Dementia is a cognitive disorder that impairs memory function and restricts the way a person handles everyday things. Dementia is a growing disorder in India and many people are falling prey to this disease. It is a chronic disorder that can affect anyone without much reason.
There are no real causes for dementia. People who are affected by dementia find it difficult to get through tasks that one would ordinarily have no problems with. It becomes difficult for such patients to live, especially if they don’t have any help.
Rehabilitation for dementia is now available in many Rehab centers that help people with dementia to effectively manage the disorder and learn life skills that help them navigate through their life in the best way possible.
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What is Dementia?
Dementia is a brain disorder that is mostly caused due to aging. The cells in the brain are either damaged or start to perish under trauma, injury or age, damaging the cognitive functions in the brain.
Dementia affects the brain in a way that the subconscious memory is no longer able to remember its ordinary, day-to-day tasks such as surrounding areas, family or friends, important dates and events, details about self etc. Things that a person would otherwise do easily become much of a task to those who have dementia.
Those who are affected by Dementia often have problems that get worse. Dementia ranges from mild to moderate to severe and can get worse with time. Unfortunately, there are no real treatments for Dementia and therefore, there can only be rehabilitation for Dementia Patients. With proper therapies and the right medical care, the effects of dementia can be managed in an effective manner.
Symptoms of Dementia
Dementia can start off as simple as easy forgetfulness. This then becomes more severe when the person has difficulty remembering more important yet easier things like names and places. The earlier the disorder is detected, the better it can be treated with therapies so that it does not get worse from there. Below are some of the symptoms of dementia:
- Impaired speech
- Sluggish thoughts
- Loss of Memory
- Loss of motor functions
- Inability to complete train of thoughts or a sentence
- Inability to achieve everyday tasks
- Getting lost often
- Not able to recollect simple things such as names and places
These are some of the symptoms of Dementia. Dementia is usually a result of aging but there are other things that may cause the onset of Dementia later in life such as:
- A traumatic brain injury
- Concussion to the brain
- Nerve cell disorders in the brain
- Diseases such as Meningitis and HIV
- Exposure to drugs or alcohol for long periods
- Genetics
These are some of the common causes besides age that can cause Dementia in men and women.
Treatments for Managing Dementia
CBT or Cognitive Behavioural Therapies are known to be effective in controlling and managing Dementia in patients. In this treatment, several simple exercises and routines are introduced to the patient so that they may be able to restore and recollect certain functionalities.
For those who are beyond restoration, tools such as calendars, alarms, notes and other such utilities are created around them to compensate for the lack of functionality and to help them work around these restrictions. Rehabilitation for dementia is the most advanced program that includes all these therapies for patients.