What is Dementia? Is There a Solution?

Dementia is a condition where cognitive functions (such as thinking, remembering, decision-making) are significantly impaired, affecting daily life and usually progressing over time. Dementia is not a disease but a symptom that manifests due to various underlying causes. It is a general term for pathological changes in the brain associated with progressive loss of specific mental functions such as thinking, orientation, and learning ability. Consequently, cognitive, emotional, and social skills decline. Depending on the form and cause of dementia, short-term memory, thinking ability, language, and motor skills may be affected. Personality changes may also occur in some forms of dementia. The exact causes of the disease have not been fully understood. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. Other causes leading to dementia include vascular dementia, frontal lobe atrophy, Lewy body dementia, and dementia associated with Parkinson's disease. Dementia is typically a condition that increases with age but is not solely associated with aging. Some types of dementia, like Alzheimer's disease, can even occur in young adulthood. Symptoms of dementia include forgetfulness, mental confusion, disorientation, personality changes, difficulty speaking, difficulty navigating, visual perception problems, and difficulties performing daily activities.

Dementia occurs due to damage or death of nerve cells in the brain. There can be various reasons for this damage. In Alzheimer's disease, abnormal proteins called plaques and neurofibrillary tangles accumulate in the brain and kill nerve cells. Vascular dementia, on the other hand, results from interruptions or decreases in blood flow to the brain.

The treatment of dementia typically involves identifying and managing the underlying cause.

What Are the Causes of Dementia?

Dementia arises from damage to brain cells, disrupting their ability to communicate with each other. When brain cells cannot communicate properly, disturbances in thinking, behavior, and emotions may occur.

The brain consists of a series of distinct regions responsible for different functions (such as memory, judgment, and movement). If cells in a specific region are damaged, that region can no longer perform its functions correctly.

Most of the brain changes that cause dementia are permanent and worsen over time. However, if they stem from the following, problems with thinking and memory can improve with treatment or addressing the condition:

• Depression
• Medication side effects
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Thyroid problems
• Vitamin deficiencies