HARVARD HEALTH PUBLISHING Q&A: DEMENTIA
What are the symptoms of dementia?
Answered by Dr. Nancy Anoruo
M.D. Faculty - Harvard Medical School · 5 years of experience · USA
Dementia is a pattern of mental decline caused by different diseases or conditions. Most commonly, dementia occurs when brain nerve cells (neurons) die, and connections between neurons are interrupted. Symptoms of dementia emerge slowly, get worse over time and limit the person's ability to function. Most often the first symptom is memory loss. Along with memory loss, a person with dementia may have trouble with complex mental tasks. They may have difficulty balancing a checkbook, driving, knowing what day it is and learning new things. They may be inattentive, and display poor judgment. Their mood and behavior also may change.
How can we prevent dementia?
Answered by Dr. Howard E. Lewine
M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of experience · USA
Many of the same practices that reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke also reduce the risk of dementia. Monitor and control your blood pressure and cholesterol, exercise every day, and eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, maintain a healthy body weight, avoid tobacco products and limit alcohol use. Also try to avoid head injury by always using seat belts, helmets and other protective equipment.
→ Learn more about dementia: See the causes, symptoms, treatment options and more.
→ See more questions and expert answers related to dementia.
How can I slow down dementia?
Answered by Dr. Howard E. Lewine
M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of experience · USA
Before considering how to slow the pace of dementia it’s important to consider the underlying cause. Sometimes symptoms that suggest dementia are caused by another disorder, such as major depression or vitamin B12 deficiency. Early vascular dementia might be slowed by eating a healthy diet, staying physically active and take medications to control blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. New drugs for Alzheimer’s disease are showing promise.
How do I know if I have dementia?
Answered by Dr. Howard E. Lewine
M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of experience · USA
People with dementia often don’t recognize they have a problem. So, once you have dementia, you usually can’t self-diagnose it. The stage prior to dementia is known as mild cognitive impairment, when memory and thinking are somewhat impaired but function is normal. With age, people often worry about subjective cognitive decline, when individuals are concerned about their thinking and memory, but both cognition and function are normal.
→ Learn more about dementia: See the causes, symptoms, treatment options and more.
→ See more questions and expert answers related to dementia.
| What are people curious about? | |
|---|---|
| Multiple sclerosis | Therapy |
| Who treats crohn's disease | Is pneumonia contagious |
Disclaimer: This is for information purpose only, and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors, and not to be considered as opinion of Microsoft. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.
2024-06-27T11:34:09Z dg43tfdfdgfd
