According to alz.org, “dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life”. Memory loss is an early sign of dementia. It is also defined as fatal brain failure, like cancer that physically kills patients, not simply a mental illness associated with old age. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. We have dementia care in Boynton that specializes in caring for dementia patients.
Dementia Care in Boynton | Forms of Dementia
- Alzheimer’s disease.
- Vascular dementia.
- Dementia from Parkinson’s disease and similar disorders.
- Dementia with Lewy bodies.
- Frontotemporal dementia (Pick’s disease)
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Dementia can be classified into two groups based on which part of the brain is affected.
- Cortical Dementias – Happens when problems in the cerebral cortex (the outer layer of the brain) occur. Patients suffering from these types of dementia usually have severe memory loss and can’t understand language or remember words. Alzheimer’s and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are two forms of cortical dementia.
- Subcortical Dementias – Happens when problems in the parts of the brain beneath the cortex appear. Changes in their speed of thinking and ability to start activities become apparent for patients suffering from subcortical dementias. People with subcortical dementias don’t have speech and problems with forgetfulness. Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and HIV can cause these types of dementia.
Understanding Dementia and Its Causes
Old age shouldn’t be the only basis why an individual suffers from dementia. There are different causes of dementia that you should know about.
Here are certain forms and causes of dementia that are partially manageable, but aren’t reversible.
- Vascular Diseases – Disorders that affect blood circulation in your brain.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – Caused by falls, concussions, injuries caused by car accidents, etc.
- Infections of the central nervous system – Infections from HIV, meningitis and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
- Certain types of hydrocephalus — Buildup of fluid in the brain
In order to treat dementia, doctors will treat whatever is causing it in the first place. 20% of the causes of dementia are reversible. Some of these causes are as follows:
- Long-time alcohol or drug use
- Blood clots beneath the outer covering of the brain and subdural hematomas
- Metabolic disorders such as vitamin B12 deficiency
- Tumors
- Hypoglycemia
- Metabolic disorders such as vitamin B12 deficiency
- Hypothyroidism
Dementia is often incorrectly referred to as “senility” or “senile dementia,” which reflects the formerly widespread but incorrect notion that serious mental decline is a normal part of aging.
Is Dementia Common?
About 5% to 8% of adults over age 65 have some form of dementia. This doubles every 5 years after 65 and as many as 50% of senior in their 80’s have some dementia.
Memory Care Facilities in Boynton
If your loved one is suffering from an aggressive or severe form of dementia, dementia care in Boynton is what you should look into. Courtyard Gardens Senior Living provides care and assistance for people suffering from dementia in Boynton Beach area. For more information about their location, services and facility, call (561)336-4958 now!
