Dementia, the leading cause of disability and second-leading cause of death worldwide, can be reduced 45% by implementing a multi-level program addressing 14 known causes of neurological disorders, according to a recent study published in the prestigious medical journal Lancet. These causes include:
In early life improving,
· general education.
In midlife addressing,
· hearing loss,
· high LDL cholesterol,
· depression,
· traumatic brain injury,
· physical inactivity,
· diabetes,
· smoking,
· hypertension,
· obesity
· excessive alcohol.
In later life reducing,
· social isolation
· air pollution
· vision loss.
The Lancet Commissions, Volume 404, Issue 10452, p572-628, August 10, 2024
Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission
Fortunately, an individual can address, with education, encouragement, and professional assistance as needed, some of the causes such as reducing alcohol consumption, stopping smoking, increasing exercise, lowering cholesterol levels, addressing hearing and vision loss, and perhaps obesity. Prompt and consistent medical care must be provided to persons suffering from diabetes, depression, traumatic brain injury, and hypertension.
Other causes, such as air pollution and improved education, will require governmental action. In addition, local, state, and federal governments and non-profit sources must provide funds to increase the number of professional care providers and of facilities. We must demand that politicians and other civic leaders place action to reduce the causes of this destructive and deadly disease near the top of their priority lists.
In addition to the Lancet report, credit goes to an article in the August 18, 2024, issue of The Conversation https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzQVzFWlSGdxRXcmRNrbjlXSJXvcand
and to two scholars who contributed to the Lancet report – Eric B. Larson, a general internist at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Laura Gitlin, an applied sociologist from Drexel University.
Happy senior man
Often the signs of dementia reveal themns
You can’t control memory loss – only your reaction to it.
For people with dementia, their disability is memory loss. Asking them to remember is like asking a blind person to see. (Common questions like “Did you take your pills?” or “What did you do today?” are the equivalent of asking them to remember something.) A loss of this magnitude reduces the capacity to reason. Expecting them to be reasonable or to accept your conclusion is unrealistic. Don’t correct, contradict, blame or insist. Reminders are rarely kind. They tell a person how disabled they are – over and over again.
People living with dementia say and do normal things for someone with memory impairment. If they were deliberately trying to exasperate you, they would have a different diagnosis. Forgive them…always. For example, your wife isn’t purposely hiding your favorite pair of shoes. She thinks she’s protecting them by putting them in a safe place…and then forgets.
Here are some basic Do’s when it comes to communication with someone with dementia:
Here are some Don’ts:
We’ve put together some specific examples of good and bad communication below, keeping these do’s and don’ts in mind. We also have plenty of tip sheets in various languages regarding more aspects of dementia.
1. “What doctor’s appointment? There’s nothing wrong with me.”
Don’t: (reason) “You’ve been seeing the doctor every three months for the last two years. It’s written on the calendar and I told you about it yesterday and this morning.”
DO: (short explanation) “It’s just a regular checkup.”
(accept blame) “I’m sorry if I forgot to tell you.”
2. “I didn’t write this check for $500. Someone at the bank is forging my signature.”
Don’t: (argue) “What? Don’t be silly! The bank wouldn’t be forging your signature.”
DO: (respond to feelings) “That’s a scary thought.”
(reassure) “I’ll make sure they don’t do that.”
(distract) “Would you help me fold the towels?”
3. “Nobody’s going to make decisions for me. You can go now…and don’t come back!”
Don’t: (confront) “I’m not going anywhere and you can’t remember enough to make your own decisions.”
DO: (accept blame or respond to feelings) “I’m sorry this is a tough time.”
(reassure) “I love you and we’re going to get through this together.”
(distract) “You know what? Don has a new job. He’s really excited about it.”
4. “Joe hasn’t called for a long time. I hope he’s okay.”
Don’t: (remind) “Joe called yesterday and you talked with him for 15 minutes.”
DO: (reassure) “You really like talking with him don’t you?”
(distract) “Let’s call him when we get back from our walk.”
5. “Hello, Mary. I see you’ve brought a friend with you.”
Don’t: (question memory) “Hi Mom. You remember Eric, don’t you? What did you do today?”
DO: (short explanation) “Hi Mom. You look wonderful! This is Eric. We work together.”
6. “Who are you? Where’s my husband?”
Don’t: (take it personally) “What do you mean – who’s your husband?” I am!”
DO: (go with the flow, reassure) “He’ll be here for dinner.”
(distract) “How about some milk and cookies?… Would you like chocolate chip or oatmeal?”
7. “I’m going to the store for a newspaper.”
Don’t: (repeat differently) “Please put your shoes on.”…You’ll need to put your shoes on.”
DO: (repeat exactly) “Please put your shoes on.”… “Please put your shoes on.”
“I don’t want to eat this! I hate chicken.”
Don’t: (respond negatively) “You just told me you wanted chicken. I’m not making you anything else, so you better eat it!”
Do: (accept blame) “I’m so sorry, I forgot. I was in such a rush that it slipped my mind.
(respond positively) Let me see what else we have available.” Leave the room and try again.
This comprehensive Cleveland Clinic article, written for olde goats, their families, and friends and others concerned about dementia, contains useful information about symptoms and causes, diagnosis and tests, management and treatment, prevention, outlook and prognosis, and living with a victim of dementia.
The article lists these symptoms and stages of the disease:
Early symptoms of dementia include:
· Forgetting recent events or information.
· Repeating comments or questions over a very short period.
· Misplacing commonly used items or placing them in unusual spots.
· Not knowing the season, year or month.
· Having difficulty coming up with the right words.
· Experiencing a change in mood, behavior or interests.
Signs that dementia is getting worse include:
· Your ability to remember and make decisions further declines.
· Talking and finding the right words becomes more difficult.
· Daily complex tasks, such as brushing your teeth, making a cup of coffee, working a TV remote, cooking and paying bills become more challenging.
· Lessening of rational thinking and behavior and your ability to problem-solve.
· Sleeping pattern changes.
· Increases or worsening of anxiety, frustration, confusion, agitation, suspiciousness, sadness and/or depression.
· Needing more help with activities of daily living, such as grooming, toileting, bathing and eating.
· Experiencing hallucinations (seeing people or objects that aren’t there).
These symptoms are general symptoms of dementia. Each person diagnosed with dementia has different symptoms, depending on what area of their brain is damaged. Additional symptoms and/or unique symptoms occur with specific types of dementia.
Are there stages of dementia?
No national dementia-related organizations define dementia by numerical stages. The Alzheimer’s Association does, however, define three stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease dementia is the most common type of dementia. Some of the symptoms in these three stages are the same as symptoms for many of the forms of dementia.
Early-stage Alzheimer’s disease (mild)
People in the mild stage of Alzheimer’s disease are still able to function on their own. They may still drive, go to work and socialize. Some changes are happening that may or may not be noticed by the person with Alzheimer’s disease, but may be noticeable by close friends and family members.
Difficulties may include:
Middle-stage Alzheimer’s disease (moderate)
People in the middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease can be in this stage for many years. They can take part in everyday activities with help. Symptoms are more obvious.
Difficulties may include:
Late-stage Alzheimer’s disease (severe)
People in the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease can’t carry on conversations, lose awareness of what’s going on around them and can’t control their movement.
Difficulties may include:
All information taken from the Cleveland Clinic article
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9170-dementia
Avocados and dark chocolate make magnesium decrease dementia risk.
When it comes to nutrients, prioritizing magnesium could have big benefits for your cognitive well-being. According to research published in the European Journal of Nutrition, a 41% boost in magnesium consumption could lead to less age-related brain shrinkage. And that could help you maintain cognitive function and reduce the risk of late onset dementia. When looking at the magnesium intake of more than 6000 cognitively healthy individuals between the ages of 40 and 73 researchers discovered that participants consuming more than 550 milligrams of magnesium each day had a younger brain age than those getting a normal amount of 350 milligrams. While taking supplemental magnesium can be effective, the better way to get these memory-enhancing benefits is by eating more magnesium-rich foods like avocados, nuts, seeds leafy greens, and dark chocolate.
From “Good Health Lifestyles” Magazine
Avocado and dark chocolate mousse
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