What To Do If A Loved One Is Suspicious Of Having Dementia
- Discuss with loved one. Talk about seeing a medical provider about the observed changes soon. Talk about the issue of driving and always carrying an ID.
- Medical assessment. Be with a provider that you are comfortable with. Ask about the Medicare Annual Wellness exam.
- Family Meeting. Start planning, and gather documents like the Health Care Directive, Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, Estate Plan.
Vaccines And Alzheimers Disease: A Brief History
One of the earliest antivaccine claims that I ever dealt with was a rather specific claim about the influenza vaccine. I first encountered it when Bill Maher parroted it in an interview with Larry King on Larry King Live, way back in December 2005. I think its useful to recount what Maher said in this exchange:
MAHER: Im not into western medicine. That to me is a complete scare tactic. It just shows you, you can
KING: You mean you dont get a you dont get a flu shot?
MAHER: A flu shot is the worst thing you can do.
KING: Why?
MAHER: Because its got its got mercury.
KING: It prevents flu.
MAHER: It doesnt prevent. First of all, thats
KING: I havent had the flu in 25 years since Ive been taking a flu shot.
MAHER: Well, I hate to tell you, Larry, but if you have a flu shot for more than five years in a row, theres ten times the likelihood that youll get Alzheimers disease. I would stop getting your
KING: What did you say?
MAHER: That went better in rehearsal but it was still good. Absolutely, no the defense against disease is to have a strong immune system. A flu shot just compromises your immune system.
A chiropractor. Of course, the presentation at NVIC had to be recorded by a chiropractor:
This is an old claim, dating back 24 years!
And heres a more recent addition since 2005, dated 2006:
But what about prion disease? And what are prion diseases, anyway?
What Is Dementia Symptoms Types And Diagnosis
Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning thinking, remembering, and reasoning to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions, and their personalities may change. Dementia ranges in severity from the mildest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a person’s functioning, to the most severe stage, when the person must depend completely on others for basic activities of living.
Dementia is more common as people grow older but it is not a normal part of aging. Many people live into their 90s and beyond without any signs of dementia.
There are several different forms of dementia, including Alzheimers disease. A persons symptoms can vary depending on the type.
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Pooled Estimates Of Incidence
In the same collaborative effort that pooled prevalence data of European studies, data on incidence of dementia of eight population based European studies were compared and pooled. In total, there were 42 996 person-years of follow up with 835 new dementia cases. Of these, 6070% were diagnosed with AD and 1520% with VaD. Incidence rates of dementia increased exponentially with age from 2.4 per 1000 person-years in the 6569 age group, to 70.2 per 1000 person-years in the 90+ age group. Rates among women were higher, especially above the age of 80 . The rates continued to increase with age in women, whereas the increase reached a plateau in men at age 85. For AD, findings were comparable, with pooled incidence rates increasing from 1.2 per 1000 person-years among 6569 year olds to 53.5 among subjects over 90 years old.
Pooled incidence rates of dementia by sex. Based on Fratiglioni et al.
Frontotemporal Dementia With Parkinsonism
One form of familial FTD, also known as frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism-17 , is caused by genetic changes in the gene for tau protein, located on chromosome 17. No other risk factors for this condition are known.
FTDP-17 is rare and accounts for only three per cent of all cases of dementia. Symptoms progressively get worse over time and usually appear between the ages of 40 and 60. The condition affects both thinking and behavioural skills and movements such as rigidity, lack of facial expression and problems with balance .
It can be distressing to be told that you have a genetic disorder or are at risk of having one. Genetic counselling provides the person and their family with information about a genetic disorder and its likely impact on their lives. This can assist a person with FTDP-17 to make informed medical and personal decisions about how to manage their condition and the challenges it presents to their health and wellbeing. Prenatal genetic counselling is also available for parents to help them decide about a pregnancy that may be at risk of FTDP-17.
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Research Into The Cause Of Alzheimers Disease
The role of plaques and tangles in Alzheimers disease
The biological causes of Alzheimer’s disease are not fully understood and research continues to examine factors involved in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
The two most common hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease in the brain are beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The role of plaques and tangles in Alzheimer’s disease is not fully understood. Both are present in the brains of older people who do not have Alzheimer’s disease, although they are more widespread and predominant in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Research is ongoing to determine more about the role of both plaques and tangles in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
In Alzheimer’s disease, sticky beta-amyloid fragments clump together and form the basis of plaques. Recent research suggests that smaller clumps of beta-amyloid known as oligomers may actually be more toxic than the plaques. Researchers continue to study many aspects of beta-amyloid to establish its role in Alzheimer’s disease, including the mechanisms of plaque formation, and how plaques might be removed from the brain.
The genetics of Alzheimer’s disease
Comprehensive information about the research into the genetics of Alzheimers disease is available at the AlzGene website.
Genes that cause Alzheimers disease
Genetic risk factors for Alzheimers disease
The role of inflammation in Alzheimers disease
Effects Of Al On The Memory Disorder Of Human: Historical Overview
An association between Al poisoning and memory disorder in humans was first reported in 1921 . Later, it was shown that the intracerebral administration of Al induced epilepsy in experimental animals . As a component of dialysis solutions or Al-containing pharmacological compounds, Al is known to cause various dialysis-related disorders, including osteomalacia , microcytic anemia, 2-microglobulin-associated amyloidosis , and dialysis encephalopathy in hemodialysis patients .
The accidental contamination of Al into drinking water occurred and more than 20,000 persons were exposed to high level of Al at 1988 in Camelford . Residents exposed to contaminated Al exhibited various symptoms related to cerebral impairments such as loss of concentration and short term memory in a 10-year follow-up study .
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Mechanism : Interaction Between Brain Activity Related To Auditory Cognition And Dementia Pathology
The previous mechanism considered the widespread brain resources used for speech-in-noise listening. A fourth possible explanation focuses on auditory cognitive mechanisms in the MTL that may be specifically linked to AD pathology in the same region. This mechanism starts from the same idea as mechanism 3, that hearing loss alters cortical activity, including in the MTL. The critical difference from mechanism 3 is the incorporation of an interaction between that altered activity and AD pathology.
The AD pathology that best correlates with the cognitive phenotype is neurofibrillary change related to tau pathology . The earliest neurofibrillary changes in typical AD are found in MTL structures, particularly the perirhinal cortex, which has a strong functional relationship to the hippocampus . This raises the possibility of an interaction between this pathological process and changes in neuronal activity in MTL structures that occur in hearing impaired individuals.
Leading Causes Of Death By Income Group
The World Bank classifies the world’s economies into four income groups based on gross national income low, lower-middle, upper-middle and high.
People living in a low-income country are far more likely to die of a communicable disease than a noncommunicable disease. Despite the global decline, six of the top 10 causes of death in low-income countries are communicable diseases.
Malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS all remain in the top 10. However, all three are falling significantly. The biggest decrease among the top 10 deaths in this group has been for HIV/AIDS, with 59% fewer deaths in 2019 than in 2000, or 161 000 and 395 000 respectively.
Diarrhoeal diseases are more significant as a cause of death in low-income countries: they rank in the top 5 causes of death for this income category. Nonetheless, diarrhoeal diseases are decreasing in low-income countries, representing the second biggest decrease in fatalities among the top 10 .
Deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are particularly infrequent in low-income countries compared to other income groups. It does not appear in the top 10 for low-income countries yet ranks in the top 5 for all other income groups.
There is only one communicable disease in the top 10 causes of death for upper-middle-income countries. Notably, there has been a 31% fall in deaths from suicide since 2000 in this income category, decreasing to 234 000 deaths in 2019.
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How Is Dementia Treated
Treatment of dementia depends on the underlying cause. Neurodegenerative dementias, like Alzheimers disease, have no cure, though there are medications that can help protect the brain or manage symptoms such as anxiety or behavior changes. Research to develop more treatment options is ongoing.
Leading a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, healthy eating, and maintaining social contacts, decreases chances of developing chronic diseases and may reduce number of people with dementia.
Maintain Regular Veterinary Checkups:
Older cats need regular care to continue to age well. Veterinary medicine is advancing rapidly in the field of geriatric medicine, and you may be surprised at how well your vet can help your pet.
There is no doubt: cats with dementia represent special needs cats. We know, however, that there is great reward in caring for the least of these, even if it is just a cat.
While your furry angel may require you to make a couple of accommodations, there is no doubt the reward of helping a cat live well into advanced age is great. Dont forget to enlist the aid of a veterinary ally you trust: this person will have the knowledge you need to make the best decisions for your cat.
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Interaction Between Neuronal Activity And Ad Pathology In The Mtl
Our favored mechanism 4 is supported by circumstantial evidenceâthe co-occurrence of altered neuronal activity due to hearing loss and AD pathology in the MTL. We speculate here about specific links between neuronal mechanisms and AD pathology that can be tested in animal models.
We have speculated on two candidate causal links between auditory-related neuronal activity and AD pathology in the MTLâone based on the magnitude of activity in individual neurons associated with difficult listening and the other based on altered oscillatory activity in MTL networks due to changes in driving inputs. Both hypotheses can be tested in further animal work.
Dementias Are Classified Based On Clinical Genetic And Neuropathological Features
What causes dementia in humans. Start Getting Your Skin Color Back In As Little As 4 Days. Cure Yourself Of Vitiligo now. Meningitis and encephalitis which are infections of the brain or the membrane that covers it can cause confusion impaired judgment or memory loss.
Several diseases and injuries to the brain such as a stroke can give rise to dementia. Ad Stop The Spreading of Your Vitiligo Immediately. Causes of dementia can be diagnosed by medical history cognitive and physical e.
Cure Yourself Of Vitiligo now. But as well as progressive brain cell death like that seen in Alzheimers disease dementia can be caused by a head injury a stroke or a brain tumor among other. Lymes disease and neurosyphilis can also lead to dementia which is caused by the microbes.
In some cases this damage or disruption isnt permanent causing reversible dementia conditions that can be slowed or cured with proper treatment. Ad Stop The Spreading of Your Vitiligo Immediately. Ad Easy to install fridge locks no drilling required installs in minutes.
Alzheimers disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults. These changes trigger a decline in thinking skills also known as cognitive. This paper reviews the most frequent infectious causes of dementia including prion diseases as well as infections caused by herpes virus human immunodeficiency virus HIV toxoplasmosis cryptococcus cytomegalovirus syphilis borrelia and cysticercosis.
Dementia
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New Study Shows Parasite Found In Cats May Cause Dementia In Senior Citizens
According to a new study in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, your cuddly cat companion might pose some serious health risks, especially to senior citizens. Previous research has shown that cats can spread a brain infecting parasite called Toxoplasma gondii that can cause negative health effects, including an increased risk of schizophrenia and depression in infected humans. New research by German scientists and the World Health Organization, however, shows that this parasite may even cause serious memory loss in individuals older than 65.
The Toxoplasma gondii parasite can be found in cats digestive tract and bowels. The parasite can then be spread to humans by the often accidental ingestion of cat feces left on peoples hands after cleaning out the litter box or other forms of contact. Though the single-celled pathogen has reportedly infected over half the worlds population, including an estimated 50 million Americans, Toxoplasma usually causes no serious effects in most people.
Senior citizens, on the other hand, are at a higher risk for serious health complications. According to the study, infected seniors suffered short-term memory loss. Other elderly patients were even unable to recall events from the longer term past. The papers authors reported that it was the first time that the Toxoplasma gondis infection was suspected of being a cause of the significant deterioration of the episodic and working memory.
The Common Symptoms Of Dementia Are:
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Causes Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of 2 proteins called amyloid and tau.
Deposits of amyloid, called plaques, build up around brain cells. Deposits of tau form “tangles” within brain cells.
Researchers do not fully understand how amyloid and tau are involved in the loss of brain cells, but research into this is continuing.
As brain cells become affected in Alzheimer’s, there’s also a decrease in chemical messengers involved in sending messages, or signals, between brain cells.
Levels of 1 neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, are particularly low in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Medicines like donepezil increase levels of acetylcholine, and improve brain function and symptoms.
These treatments are not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but they do help improve symptoms.
Read more about treatments for dementia.
The symptoms that people develop depend on the areas of the brain that have been damaged by the disease.
The hippocampus is often affected early on in Alzheimer’s disease. This area of the brain is responsible for laying down new memories. That’s why memory problems are one of the earliest symptoms in Alzheimer’s.
Unusual forms of Alzheimer’s disease can start with problems with vision or with language.
Read more about Alzheimer’s disease.
What Are The Symptoms Of Dementia
The symptoms of dementia can vary, depending on which parts of the brain are affected. Often, forgetfulness is the first symptom. Dementia also causes problems with the ability to think, problem solve, and reason. For example, people with dementia may:
- Get lost in a familiar neighborhood
- Use unusual words to refer to familiar objects
- Forget the name of a close family member or friend
- Forget old memories
- Need help doing tasks that they used to do by themselves
Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions and their personalities may change. They may become apathetic, meaning that they are no longer interested in normal daily activities or events. They may lose their inhibitions and stop caring about other peoples’ feelings.
Certain types of dementia can also cause problems with balance and movement.
The stages of dementia range from mild to severe. In the mildest stage, it is just beginning to affect a person’s functioning. In the most severe stage, the person is completely dependent on others for care.
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Can Dementia Be Prevented
Because the causes of dementia are not yet fully known, there is no sure way to prevent dementia. However, you can reduce the risk of dementia by caring for your:
- Heart health Whats good for your heart is good for your brain. Have a healthy dietand stop smoking.
- Body health Regular physical activity increases blood flow to the brain. Keep an active lifestyle.
- Mind health An active mind helps build brain cells and strengthens their connections. Stay social, play games like puzzles and crosswords, and take up new hobbies and languages.
Learn more about the risk factors of dementia such as ageing, smoking and high cholesterol and blood pressure:
Alcohol Or Illicit Drugs
Drinking alcohol or using illicit drugs can impair your memory, both in the short term and long term. From blackouts to an increased risk of dementia years later, these substances can significantly harm your memory, among many other things. Too much alcohol can also cause Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which if treated immediately, may be able to be partially reversed in some people.
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