the disease progresses, the need for personal care increases.
These Symptoms may include difficulty recognizing family members or friends, bladder and bowel control, and eating and drinking difficulties.
Common Medicines Use for Dementia Patients
Memantine
This medication, also known as Ebixa, Marixino, is prescribed to individuals with moderate or severe Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and those with a mix of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia are prescribed this medication (also known as Ebixa, Marixino, or Valios).
For people who cannot take or tolerate acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, memantine is an appropriate alternative. It works by obstructing the effects of an excess of glutamate, a neurotransmitter in excess in the brain.
Headaches, lightheadedness, and constipation are possible side effects but are typically transient.
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine are medications for moderate Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and mixed dementia with vascular dementia.
They prevent enzyme breakdown of acetylcholine, enabling nerve cell communication. Rivastigmine is preferred for hallucinations.
Side effects include nausea and appetite loss, usually resolved after two weeks.
Cardiovascular Medications
Blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease medications may help stop more damage to the brain’s blood arteries. Vascular dementia can result from heart disease and stroke, which are risk factors for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Headaches, nightmares, or dizziness are some of the side effects of the drugs used to treat these diseases.
Patients with dementia should schedule routine meetings with NYU Langone physicians to monitor any adverse effects.
Make sure their medicine is functioning as intended.
These check-ups are crucial components of inclusive dementia services. These services ensure that medication regimens are well managed.
Role of Self-care in Dementia Disease
Dementia patients can manage symptoms by maintaining physical activity, eating well, quitting smoking and alcohol, getting regular check-ups, writing down tasks, engaging in hobbies, and planning.
Identify trusted individuals to support decisions, create an advance plan, and bring ID and emergency contacts. Reach out to family and friends, and join a local support group.
As caregivers, take breaks, manage stress, and seek professional help.
Additionally, these strategies are aspects of family caregiver services. They provide essential support and resources to caregivers as they reduce the challenges of caring for a loved one.