Blog - ReaDementia

10+ Best Incontinence Products for Dementia Patients

Laura Herman Blog, Prevention, Resources March 6, 2021September 5, 2023dementia, incontinence, incontinence products

There are numerous incontinence products for dementia patients, and each has dozens of variations.

Different combinations of products may be right for different individuals, and a person’s needs may evolve over time.

Incontinence Products for Dementia

	Product	Features
	Prevail Air plus Daily Brief	Soft & breathable Ultimate absorbency Pack of 4 (18 count) Night & day Skin smart Omni-odor guard
	Wellness Superio Series BriefsBrand: Unique Wellness	Fully Absorb up to 2.6L Wide absorbent core Resealable landing zone for easy adjustment White with a nylon based crinkle-free plastic Value for money Stays dry for 8+ hours Award winner/ Featured on Discovery Channel
	One Piece Waterproof Snap-on Diaper Cover BriefBrand: Salk	Lightweight Softness of cloth 100% waterproof Polyester/urethane outer Brushed polyester inner Super-absorbent pad 3-ply inner layer Waterproof outer layer Washable
	SOSecure Containment Swim BriefBrand: Discovery Trekking Outfitters	Discreet Swimming Undergarment Durable Polyurethane Fabric Fleece Lining Hook and Loop Closure (Easy) Elastic Waist & Legs Machine Washable Latex Free
	Prevail Overnight Bladder Control PadsBrand: First Quality	For Women Dri-Fit cotton enhanced QUICK WICK Layer and cotton Odor Guard
	Depend Men GuardsBrand: Kimberly Clark	Adhesive strips to hold guard in place Individually wrapped Discreet- pocket-sized pouch Easy carrying and disposal Contoured design Cup-shaped protection for men One size fits most
	Medline Incontinence Bed Pads	Underpads 50 count 36"X36" Heavy absorbancy Polypropylene backing (protects against leakage & resists melting) Ideal for overnight use
	Inspire Washable and Reusable Incontinence Chair or Bed Pads	Washable/reusable Solves incontinence problems Safely absorbs & lock in liquids Soft & comfortable Non-irritating
	Bariatric 2X-Large UnderwearBrand: Attends	Improved side panels (better comfort & fit) Acquisition layer Super absorbent polymer Tear-away sides (easy removal) Looks & feels like regular underwear Bag of 12
	Depend Mens Maximum Absorbency UnderwearBrand: Kimberly Clark	Outstanding protection Improved underwear-like fit Brief-like leg opening Heavy incontinence Soft, quiet, breathable material Conforms to the body
	AIRCUTE Washable Absorbent Urine Incontinence Underwear for Women	6 layers High waist Absorbent & leakproof Washable Breathable Comfortable
	Prevail Adult WashclothBrand: First Quality	Super strong & soft fabric (12" x 8") Stay-open & easy-close lid Press 'N' Pull lid Super strong soft fabric Aloe & lanolin Lid closes tightly

Don’t call them diapers

Many people refer to incontinent products for dementia as “diapers,” but the term has a strong connotation with infants.

It is generally considered to be disrespectful, infantilizing and tactless.

It should not typically be used when referring to adult absorbent undergarments (unless the person themselves prefers that term).

Words like “pads” or “briefs” would be an appropriate way to refer to these products.

Products designed to be worn inside, or instead, of underpants

Pantiliners – a very thin pad that adheres to underpants for small leaks
Disposable pads – adhere to underpants, but are thicker and more absorbent than pantiliners
Pull up briefs / disposable underpants
Washable pads, liners or absorbent underpants
Reusable vinyl waterproof underpants covers
Wraparound tab briefs – similar to a traditional “diaper” design
Extended wear – Products designed for extended use keep urine away from the skin
Brief liners – designed specifically for use in a brief to boost absorbance or easily remove if damp
Insert – for use with special underpants designed with a pocket to hold a disposable or washable pad insert
Condom catheter or body-worn urinal – Designed to fit over a penis and collect urine in a bag

Products to protect furniture from wetness

Waterproof bed sheets
Washable bed pads
Disposable bed pads
Waterproof mattress pads

Other supportive equipment

Raised toilet seat with handles – this can make it easier to get on or off the toilet
Portable bedside commode
Urinal

When the Person with Dementia won’t Keep a Brief On

If someone with dementia keeps removing their brief, pay attention for clues to determine a likely reason.

Is the problem specific to briefs or are they pulling at other clothing too? Does it happen mainly at night or after bathing? Understanding the reason behind it is essential for finding a solution.

Common reasons for removing clothing or briefs can include:

Feeling too warm
Ill-fitting brief or pants
Wet, damp or soiled brief

Is the person new to wearing briefs (or wearing a new type or brand)?

Briefs can be bulky or uncomfortable, especially when they feel unfamiliar.

Start with the smallest, thinnest or most comfortable product that will meet their needs. This might mean changing them more frequently.

Be sure to minimize incontinence with a toileting plan.

Try a different style

It is worth experimenting with various brands and styles to find something more comfortable or successful.

Look for patterns

1. Do they remove the brief mainly at night? Try going without the brief if possible, using several bed pads for absorbance instead. It may help to tuck an additional bed pad up between the person’s legs.

2. Does it happen mainly when the brief is damp? It may help to use a brief liner, or alternate style of brief that pulls wetness away from the skin. Allow skin to dry fully after a shower or wash-up to ensure there is no lingering feeling of dampness.

3. Are they removing the brief when they need the restroom? It may be a non-verbal sign that the person needs to use the restroom.

4. Do they seem to have bored or restless hands? Giving them something interesting for their hands, such as super soft fuzzy gloves, or a dementia fidget lap blanket with lots of interesting textures and items for their hands to explore.

Is this a sudden change?

A sudden change probably indicates a problem other than the brief itself.

Look for signs that the person might be uncomfortable, especially in the abdomen or perineal area.

Possible conditions that could cause discomfort include:

Urinary tract infection
Constipation
Hemorrhoids
Dehydration
Rash
Pressure ulcer or skin breakdown

Special clothing for special situations

Although there are specialty clothing designed to prevent people from removing their own clothing – such as a jumpsuit with a zipper in the back – there are ethical concerns about restricting normal access to one’s body. They can cause distress in some cases.

In many places, these types of clothing are considered restraints.

What if the Person with Dementia won’t Change their Brief when Needed?

There are many potential complications of wearing a soiled brief too long. It greatly increases one’s risk of urinary tract infections, rashes, skin breakdown, and pressure sores.

Unfortunately, it’s an all-too-frequent problem in dementia care.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of unique reasons – and as many potential solutions. A few examples include:

Set them up for independence

Keep pads and supplies easily within sight and reach from the toilet.

Catch them when they’re in the restroom

Getting them onto the toilet in the first place is often the biggest challenge. Once they’re there, it can be much easier to access the brief to change it.

Avoid “taking” anything without giving something in return

Hand them a clean pad to hold while you swap out the soiled one for another.

Spare their pride

Present non-rinse soap, wetness barrier cream, or other appropriate skincare products as a medical treatment, for example, to “prevent infection” or to “protect your skin.”

Not only are these statements true, they also take the focus off of their incontinence, which can spare their pride – and their need to fight for it.

Incontinence can be Embarrassing, Inconvenient and Challenging

Successfully managing it can make a big difference in terms of quality of life, physical health and mental well-

At What Stage of Dementia Does Incontinence Occur?

Laura Herman Blog, Signs March 6, 2021August 13, 2023dementia, incontinence

It is essential to understand at what stage of dementia does incontinence occur to prepare accordingly (in advance).

Up to 70% of people with dementia develop incontinence (urinating or defecating involuntarily).

What Stage of Dementia is Incontinence?

It’s especially common in later stages of dementia due to an assortment of reasons.

Some are directly related to dementia, while others aren’t. Physical changes that occur with other conditions or with the aging process also can contribute.

Why do People with Dementia Become Incontinent?

People with dementia may become incontinent for a variety of reasons – and often, for several at once.

Stress Incontinence

Many older women experience “stress incontinence.”

When the weakened bladder muscles are “stressed” by a sneeze or a laugh, they may leak small amounts of urine.

Urge Incontinence

Urge incontinence is a common condition among elders, characterized by a sudden and intense need to urinate, followed by the loss of a large amount of urine.

Functional Incontinence

Mobility challenges can make it hard to get to the toilet on time.

Difficulty Managing Clothing

Unzipping or unbuttoning pants can become a challenge due to various reasons, including arthritis or cognitive changes.

Communication Deficits

People with dementia may be unable to communicate the need to use the restroom.

Cognitive Changes

A person may forget how to complete the sequence of events needed to successfully remove clothing and use the toilet.

The brain may become less able to recognize the signal from the body that it needs the bathroom.

Difficulty finding the bathroom, recognizing the toilet, or comprehending how to use it can present a major barrier.

Incontinence Products

	Product	Features
	Prevail Air plus Daily Brief	Soft & breathable Ultimate absorbency Pack of 4 (18 count) Night & day Skin smart Omni-odor guard
	Wellness Superio Series BriefsBrand: Unique Wellness	Fully Absorb up to 2.6L Wide absorbent core Resealable landing zone for easy adjustment White with a nylon based crinkle-free plastic Value for money Stays dry for 8+ hours Award winner/ Featured on Discovery Channel
	One Piece Waterproof Snap-on Diaper Cover BriefBrand: Salk	Lightweight Softness of cloth 100% waterproof Polyester/urethane outer Brushed polyester inner Super-absorbent pad 3-ply inner layer Waterproof outer layer Washable
	SOSecure Containment Swim BriefBrand: Discovery Trekking Outfitters	Discreet Swimming Undergarment Durable Polyurethane Fabric Fleece Lining Hook and Loop Closure (Easy) Elastic Waist & Legs Machine Washable Latex Free
	Prevail Overnight Bladder Control PadsBrand: First Quality	For Women Dri-Fit cotton enhanced QUICK WICK Layer and cotton Odor Guard
	Depend Men GuardsBrand: Kimberly Clark	Adhesive strips to hold guard in place Individually wrapped Discreet- pocket-sized pouch Easy carrying and disposal Contoured design Cup-shaped protection for men One size fits most
	Medline Incontinence Bed Pads	Underpads 50 count 36"X36" Heavy absorbancy Polypropylene backing (protects against leakage & resists melting) Ideal for overnight use
	Inspire Washable and Reusable Incontinence Chair or Bed Pads	Washable/reusable Solves incontinence problems Safely absorbs & lock in liquids Soft & comfortable Non-irritating
	Bariatric 2X-Large UnderwearBrand: Attends	Improved side panels (better comfort & fit) Acquisition layer Super absorbent polymer Tear-away sides (easy removal) Looks & feels like regular underwear Bag of 12
	Depend Mens Maximum Absorbency UnderwearBrand: Kimberly Clark	Outstanding protection Improved underwear-like fit Brief-like leg opening Heavy incontinence Soft, quiet, breathable material Conforms to the body
	AIRCUTE Washable Absorbent Urine Incontinence Underwear for Women	6 layers High waist Absorbent & leakproof Washable Breathable Comfortable
	Prevail Adult WashclothBrand: First Quality	Super strong & soft fabric (12" x 8") Stay-open & easy-close lid Press 'N' Pull lid Super strong soft fabric Aloe & lanolin Lid closes tightly

How to Minimize Urinary Incontinence

There are many ways to minimize urinary incontinence. The solution for each individual will depend on the cause, or causes, in their unique case.

A multi-pronged approach, tailor-fit to their situation, will likely be most effective.

Locate the Toilet

Placing signs, or a trail of masking tape on the floor, to help the person find the toilet may help.

Sometimes pictures are easier for the person to understand than written words.

Keep the light on in the bathroom, or place a portable commode, or urinal, at the bedside to help someone who has trouble finding the bathroom during the night.

Replace Troublesome Clothing

Elastic waistbands can make toileting easier for those who have difficulty managing buttons or zippers.

Watch for Non-Verbal Clues

Pay attention to the person’s non-verbal communication. Even if they can’t always articulate that they need the bathroom, people often show outward behavioral signs.

Common signs of needing the restroom include:

Fidgeting with or removing clothing
Pacing, wandering or going in and out of different rooms
Peering around frantically

Toileting Plan

One of the best ways to minimize incontinence is to develop a personalized toileting plan based on the person’s needs.

Initially, the “plan” may be as simple and informal as reminding the person to use the bathroom before leaving the house.

Over time, the frequency and amount of oversight or assistance may increase.

Pay attention to when the person usually needs the restroom and try to anticipate it.

Remind or assist them regularly just before they are likely to need it.

Example:

Larry is a senior with middle-stage Alzheimer’s Disease. He has difficulty recognizing when he needs to urinate, and usually doesn’t get to the toilet on time. He wears incontinent briefs, which used to be wet almost every time he went to the bathroom.

His wife, Roberta, used to ask him if he needed the bathroom, but he would always tell her “no”. Now, however, she doesn’t ask him. Instead, she walks with him to the restroom regularly – when he wakes up, before each meal, after dinner and before bed.

She also wakes him up around midnight and again around 5:00 a.m. If she doesn’t wake him up he will usually wake up on his own around 1:00 and 6:00 in a rush to find the bathroom. Not only is this upsetting to him, it is unsafe because he won’t slow down enough to use his walker.

With this plan, Larry’s brief has rarely been wet at all over the past several months. However, last week he started taking a new diuretic medication to reduce the swelling in his legs, and he immediately started to have accidents again. When Larry went to the toilet before lunch his incontinent brief was soaked.

After a few days, Roberta was able to adjust the plan to the new needs. She started walking Larry to use the toilet after breakfast, and again around 10:30. Larry is back to enjoying accident-free days at this time.

The Importance of Sleep

It’s worth thinking twice about waking up someone with dementia to prevent overnight incontinence. Sleep deprivation can seriously impact both physical and mental health.

It can also worsen the symptoms of dementia.

Depending on the situation, it may be worth considering a quality night brief instead.

These special briefs are designed for extended wear and can absorb large amounts of urine, keeping it away from the person’s skin.

Regular briefs should not be worn if they are wet. Extremely damaging to skin, it also increases the risk of urinary tract infections and pressure ulcers.

Keep Drinking

Some elders avoid drinking fluids because they are afraid of having to urinate more or having an accident.

However, dehydration is a serious concern for elders. It can worsen confusion, contribute to falls, or lead to a medical emergency.

Elders with dementia tend to be at especially high risk for dehydration.

Caffeine and certain medications can cause an increase in urination, which can contribute to both incontinence and dehydration. In general, it’s a good idea to avoid caffeine and to take the diuretic medication in the early waking hours.

Always discuss medications, including what time they are taken, with the person’s doctor.

Talk to the Doctor

There are medications for “overactive bladder”, but beware: this is not the cause of most incontinence in dementia.

Furthermore, some of these medications can worsen dementia symptoms significantly.

There are also other potential treatments for incontinence depending on its cause. Discuss all medications and any concerns about incontinence with the person’s doctor.

Watch for Urinary Tract Infections

Sudden onset or increase in incontinence can be a sign of a medical condition, such as a urinary tract infection.

UTI’s can greatly impact the health and behavior of a person with dementia. Other signs that may indicate an infection could include:

Fever
Increased confusion
Changes in behavior
Dark or odorous urine
Discomfort with urination
Low back pain

If incontinence is new or sudden, talk with the person’s doctor.

High Blood Pressure and Alzheimer’s Risk

Petra Boh Blog, Causes March 4, 2021October 16, 2021alzheimer's disease, blood pressure, high blood pressure

New research suggests there may be a link between hypertension or high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood pushing against blood vessels becomes too high.

This can cause harm because it stresses not only the blood vessels but the heart as well.

The blood vessels cease to function properly because they have to work harder than normal.

Over time, the arteries will become narrower which can result in problems such as stroke, kidney failure, or heart disease.

Damaged small blood vessels can also negatively affect the sections of the brain responsible for memory and thinking.

Blood Pressure and Alzheimer’s Risk

Persons with higher blood pressure are also more likely to have brain lesions. These are the areas of dead tissues that develop because of low blood supply.

AHA statistics report that about 46% of America’s adult population has blood pressure. Not to mention, 16% do not even know they have the condition.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Dementia is a general term for the progressive loss of memory and other cognitive abilities that can seriously interfere with a person’s day-to-day life.

High blood pressure can affect the brain

Scientists believe that hypertension can also affect a person’s brain to the extent of developing some of the main markers for AD.

A study published in Neurology states that seniors who have higher average blood pressure compared to their age-mates are more likely to develop plaques and tangles in the brain which are both markers for Alzheimer’s.

The study had 1,288 participants who were 65 years and older. The researchers conducted annual cognitive testing and blood pressure checks on the subjects.

Moreover, experts also kept track of the medications the participants took and their medical histories. They also agreed to go through a brain autopsy after death to look for signs of brain aging like plaques and tangles.

Researchers discovered that persons who had higher than average blood pressure had more dead tissues resulting from strokes (blocked blood flow) as well as tangles and plaques.

Dr. Claudia Padilla, a neurologist, explained that plaques and tangles happen when proteins that the body produces break down into toxic forms which significantly affect neurons in the brain.

Director of global science initiatives at Alzheimer’s Association, James Hendrix, Ph.D. notes that damage that the toxic proteins cause is only part of the problem.

He said that lack of sufficient blood flow affects how the brain works around damaged tissue which can worsen symptoms of brain tissue damage.

Hypertension may not be the warning sign of AD

Padilla also stated that because this was an observational study on the relationship between blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease, the results do not prove that hypertension causes warning signs of AD.

The study did not determine how higher average late-life blood pressure ends up increasing plaques and tangles in the brain.

However, she added that the study found a clear association between higher blood pressure in late life and the presence of protein plaques and tangles which are symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Based on the findings of the study, Padilla considers it important to control blood pressure as a strategy for preventing cognitive decline.

In another interesting study on the relationship between blood pressure and Alzheimer’s, a Johns Hopkins analysis of formerly gathered data revealed that individuals who took prescribed blood pressure medication were half as likely to develop AD than those who did not.

The report established earlier work from researchers at Johns Hopkins who found that using potassium-sparing diuretics reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s by about 75%.

The risk was reduced by a third for persons who used any kind of antihypertensive drugs. Director of Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer’s Treatment Constantine Lyketsos, M.D said that they found that if a person did not have Alzheimer’s and they were taking blood pressure medication, they were less likely to develop dementia.

He continues to say that if a person developed dementia from AD and was taking certain antihypertensive, the illness was less likely to progress.

They were not sure if this connection arises from better management of blood pressure or there are specific drugs that end up interfering with processes that relate to AD. Lyketsos suspected that both play a role.

Controlling your levels of blood pressure is important

An in-depth examination of long-term data from 4 countries by a team of global scientists also supported the idea that controlling high blood pressure can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

The experts cross-referenced data from 6 large longitudinal studies. They observed the heath of more than 31,000 adults who were 55 years and above.

The scientists analyzed data from community-based comprehensive health studies conducted between 1987 and 2008 in France, United States, Netherlands, and Iceland.

They looked into 5 primary types of blood pressure drugs diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, and angiotensin II receptor blockers.

The data was divided into 2 groups; 15, 553 people with normal blood pressure, and 15,537 people with high blood pressure.

In all, there were 1,741 Alzheimer’s disease diagnoses over time.

The results showed that treating hypertension reduced the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 16% regardless of the type of antihypertensive medication a person was on.

In other words, it is important to take the link between lowering blood pressure and Alzheimer’s risk seriously.

High blood pressure medication can boost blood flow to the brain

A small clinical trial also revealed that using blood pressure medication for treatment can enhance blood flow to key brain regions in persons with Alzheimer’s disease.

The research was part of a larger trial that was looking into whether nilvadipine could improve thinking and memory skills with persons with Alzheimer’s.

It involved a trial of 44 participants who had mild to moderate AD. The average age of the participants was 77 years.

They were randomly assigned to either use blood pressure medication nilvadipine or inactive placebo pills for 6 months. At the end of the trial, specialized MRI scans showed the persons on the drugs recorded a 20% increase in blood flow to the hippocampus.

This is the structure of the brain that is involved in learning and memory.

These are the first areas that Alzheimer’s damages.

Persons on the real drug also indicated that their blood pressure dropped by eleven points when compared to the group that was on the placebo.

Experts, however, acknowledged that the size of the study was too small and short.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to conclusively indicate whether enhanced blood flow could have effects on the symptoms.

The lead author Dr. Jurgen Claassen hoped that future research could give a better answer to the query and it should mostly focus on persons with early Alzheimer’s.

He, however, explained that persons with early-stage AD showed benefits.

Closing Remarks

Even though several studies have linked high blood pressure to Alzheimer’s symptoms more research is still required.

The findings of the studies affirm that what’s good for the heart is also good for the brain.

We can reduce hypertension through various lifestyle changes like physical exercise, eating a healthy diet, and reducing sodium. Some medications can also help lower blood pressure.

Do Concussions Cause Alzheimer’s Disease?

Petra Boh Blog, Causes March 4, 2021October 16, 2021alzheimer's, alzheimer's disease, concussion

There has been a lot of concern as to whether concussions cause Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the medical field.

This is mostly because the immediate effects of a head injury can include symptoms that are seen in the disease. These would be memory loss, confusion, and changes in speech, personality, and vision.

Can Concussions Increase Risk for Alzheimer’s

These symptoms can quickly vanish, last for some time, or become permanent depending on the severity of the injury.

Also, the symptoms that develop after an injury in most cases will not become worse over time something synonymous with AD.

This said some kinds of head injuries increase the risk of a person developing Alzheimer’s later in life.

Concussions can stimulate cognitive decline

Research reveals that concussions can accelerate the development of cognitive decline and brain atrophy.

These relate to Alzheimer’s in people who are at the genetic risk of this progressive illness.

This is especially true for people who carry one form of the APOE (apolipoprotein) gene. This gene has the potential to increase the risk of AD.

These findings are documented in the journal Brain and they show promise of identifying the influence that concussions have on neurodegeneration.

One of the environmental risk factors of developing neurodegenerative illnesses such as late-onset Alzheimer’s is a moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury.

It is still not yet clear whether concussion or mild traumatic brain injury also contribute to increasing the risk.

Several studies have been conducted to try and establish the link between Alzheimer’s disease and concussions. Check out details of a few of these studies below.

Researchers from BUSM (Boston University School of Medicine), observed 160 war veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq.

The group comprised some people who had never suffered a concussion and others who had suffered one or more concussions.

The researchers measured the thickness of the participant’s cerebral cortex using MRI imaging in 7 regions. These are usually the first to indicate atrophy in AD and 7 control regions.

The experts stated that they found that lower cortical thickness in some of the regions of the brain caused by a concussion was first to be affected in AD.

Assistant professor of psychiatry at BUSM and research psychologist at the National Centre for PTSD Jasmeet Hayes, Ph.D. and corresponding author of the study explained that the results suggested that concussions when combined with genetic factors may be associated with accelerated memory decline and cortical thickness in areas that are relevant to Alzheimer’s.

Concussions have an impact on the young brain, too

The researchers noted that the brain abnormalities appeared in a relatively young group. The average age of the participants was 32 years.

The researchers translated this to imply that the influence of concussions on neurodegeneration can be detected early in a person’s lifetime.

They, therefore, advised that after suffering a concussion, it is important to document as much as possible.

But at least when it happened and the symptoms that a person showcased. This is because when concussions combine with other factors like genetics, they can cause long-term health consequences.

The experts were hopeful that other researchers will build on their findings to give a clear answer when asked if concussions cause Alzheimer’s disease.

Head injuries can cause AD twice as likely

Another study revealed that young adults who suffer from moderate or severe head injury are two times likely to develop AD later in life.

This was after Dr. Brenda Plassman and her colleagues from Duke University Medical Centre in Durham, North Carolina conducted research trying to find the link between Alzheimer’s and head injury in over 7000 US marine and Navy veterans from World War II.

The subjects of the study included 548 veterans who had experienced a head injury and 1228 who did not have any head injuries.

The experts discovered that people with a history of head injury were more than double the risk of developing AD.

Moderate head injury was associated with a 2.3 times increase in risk.

In addition to that, severe head injury was associated with more than 4 times the risk.

Severe head injury, in this case, was one where a person remained unconscious and was admitted to a hospital.

Moderate injury referred to bouts of amnesia or loss of consciousness that lasts for less than 30 minutes after the injury.

Do genes have a role?

The experts also went ahead to test for the presence of the apolipoprotein E gene. Participants who had this gene were 14 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

Because there was no apparent relationship with a head injury and APOE gene, the researchers suggested that more work is necessary.

This will allow us to understand the effects of the gene and a head injury better. Potentially, more research will also give a better understanding of the causes of AD.

Yet another study reported that brain scans of elderly persons with a prior head injury and poor memory have more build-up of plaque associated with AD which supports that concussions may cause Alzheimer’s disease.

In this study associate professor of neurology and epidemiology at Mayo Clinic Rochester and her team evaluated 448 residents of Olmsted County who did not have any signs of memory problems.

They also studied 141 residents who had mild cognitive impairment (thinking and memory problems).

All the participants of this study were 70 years and above.

Before the study, they all reported whether they had experienced a brain injury that caused the loss of memory or consciousness.

The researchers conducted brain scans on all the subjects.

The results revealed that persons who had cognitive impairment and concussion history had amyloid plaques levels that were 18% higher than those who did not have a history of head trauma but had cognitive impairment.

They concluded that the link between concussions and AD is quite complex. This is because the results showed an association but not a cause and effect link.

Risk Factors for Developing Alzheimer’s After a Concussion

Scientific research supports the idea that suffering concussions may increase the chances of a person developing AD.

Some factors also seem to affect the risk of concussions causing Alzheimer’s disease and these include:

Age

The age when a person suffers from a concussion may have an impact on whether they end up developing AD.

Several studies suggest that suffering concussions at a young age increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This applies to when a person is older.

The severity of the Injury

The risk of concussions causing Alzheimer’s disease increases with the severity of the injury.

Repeated mild injuries may also increase an individual’s risk for future problems with reasoning and thinking.

Conclusion

Keep in mind, although concussions can increase the risk of developing AD, other factors also play a role.

Not everyone who suffers a severe head injury will end up developing the disease.

More research is still necessary to understand the link between Alzheimer’s disease and concussions.

What is the Average Age for Alzheimer’s Disease?

Petra Boh Blog, Signs March 4, 2021October 16, 2021age, alzheimer's, alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common causes of dementia among seniors which leads to the question of what is the average age for Alzheimer’s.

What is the typical age for Alzheimer’s?

There are two categories of Alzheimer’s disease, which we further investigate below.

Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

Late-onset AD normally affects people who are 60 years and above when Alzheimer’s symptoms become more apparent.

National Institute on Aging reports that the number of individuals who have AD doubles after 5 years for persons who are above 65 years.

Around 3% of women and men who are between the ages of 65-74 have the illness.

Almost half of those who are 85 years and older are diagnosed with AD.

A study performed in East Boston, Massachusetts observing 32,000 non-institutionalized persons aged 65 and above revealed that the prevalence of AD was 10% for seniors who were 65 years and over and 47% for those who are older than 85.

Pharmaceutical Technology reports that the prevalence of AD increases as a person grows older.

However, the greatest burden of the progressive disease exists in persons between the ages of 80-89 years.

Keep in mind that although increasing age is one of the risk factors for AD, old age does not make a person develop Alzheimer’s.

Many people live well into their 90s without developing AD.

Researchers have not pin-pointed the exact gene that causes late-onset Alzheimer’s.

Nonetheless, there is a single genetic risk factor that involves having one allele or form of APOE (apolipoprotein E) gene on chromosome 19 which is known to increase an individual’s risk.

Early-Onset Alzheimer’s

Although Alzheimer’s is common in older adults, this is not always the case.

It is important to note that the average age for Alzheimer’s is not limited to people who are above 60.

It can also affect younger individuals who are in their 30s and 40s.

This, however, is a rare occurrence that accounts for about 5% of people who have Alzheimer’s disease.

When this happens, we call it younger-onset or early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Research shows that an inherited change in one of the three genes causes some of the cases.

Still, other generic components can cause the rest of the cases. Experts are working to identify other genetic risk variants for young-onset AD.

Experts believe that the age a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s usually has a huge impact on their life expectancy.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health revealed that a person can live longer after an earlier diagnosis.

They discovered that the average survival rate for individuals who get AD diagnosis at the age of 65 is about 8 years.

This is different for people who get their diagnosis at 90 years because their average life expectancy is around 3 years.

Reasons Rate of Alzheimer’s Disease Increases with Age

When talking about the average age for Alzheimer’s, it is important to discuss the reasons the illness increases with age.

Healthy brains clear out amyloid-beta (proteins that cause AD) regularly. This ability tends to slow down as people grow older.

A study from The Washington University School of Medicine shows that for people in their 30’s a healthy brain will clear amyloid-beta every 4 hours.

When a person is 80 the brain may take at least 10 hours to complete the job. This may explain the relationship between Alzheimer’s and age.

Obesity and Alzheimer’s Disease – Risk?

Petra Boh Blog, Causes March 3, 2021October 16, 2021alzheimer's disease, obesity

When looking into the risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), researchers have been paying close attention to the relationship between obesity and Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s Association reports that over 5 million people in the US are living with AD. Unfortunately, we expect this number to rise to almost 14 million by 2050.

Does Obesity Increase Alzheimer’s Risk?

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disorder that results in loss of memory, cognitive skills, and also causes changes in behavior.

The increasing rate of this progressive illness means that it is important to identify the biomarkers that tell when a person is at high risk of developing AD.

Early diagnosis can lead to the development of treatment and prevention strategies with a positive impact.

What is obesity?

We can describe obesity as a complex condition that involves too much body fat according to Mayo Clinic.

This increases the risk of a person suffering other health problems like diabetes, heart diseases, certain cancers, and high blood pressure.

Experts also state that obesity is one of the risk factors for developing AD.

This is because obesity often leads to insulin resistance. Data suggests that in middle age, insulin resistance can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease through numerous pathways.

These include dysfunctional brain insulin and decreased brain glucose metabolism which can result in increased amyloid deposition as well as reduced brain volume.

Results from human and animal studies show that subjects with AD have increased brain insulin resistance.

Worth noting is that excessive insulin in a person’s bloodstream ends up interfering with the energy supply in the brain. This is primarily because it lowers the amount of glucose or fuel that reaches the brain.

Obesity can contribute to Alzheimer’s

Over the years, research has revealed that obesity and related comorbidities as potential contributors to Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology.

This suggests that conditions like poor-quality diet, diabetes, and a sedentary lifestyle may be part of AD’s modifiable risk factors.

A study published in Obesity Reviews examined possible mechanisms in the relationship between AD and obesity.

This also included recommended treatment strategies that may play a role in the development as well as the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Reports from numerous animal and human studies suggest that there is a link between obesity and Alzheimer’s.

Obesity and higher body mass index (BMI) have been linked to reduced white matter, brain atrophy, cognitive decline, the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, and an increased risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s.

The calculated effect size of obesity for the neurodegenerative disease was 1.54 according to various results from longitudinal epidemiological studies.

Strong evidence points to midlife obesity as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s.

A cross-sectional study that was published in Obesity revealed that there is an inverse relationship between cognitive function and BMI among healthy middle-aged adults.

Several observational studies have also reported that obesity in mid-life increases the risk of dementia later in life.

Weight loss can occur later in life due to the disease

Even though there seems to be a connection between obesity and Alzheimer’s, this association tends to shift later in life.

According to the statistics about 20%-45% of patients with Alzheimer’s tend to experience weight loss as the illness progresses.

There may be a possibility that a decline in BMI that goes before AD diagnosis may be related to the neurodegeneration sections of the brain that are responsible for homeostatic weight regulation.

Several factors can contribute to weight loss including decreased motivation for self-care, https://readementia.com/why-do-dementia-patients-stop-eating/, paying less attention to mealtime, social withdrawal, and altered metabolism amongst others.

At times, genetic factors might also come into play.

For instance, there have been reports on a connection between increased weight loss in AD and the presence of the APOE gene.

Inappropriate diet has a degenerating impact on the body and mind

Another study on the association between obesity and Alzheimer’s suggests that when HFS (high-sugar and high-fat) diet linked to obesity is paired with normal aging, it can lead to the development of AD.

You can find the details of this study in Physiological Reports. The study was conducted by researchers from Brock University in Ontario, Canada.

They chose to look at the effects of an obesity-inducing diet on insulin signaling which is the process that lets the body know how to use sugar as well as markers of cellular stress, and inflammation.

These are some of the factors that play a role in the progression of Alzheimer’s during the aging process in mice.

There were two groups of mice one on a normal diet and the other on HSF.

The researchers measured the animals’ stress and inflammation levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus areas of the brain after 13 weeks of the allocated diets.

The prefrontal cortex oversees complex cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functions. The hippocampus deals with long-term memory.

Obesity affects aging and brain functioning

After comparing the two groups of mice, the experts found that the HFS had higher markers for insulin resistance, inflammation, and cellular stress in the hippocampus region.

This is thought to play a role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Their prefrontal cortex region also showed more signs of insulin resistance.

On the other hand, there were no alterations in cellular stress and inflammation markers.

The researchers concluded that the region-specific differences between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in regards to aging with an HFS diet shows that the pathology of the disease is not uniform in all section of the brain.

When compared to baseline readings, the control group also recorded an increase in inflammation levels.

The results according to this study indicate that although age plays a role in the progression of AD, obesity also worsens the effects of aging on the function of the brain.

The research team acknowledged that their study offers fresh details to the mechanistic link between obesity and Alzheimer’s.

This is regarding the pathways that lead to the early progression of AD and the negative effects that the HFS diet has on the hippocampal and prefrontal cortex regions of the brain.

Obesity and Alzheimer’s Conclusion

After talking about the link between obesity and Alzheimer’s, it is important for people to manage their weight well especially during mid-life or better yet earlier to reap the benefits later in life.

A healthy diet and proper exercise are key to reducing the risk of a myriad of health problems including Alzheimer’s disease.

Multi-Infarct Dementia: What Is It?

Petra Boh Blog, Types March 3, 2021October 16, 2021dementia, multi-infarct dementia, stroke, vascular dementia

A kind of dementia, multi-Infarct dementia (MID) is a type of vascular dementia that is caused by multiple strokes.

It is also considered to be the second-most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease.

The strokes interrupt blood flow to the brain, which ends up affecting how the organ functions.

A brain infarct or stroke happens due to the block or interruption of blood flow to any part of the brain.

Everything You Need To Know About Multi-Infarct Dementia

Blood transports oxygen and other essential nutrients to the brain. When the brain lacks oxygen, it causes the death of brain tissues.

Multi-Infract imply that multiple areas in the brain have been injured because of lack of blood from a series of small strokes.

There are times when blockages of the brain cause an infarction (stroke) without any stroke symptoms.

These are known as “silent” strokes which are known to increase an individual’s risk of getting vascular dementia.

If someone experiences a series of small strokes over time, they may end up developing infarct dementia.

Symptoms of Multi-Infarct Dementia

The type of symptoms a person gets often depends on the area of the brain that the stroke has damaged.

At times the symptoms appear suddenly after a stroke or they may appear slowly over time.

We can categorize MID warning signs into two major sections as seen below.

Early Dementia Symptoms

Loss of executive function
Getting lost in familiar places or wandering
Short-term memory loss or confusion
Losing bowel or bladder control
Walking with shuffling rapid steps
Crying or laughing inappropriately
Challenges performing routine tasks like paying bills
Personality changes
Losing interest in activities or things that were previously enjoyed

Late-Stage Symptoms

As the disease progresses, a person may also experience other symptoms such as:

Hallucinations/delusions
Problems with simple tasks like meal preparation and dressing
Changes in sleep patterns
Memory loss
Social withdrawal
Poor judgment
Depression

Some individuals may go through periods where they seem to improve and then decline after experiencing small strokes.

MID Risk Factors

Some of the risk factors that increase a person’s risk of getting this disease include:

Medical Conditions

Diabetes, heart failure, previous strokes, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, cognitive decline prior to the stroke, and hardening of the arteries are some of the medical conditions that increase the risk of MID.

Age

Increasing age is a common risk factor for all types of dementia including MID.

The disease mostly affects persons who are between the ages of 60-75. In some rare cases, some people get the illness before they celebrate their 60th birthday.

Research also shows that men are slightly more likely to develop the disease than women.

Lifestyle Risk Factors

These include alcohol consumption, smoking, little to no physical activity, poor diet, and low level of education.

Diagnosing Multi-Infarct Dementia

There is no single test that can determine whether a person has MID or not. Worth noting is that each MID case is not the same.

One person may experience severe memory impairment while another individual may only experience mild memory loss.

Diagnosis can also be difficult because it is possible for a person to have both Alzheimer’s disease and MID making it challenging for a doctor to diagnose either of the diseases.

Medics base diagnosis on a number of factors such as:

History of stepwise mental decline
Blood pressure reading
Neurological exam
Blood tests
Physical Exams: this is where the doctor will ask questions pertaining to diet, sleep patterns, medications, past strokes, personal habits, stressful events, recent illness, and other medical issues.
Ruling out other causes of dementia like depression, diabetes, anemia, high cholesterol, brain tumors, carotid stenosis, chronic infections, thyroid disease, drug intoxication, vitamin deficiency, and high blood pressure.
Radiological imaging tests such as X-rays, CT & MRI scans that detail tiny areas of tissue that died from lack of adequate blood supply, electroencephalograms that measure the electrical activity of the brain, and transcranial doppler that is used to measure the velocity of blood flow through the blood vessels in the brain

MID Treatment Options

Currently, there is no treatment for multi-infarct dementia.

Experts have not yet discovered how to reverse brain damage that occurs after a stroke. Treatment options mainly focus on preventing strokes from reoccurring in the future.

This is done by putting in place measures to avoid or control the medical conditions and diseases that put individuals at risk of experiencing strokes.

Stroke risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol.

Treatment is also tailored to a person’s individual and most of them will include:

Medications

Doctors may prescribe certain medications to help improve symptoms such as:

Folic acid
Memantine
Hydergine
Nimodipine
Angiotensin: these help to lower blood pressure by converting enzyme inhibitors
Calcium channel blockers that help with short-term cognitive function
Some serotonin reuptake inhibitors that are antidepressants which may help neurons grow in a bid to re-establish connections in the brain

Healthy Lifestyle Habits

Practicing healthy habits is also key when it comes to MID treatment and some of them include:

Maintaining a healthy weight
Not smoking
Moderately using alcohol
Exercising
Eating a healthy diet

Alternative Therapies

Herbal supplements are also common when it comes to treating MID. However, more studies are still necessary to prove their efficiency.

Some of the herbal supplements that are being studied for use in MID treatment are:

Lemon Balm: A great alternative to restore memory
Wormwood: It enhances cognitive function
Water Hyssop: Used to improve intellectual function and memory

It is important to consult a doctor before taking any supplements to be on the safe side.

Other treatment options include rehabilitation therapy for mobility problems and cognitive training to help regain mental function.

Caregiver Support

Relatives and friends of persons with MID can help them cope with their physical and mental problems.

This can be done by encouraging regular physical and social activities as well as daily routines to help reinforce mental abilities.

Alarm clocks, calendars, and lists are useful when it comes to reminding the affected persons of important events and times.

MID Prognosis

The prognosis for persons with multi-infarct dementia is not clear.

This is mostly because the symptoms of the disease can appear all over sudden after each small stroke mostly in a step-wise pattern.

Some individuals with the disorder can appear to improve after some time and then decline after experiencing silent strokes.

The disease will spiral downwards with intermittent periods of fast deterioration. Some people may die after a MID diagnosis while others will survive many years.

Death may also occur from heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, or other infections.

Is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Reversible?

Petra Boh Blog, Prevention, Signs March 2, 2021October 16, 2021dementia, normal pressure hydrocephalus, nph

One of the questions that often comes up when looking into the reversible causes of dementia has got to be “is normal pressure hydrocephalus reversible?”

Before answering this query, it is important to discuss what normal pressure hydrocephalus (NHP) is.

What is Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

The brain has chambers that are known as ventricles. These ventricles usually contain a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which protects and cushions the spinal cord and the brain.

It is also responsible for supplying them with nutrients and eliminating some waste products. The body typically makes enough CSF that it absorbs daily.

However, there are times when too much of the fluid builds up in the ventricles leading to NPH.

This can result in brain damage because the extra fluid can cause expansion of the ventricles which puts pressure on the brain tissues.

NPH mostly affects the parts of the brain that control the bladder, legs, and mental cognitive processes like reasoning, memory, speaking, and problem-solving.

Even though NPH can affect anyone, it is common among seniors who are in their 60s and 70s.

Appropriately 700,000 Americans are living with NPH according to Hydrocephalus Association. It is also known as “treatable dementia.”

This is because it is one of the dementia causes that can be reversed or controlled with treatment.

Causes of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Several factors contribute to excess fluid build-up in the brain ventricles and these may include:

Brain surgery
Infection
Head injuries
Bleeding around the brain
Brain tumors
Stroke
Worth noting is that some people will develop NPH even in the absence of the factors above

Symptoms of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Examples of NPH warning signs include:

Confusion
Mood Changes
Apathy
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Difficulties thinking
Depression
Challenges with responding to questions
Speech problems
Nausea
Headache
Problems with vision
Mild dementia that may involve loss in interest in day to day activities, challenges completing routine tasks as well as short-term memory loss and forgetfulness
Having trouble walking, falling, changes in the way a person walks, poor balance, and getting stuck or freezing when a person wants to walk

Diagnosing NPH

It is usually challenging to diagnose normal pressure hydrocephalus because its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Many cases go unnoticed because the disorder is usually misdiagnosed.

This means that it often goes untreated. Doctors may use several tests to rule out other conditions and diagnose NPH such as:

Brain scans (MRI or CT)
Cisternography: this is a test that highlights the absorption of CSF
Intracranial pressure monitoring: this is a diagnostic test that helps medics determine if there is low or high CSF pressure causing symptoms.
A Lumbar catheter or spinal tap: this is a procedure that measures CSF pressure. Doctors also use this to remove some of the fluid located close to the spinal cord for analysis to help them spot any abnormalities that may direct them to the problem
Medical interviews where doctors ask a person about the symptoms they are experiencing, past and current mental and medical problems, medications a person is taking, family medical problems, habits and lifestyle as well as travel and work experiences.
Detailed physical exams that may include testing mental status, neuropsychological tests, and lab tests that help to rule out other medical conditions with similar symptoms.

Treating NPH

You will be happy to learn that normal pressure hydrocephalus is reversible.

In most cases persons will NPH will go through surgery so that medics can place a shunt or tube in the brain to drain off any surplus fluid.

Medics will insert the shunt into a ventricle and then pass it under the skin from a person’s head to their abdomen through the neck and chest.

This way, the excess fluid will flow from the brain into the abdomen where the body will absorb it.

At this point, the ventricles in the brain can go back to their original size.

The shunt can remain in position as long as the brain has too much CSF.

Regular follow-ups by a professional physician are essential because it helps to identify if there are any subtle changes that can show if there is a problem with the shunt.

When implanted properly, the shunt is usually not obvious to other persons and it remains in place for an indefinite period.

Most people will enjoy full recovery after treatment and continue to enjoy a good, quality life.

However, not everyone will benefit from implanting a shunt because the method does not work for a small percentage of individuals.

Although normal pressure hydrocephalus is reversible, its symptoms will become worse when it is left untreated.

It is advisable to get an early diagnosis and prompt treatment because this may increase the chances of good results.

Currently, no other medical treatment or drug has been known to help reverse normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Post-Stroke Dementia and Cognitive Impairment

Rok Krivec Blog, Types March 2, 2021October 16, 2021dementia, post-stroke dementia, stroke

After suffering a stroke, many people will end up with post-stroke dementia (PSD).

This can be any type of dementia from Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, degenerative dementia, mixed dementia or stroke-related dementia.

Post-Stroke Dementia Review

PSD is a common occurrence after a stroke covering for about 6%-32% of the cases.

However, not everyone who has suffered a stroke will end up with dementia.

Others will experience a degree of cognitive impairment that is not severe enough to be categorized as PSD.

ResearchGate reveals that many people will experience mild cognitive impairment after a stroke which may or may not progress to dementia.

Cognitive Impairments

Cognitive impairments are generally divided into several domains that include:

Attention

This can generally be defined as shifting, focusing, sustaining, or dividing attention on a particular task or stimulus.

Executive Function

This has a lot to do with abstract thinking, planning, conflict monitoring, inhibition, and organization of thoughts.

Memory

This mostly affects a person’s ability to recognize or recall verbal or visual information.

Language

It primarily affects an individual’s ability to be receptive or express themselves through language i.e. reading and writing comprehension.

Social Cognition

This defines the recognition of a person’s or other people’s emotional state as well as an understanding of the mind’s theory.

Perception and Praxis

For the most part, it primarily affects visuospatial abilities, apraxia, prosopagnosia, and agnosia.

Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) can be described as a failure in the cognitive domain that happens after a stroke.

Cognitive impairment is a threat to post-stroke recovery for persons of all ages. It can compromise a person’s ability to continue working hence the need to be dependent on others at an early stage.

Unlike physical disability that is caused by stroke, cognitive function normally becomes worse over time.

While cognitive problems usually become worse during the first months after a stroke, there is a chance they can become better as the brain starts to become more active in trying to repair itself.

It is a complicated process because recovery can start to slow down after six months.

Even when cognitive problems do not go away completely, they normally get easier to live with.

This is especially the case when cognitive issues do not lead to dementia.

What Causes Cognitive Impairment

Cognitive issues occur because of the damages that happen to the brain.

Different brain sections are responsible for controlling different aspects.

If one of the areas that control cognition is damaged by stroke, this can affect the way a person does certain things.

Cognitive challenges are quite common after a person experiences post-stroke dementia.

Risk Factors for Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment

After a stroke, the risk factors for cognitive impairment are usually associated with an overlap of dementia and frequent cerebrovascular diseases.

Some of them include:

1. Age: this is a risk factor for both cognitive decline and dementia. The prevalence of cognitive decline increases significantly after the age of 65 according to research by the American Stroke Association.

2. Vascular risk factors like diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation increase the risk of cognitive impairment.

3. Recurring strokes are also documented as a risk factor for cognitive impairment.

4. Education level: this is a conflicting risk factor with some studies suggesting that higher education is related to better cognitive performance.

Diagnosing Cognitive Impairment after Stroke

A neuropsychological examination is one of the methods that is used to assess cognition after a person suffers from a stroke.

In clinical practices, this is conducted from one week to a month after the stroke.

It is different when it comes to research because the examination is performed three months after a stroke.

In some cases, it may not be possible to conduct a neuropsychological examination for persons who have had a stroke because they may be too fatigued or disabled to go through with it.

Shorter screening tests are done as an alternative in such cases for both research and clinical purposes.

Early detection of cognitive impairment is critical because it may help reduce the chances of progressing to post-stroke dementia.

Treatment and Management Options

When it comes to treating cognitive impairment caused by post-stroke dementia, the main options include strategies that range from preventing white matter changes, new strokes, to treating underlying vascular risk factors hypertension.

Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia

Petra Boh Blog, Types March 2, 2021October 16, 2021behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia, bvftd, pick’s disease

Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (BvFTD) is one of the most common types of dementia that is called FTD (frontotemporal dementia).

It accounts for around half of the cases of this disease.

What is BvFTD

Brain condition called FTLD (frontotemporal lobar degeneration) causes FTD. BvFTD is a kind of frontotemporal dementia because it affects the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain.

Another name for the disease is also Pick’s disease. Some doctors also use terms frontotemporal disorder or frontal lobe disorder.

The brain’s frontal lobe controls essential facets of daily life such as emotional control, judgment, behavior, planning, multitasking, inhibition, and executive function.

The temporal lobe, on the other hand, primarily affects language, behavior, and emotional response.

Symptoms of Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia

The symptoms of BvFTD start mildly and progressively become worse over time.

The rate of progression, however, varies from one person to another. A person may experience various emotional and behavioral issues like:

Withdrawal from social interaction
Poor personal hygiene
Abrupt mood changes
Difficulty keeping a job
Disinterest in previously enjoyable activities
Inappropriate or compulsive behavior
Apathy
Hoarding
Repetitiveness

An individual with BvFTD may also experience neurological and language changes such as:

Shrinking vocabulary
Reduced reading and writing skills
Accelerated memory loss
Trouble understanding speech or problems with speaking
Physical weakness
Changes in diet or eating habits
Pacing
Delusions
Repeating or echoing what other people say

The symptoms of this type of dementia usually start showing for people who are between 40-60 years.

In some cases, they can be seen in persons who are as young as 20 years.

Most people with frontotemporal dementia are between ages 45-64.

Persons with Pick’s disease rarely recognize when they change their behaviors or the effect this has on others around them.

Causes of BvFTD

Frontotemporal dementia is normally caused by abnormal amounts of tau which is a kind of nerve cell protein.

These proteins exist in all nerve cells.

If a person has Pick’s disease, the proteins will accumulate into clumps in the brain’s temporal and frontal lobe which can result in the death of cells.

After the cells die, the brain tissue will start to shrink which will result in dementia symptoms.

It is not yet clear what causes the formation of these abnormal proteins in the nerve cells.

Some studies indicate that genetics play a role in the development of this kind of dementia.

This is because about 40% of people with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia usually have a family history of at least one relative who has been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease.

For the rest of the people, the development of this type of dementia is known to be sporadic. It does not relate to genetics, as none of their relatives has FTD.

Stages of Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia

BvFTD usually occurs in three main stages as explained below.

Early Stage BvFTD

The early stages of FTD usually have some unique features. At this stage, memory loss is usually not prevalent.

A person may, however, experience changes in social and personal behavior. Most individuals will start to disregard social boundaries or start engaging in activities that may be deemed inappropriate.

They can end up behaving carelessly, impulsively, and in some cases criminally.

The ability to handle money may deteriorate and the concern for other peoples’ feelings may start to diminish.

Misdiagnosis also occurs often during this initial stage. This is because a specialist can easily misdiagnose or overlook it as a psychiatric condition.

Middle Stage BvFTD

In the middle stage, the symptoms of BvFTD become more similar to those of frontotemporal dementia.

They may even resemble those of other types of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease.

At this point, people with progressive disease may require some assistance with day to day activities like bathing, dressing, and grooming.

Disturbances of behavior became more consistent.

Most people will also start developing language problems.

Late-Stage BvFTD

The final stage of the illness is usually the most challenging. Language and behavior problems become worse and memory deterioration also happens fast.

For most people, it may be necessary to have round-the-clock care to ensure adequate safety and care.

BvFTD Diagnosis

Diagnosis for Pick’s disease (or BvFTD) is usually not an easy task, especially in the early stages.

Many times, medics can misdiagnose it for other conditions like depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, vascular dementia, drug or alcohol dependence, or other psychiatric disorders.

The symptoms a person showcases and the results of neurological examinations are key to behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.

Glucose positron emission scans and brain scans like MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) are also helpful in the diagnosis process.

These must, nonetheless, be interpreted in the context of an individual’s neurological exam and medical history.

Treatment Options

Currently, the FDA has not approved any medication that can be used to treat BvFTD.

In a majority of the cases, it may not be possible to slow down the progression of symptoms.

Environmental and behavioral interventions are considered some of the most effective options for managing symptoms.

Experts advocate for the use of distracting and reassuring tactics instead of challenging disruptive behaviors that can lead to more agitation.

Some doctors can also recommend pharmacological measures to help relieve distressing symptoms. The role of medication in frontotemporal dementia intervention is still not clear.

Selective SSRIs (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are used to treat challenging behaviors.

Antipsychotics like olanzapine have been used on individuals suffering from prominent psychosis and agitation.

Studies are, however, on-going to try and introduce an effective treatment option for BvFTD.

Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia Prognosis

Years after positive BvFTD diagnosis, affected persons usually start to showcase problems with coordination and muscle weakness.

This can leave a person bedbound or needing a wheelchair.

The problems can result in difficulties with chewing, swallowing – eating in general – controlling bladder/bowels, and moving.

In the long run, persons with frontotemporal degenerations die because of physical changes that cause lung, skin, or urinary tract infections.

From the onset of symptoms, the average life expectancy is approximately 8-9 years. Some people may live up to 20 years or more with this progressive disease.