Causes of Dementia
New Medical Research Reveals the Causes of Dementia
Research into the causes of dementia over the past thirty years has revealed that dementia is not simply induced by normal aging processes in the brain. Although cognitive impairment does occur in the aged, dementia is more of a disease that originates from a medical condition which causes reduced functionality within higher brain activity. With individuals today living longer than ever, the need to understand cognitive impairment in the elderly is important in order to provide proper medication and adequately address lifestyle issues within this demographic.
Medical Conditions
A variety of medical conditions can contribute to the causes of dementia, such as:
- strokes
- extremely poor nutrition/dehydration
- alcoholism/drug addiction
- traumatic brain injuries
- illnesses detrimentally affecting the central nervous system
- brain tumors/lesions
Stroke
Strokes are blockages in arteries carrying blood to the brain which close due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or other reasons which are usually never discovered. When blood flow is interrupted to a certain area of the brain, that area, in effect, shuts down when cells die from lack of blood nutrients. Cell death will then cause damage to that region, with the severity of that damage depending on the type of blockage. Someone can experience a stroke in that part of the brain which controls movement and later be unable to use their arm. Others, as in dementia patients, will suffer stroke in the frontal lobes and develop cognitive impairments.
Poor Nutrition
Dementia that has been found to be caused by poor nutrition has a good chance of being reversed when the proper diet is introduced. However, individuals who are chronic alcoholic or drug addicts may have symptoms of dementia which are not reversible due to permanent damage occurring to the brain.
Injuries
Sometimes, causes of dementia are related to brain injuries, such as those sustained in an automobile or manufacturing accident. In these cases, neurosurgeons may be able to repair injured tissue but the level of dementia experienced by afflicted individuals is dependent on progress made during post-operative rehabilitation and area of the brain affected.
Causes of Dementia and CNS-specific Disorders
Creutzfeldt-Jakob
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is degenerative brain disorder affecting one in every one million individuals annually. Usually affecting only those over 60, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is considered a possible hereditary disease and rapidly causes dementia in those afflicted, with symptoms covering all of the classic dementia behaviors, such as memory impairment, mood changes, decreases ability to judge and reason and lack of muscular coordination. Physicians who suspect someone has CJD will perform a complete neurological examination and employ diagnostic tests to negate other causes of dementia like encephalitis or meningitis. Confirming the presence of CJD entails a biopsy of brain tissue.
Huntington’s
Huntington’s disease is definitely a genetically inherited disorder of the central nervous system destroying neurons and reducing the amount of neurotransmitters responsible for conveying signals within the brain. This is what produces the telltale symptoms of Huntington’s disease, such as uncontrollable movements and associated dementia-related behaviors like impaired mental capacity, personality changes and inappropriate emotional interfaces. This disorder can afflict individuals as young as 35 or 40, which can sometimes cause misdiagnoses without proper medical testing.
Endocrine System Diseases
In addition, disorders like Cushing’s or Addison’s disease which affect the endocrine system can cause dementia symptoms to manifest in someone suffering from one of these diseases. This is due to the ensuing imbalance of hormones within the body, which regulate many cognitive and emotional processes.
Because we are now aware of the many causes of dementia, researchers also have discovered that making certain lifestyle changes can prevent or delay the onset of age-related dementia. Important tips that may inhibit dementia symptoms include: exercising regularly (that includes your brain, also), eating a well-balanced diet, not smoking or drinking heavily, and avoiding chronic stress when possible.
www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/alzheimer/dementia.cfm
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19501724
www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_dementias_types.htm