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What Can Be Done About Dementia?

Don't let fear, uncertainty and doubt around dementia stop you from testing your loved ones, or yourself, early.  Dementia can be devastating, but there are many things you and your loved ones can do to delay or prevent it's effects.  Catching early symptoms increases your possibilities for taking actions.  

In this blog post, we present empowering actions, from lifestyle to medication.

To test for early signs of dementia try our  app.

Old Couple by Ian MacKenzie, some rights reverved

A common hurdle to starting dementia testing is a lack of knowledge about what can be done to help you loved one if dementia is diagnosed, or even before.  Without this knowledge, it may seem pointless or scary to test someone early as a positive result will just upset them for no reason.

There is evidence that there are plenty of things that can be done, physical and mental activity, diet and, eventually medication.  As many as 40% of cases of dementia are linked to modifiable factors

Avoiding Known Risk Factors

Smoking, alcohol, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are all known to reduce health generally.  It has been shown that they also increase the risk of dementia specifically.  Therefore, making lifestyle choices such as being active daily, exercising regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and eating a healthy balanced diet, will reduce the probability of developing dementia.

There are also social risk factors.  Isolation and loneliness are known to be related to dementia, so remaining or becoming part of social groups, clubs can reduce the risk.  Loss of hearing is also an isolating factor and it is important to get checked and to have hearing aids that allow you to stay engaged with people around you.   

Non-Drug Activities

Cognitive stimulation activities are designed to stimulate thinking skills. They are often group-based, with an emphasis on enjoyment. The activities might include games, group discussions or practical tasks such as baking. The benefits of cognitive stimulation for people with Alzheimer’s may include improvement in memory, thinking skills and quality of life.

There are also a number of behavioural symptoms related to dementia.  These include depression, anxiety, agitation, aggression, delusions, anxiety, hallucinations, and sleep disturbances. For depression, a doctor may recommend cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or even an antidepressant drug.  A person’s physical situation can be the cause of this behaviour, e.g., pain, being constipated or needing the toilet.  Being in a dark room, or in an unfamiliar place can also be a source.  Mild behavioural symptoms can often be helped with adjustments to physical surroundings, reassurance, or changes to daily routine.

Drug Treatments

Recently, promising results have been published that show how a medication called lecanemab can reduce the effects of Alzheimer's and slow down its effects.  This medication , however, is still undergoing testing and is not freely available.

Existing drug treatments do not affect the disease, but make it easier to live with its effects, by improving the functionality of the brain and reducing the impact on mood and behaviour.  In particular Cholinesterase inhibitors work by by increasing the amount of the chemical acetylcholine which increases brain activity and counteracts the reduction caused by dementia.  For Alzheimer's memantine is also used which allows brain cells to work effectively for longer, temporarily helping to reducing symptoms like memory loss and confusion.

Sources Used

  • https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/blog/can-we-really-reduce-the-number-of-people-living-with-dementia-by-40/

  • https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/dementia-information/reducing-your-risk/

  • https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/wp-content/plugins/mof_bl_0.2.9/downloads/WAD-0522-0524_WEB.pdf
  •  https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/wp-content/plugins/mof_bl_0.2.9/downloads/TRE-0422-0424_WEB.pdf

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