Blog - ReaDementia

Lyme Disease and Dementia/Alzheimer’s

Rok Krivec Blog January 27, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, lyme disease

There has been a lot of interest in the topic of Lyme disease and dementia in the medical world.

This is after several high-profile cases in the media pointed out to experts that there is a need to consider Lyme disease as one of the possible causes of dementia.

We can describe Lyme disease as a bacterial infection that comes about when an infected black-legged tick bites a person.

This tick is also referred to as a deer tick.

Early detection of the disease is vital because taking antibiotics cures the illness.

Regrettably, when it is not detected early enough, the infection grows worse, weakening the immune system and resulting in an array of inflammatory responses.

Can Lyme disease cause dementia?

After staying in the body for more than three months, Lyme becomes very challenging to treat with only antibiotics.

Have a look at examples of cases that suggest that Lyme disease can cause dementia.

Kris Kristofferson’s Illness

A popular case study that crops up when looking at Lyme disease and dementia is the one involving Kris Kristofferson, a legendary singer and songwriter.

Doctors misdiagnosed him, believing that he was either suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.

However, after years, it was discovered that the iconic musician was experiencing memory problems because of untreated Lyme disease.

Doctors thought that Kristofferson had dementia or Alzheimer’s because of the blows he received on his head during his younger years playing football, rugby, and boxing.

He stopped taking Alzheimer’s and depression medication and began treatment for Lyme disease.

His wife reported that there was a significant change in mood and memory.

She continued to state that even though there were some bad days, most of the days Kris acted normal to a point where it was even hard to notice that he was battling an illness.

The Case of a Retired Defence Intelligence Agency

The Washington Post also reported a case from an officer who has worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency.

After surviving Leukaemia, the 81-year man was told that he had dementia. Sandra Boodman, the reporter, wrote that doctors were convinced that the retired agent was battling a fatal type of dementia that was rapidly progressive.

This led him to become delusional, moody, childish, and confused, something that he was not when he was a competent man.

This was a wrong diagnosis.

Later on, doctors discovered that he had Lyme meningoencephalitis when he started having challenges with walking, had tremors in his arms, and was also suffering from incontinence.

After a positive diagnosis for Lyme disease, he immediately started antibiotics for treatment and went on to make a full recovery.

Why Doctors Confuse Lyme Disease and Dementia

Looking at the case studies above, it is clear to see that there are times where doctors will misdiagnose a person who has Lyme disease telling them that they have dementia.

The reason for this is that Lyme can cause or mimic any neurological, psychiatric or medical condition.

It even has a nickname the “great imitator.”

The disease interferes with biochemical processes in the human body, which leads to inflammation, damaged cells, toxicity, and other issues.

It is the primary reason Lyme disease is hugely misdiagnosed and goes untreated.

When you compare Lyme and dementia, you will see that the two conditions share similar symptoms. These include but are not limited to:

Impaired focus/attention/judgement/concentration
Slower mental processing speed
Impaired speech functions
Loss of memory
Getting lost
Disorganization
Insomnia
Panic attacks
Fatigue
Aggression/violence
Movement disorders

In most cases, symptoms of Lyme disease are neurological.

This is because they mostly affect the nervous system and brain even though they still affect other body systems.

Research shows that people who have Lyme disease are at a higher risk of ending up with dementia.

Conflicting Evidence

While most experts believe that there is a sure connection between Lyme disease and dementia, there was a study that disapproves of the relationship between the two.

The research from the University of Toronto Mississauga states that Lyme disease does not cause dementia. A professor by the name of Emeritus Danton O’Day spent time investigating the link between the two.

He collected data about deaths related to Alzheimer’s and Lyme disease from the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Together with his research partner, the professor compared the information to find out if the states with high Lyme disease incidents also had a high number of Alzheimer’s related diseases.

They found out that the states that had the highest number of Lyme disease death reported the lowest numbers of Alzheimer’s related deaths.

Through his research, O’Day concluded that there is no co-relation between Lyme disease and dementia.

Closing Remarks

There is a lot of conflicting information about Lyme disease and dementia. Some experts say that there is a link between the two while others refute this relationship.

This only goes to show that there is a need for more research on the subject to come up with conclusive results on how dementia and Lyme disease co-relate.

Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD)

Rok Krivec Blog, Types January 27, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, parkinson's disease, pdd

A majority of people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) end up with Parkinson’s disease dementia a year or so after diagnosis.

The Alzheimer’s Association reports that about 50-80% of people with Parkinson’s disease end up developing dementia.

It is primarily a result of the changes that happen to the brain because of PD affecting both the structure and chemistry of the organ.

Initially, Parkinson’s disease starts by affecting the region in the brain responsible for movement. It leads to a variety of symptoms like shakiness, shuffling, tremors, muscle stiffness, challenges with initiating movement, stooped posture and lack of facial expressions.

After some time, the changes in the brain may also start to affect other parts of the brain. Specifically, the ones that handle various mental functions, which can include memory as well as the ability to reason or pay attention.

Parkinson’s Dementia: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and more

Essentially, persons with PD start to experience a decline in good sense and thinking.

The primary changes that happen to the brain because of Parkinson’s’ disease dementia are linked to abnormal microscopic deposits mainly composed of a protein known as alpha-synuclein.

These deposits also go by the name Lewy bodies.

Researchers are still looking into how the brain exactly becomes damaged, leading to dementia. Find out more crucial details about the disease below.

Symptoms

Scientists have identified several symptoms that might be an indication that a person has Parkinson’s’ disease dementia, such as:

Changes in judgement, memory & concentration
Anxiety
Problems interpreting visual information
Depression
Sleep disturbances
Muffled speech
Delusions/hallucinations
Changes in appetite and energy levels
Mood swings
Loss of interest

Any person who has PD and experiences the symptoms above needs to notify their doctor.

This enables the professional to observe the individual for both cognitive and movement changes.

When talking about the symptoms, it is also important to note that the appearance of one cognitive sign does not automatically mean that dementia will develop.

Risk Factors

Some risk factors have been identified concerning what can make a person with PD develop dementia-like symptoms.

Advanced age (70+) when a person develops PD
Sleeping too much during the day
More severe movement impairment symptoms when compared to other people with Parkinson’s
Cardiovascular disease
Experiencing hallucinations before the other dementia symptoms set in
History of mild thought impairment
Having specific symptoms that result in a person having trouble when they want to take a step or a person who suddenly stops as they are walking

Diagnosis

To date, there is still no specific test that doctors can use to determine whether a person has Parkinson’s’ disease dementia.

However, there are some guidelines that medics use for the diagnosis process that include:

1. The fact that a person already has Parkinson’s disease and has lived with the illness for a year or more before dementia symptoms showed up.

2. A positive diagnosis of Lewy body dementia when the symptoms that relate to the disease either develop first or are accompanied by symptoms that affect movement. Diagnosis may also occur if the movement symptoms affect a person who has been living with Lewy body dementia for a year.

Outcome

Many changes occur when a person develops Parkinson’s’ disease dementia. A decline in problem-solving, reasoning and thinking are some of the hallmarks of the disease.

The illness can make a person less independent. Progression to advanced stages can also affect concentration, memory, communication, and ability to understand when other people speak.

Treatment

Sadly, there is still no cure for Parkinson’s disease dementia. Worth noting is that the illness often goes unrecognized, perhaps because diagnosis is not a simple task.

The condition is progressive, where it becomes worse as the illness continues to destroy the cells in the brain.

The rate of progression also varies.

Nonetheless, experts continue to offer recommendations that persons with PD dementia can use to manage the illness mainly aiming at relieving symptoms like:

Use of medication

A physician may prescribe drugs like cholinesterase inhibitors that can help with symptoms like sleep disturbances, visual hallucinations, and changes in behavior and thinking.

Individuals with the illness can also take antidepressants to deal with depression.

If you have the illness, you should never take any drug without consulting your doctor to be on the safe side. You should also be careful to avoid taking medications that can escalate cognitive impairment.

Diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol should also be treated quickly as these are known to affect the brain.

Deep brain stimulation

This is one of the treatment options that is highly contradictory.

A clinical trial by scientists from University College London reported that deep brain stimulation is safe and can be tolerated by persons with Parkinson’s disease dementia.

Different therapies

Persons who have PD dementia may also benefit from therapies such as speech, occupational, and physical which can help to improve communication and movement.

Staying physically active and eating right

Research shows that eating a balanced diet, physical exercise, taking limited alcohol and getting enough sleep are some measures that persons can take to promote brain health.

Closing Thoughts

Even though Parkinson’s’ disease dementia is an illness that has been around for years there is still a lot of information we need to know about it.

Researchers continue to try and figure out its exact causes through numerous studies and clinical trials. This may help to figure out appropriate prevention and treatment measures.

Dementia and Football – Is There A Link?

Rok Krivec Blog January 26, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, football

The media has been awash with different headlines about the risk of dementia and football.

This is after new landmark research reported that former professional football players were more likely to die from dementia than their age mates in the general population.

Major head injuries have been known to increase the risk of developing dementia later in life.

A blow to the head that results in loss of consciousness may cause some changes in the brain. These may cause dementia development later on.

Scientists have calculated that a football which weighs about half a kilo can strike a player on the head at a speed of 128km/h.

When the ball hits the head, there is a possibility that the brain that floats in the skull cavity will be injured as it bounces against the back wall of the skull.

While a single header may not cause significant damage, repeatedly doing this for an extended period may cause problems.

Football and dementia risk

Researchers from Glasgow University spearheaded investigations on the claims that brain injuries were linked to heading a ball.

This was after Jeff Astle, former West Brom striker, lost his life because of repeated head trauma. Look into the details of this study below.

Participants of the Study

The study is an attempt to explain the link between dementia and football. It compared the deaths of ex-football players and those from the general population.

The participants involved 23,000 people from the general population and 7, 676 former players who were born between 1900 and 1976 and had played professional football in Scotland. The study began in 2018 and went on for 22 months.

It was commissioned by the Professional Footballer’s Association and the Football Association.

Results of the Study

Data from the study were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The findings revealed that former footballers had higher dementia rates. According to this study, the former players were 3 1/2 times more likely to develop dementia than the general population.

The analysis also concluded that there was a 5-fold risk increase in Alzheimer’s risk, a 4-fold increase in risk relating to Motor Neurone Disease, and a 2-fold increase in Parkinson’s disease risk.

Additionally, the study also found that ex-footballers were almost 5 times more likely to be on prescribed dementia drugs.

Dr. Willie Stewart, a consultant neuropathologist and one of the leaders of the study, also stated that while ex-football players had higher rates of dementia, they had lower death rates caused by other major diseases like heart diseases or some cancers.

The research confirmed that being active and playing football helped to reduce the risk of these serious illnesses.

This implies that former football stars lived for about three more years on average than a matched group from the general population.

Consequences of the Study

After the results of the study focusing on dementia and football, there were some ramifications. Among these include the fact that the UK and the USA banned kids from heading ball while playing football.

In the UK, the decision mostly affects children in primary school up to the age of 12. Football associations altered guidance on the skill to recommend a graduated approach to head for those ages between 12 and 16 years during training sessions.

The US, on the other hand, banned heading for children aged ten years and younger.

The country also placed limits for kids between the ages of 11-13. Currently, there is no ban on heading for football matches because the number of headers is limited.

While researchers did not state that heading a football was the cause of increased dementia risk, the guidelines were updated to mitigate against potential risk, according to the FA.

The family of Jeff Astle who lost his life in 2002 and over 400 families of players with dementia have come together to demand urgent action. Supported by medical experts, they are calling for:

1. A government inquiry on why warnings about dementia and football were not acted upon swiftly.
2. Practical help and care funds to be made available to the families of suffering players.
3. New concussion protocols that will put football in line with the other sports and the facilitation of temporary substitutes.
4. A review of other ways football can be made safer both in matches and in training.

New Research

The results of the study trying to identify the link between dementia and football have led to the launch of new research. Two studies have already been launched to look at the changes that happen to the brains of professional footballers as they grow older.

The results of this can help people to get a better understanding of the long-term effects of heading the ball and playing football.

One of the studies is being conducted by The University of East Anglia. The study that began early 2020 will see researchers use technology to test former professional footballers for early dementia signs.

It will explore when players may start showing these signs. Participants of the study will involve both men and women.

The other study is looking at about 300 ex-professional footballers.

The researchers are seeking to gather detailed information about the players, including mental and physical function, various lifestyle factors, and history of heading into football in addition to assessing changes in their brain. The study is receiving funding from The Drake Foundation.

Shortcomings of the Study

The findings of the study did not present enough evidence that could cause changes in how football is played.

In a statement, the FA stated that the study does not explain whether it is concussions, concussion management, style of play, heading of the football, the composition or design of football or even lifestyle or other factors that lead to the increase in dementia risk.

Further research still needs to be conducted on the link between football and dementia risk.

This will answer many questions concerning dementia and football and perhaps help to identify and reduce risk factors.

Is Vascular Dementia Hereditary?

Rok Krivec Blog January 26, 2021October 18, 2021is dementia hereditary, vascular dementia

One of the questions that many people have about vascular dementia has got to be is vascular dementia hereditary?

Before going ahead to answer this, it is important to note that vascular dementia is the 2nd most common dementia type.

It develops when there is an inadequate flow of blood to the brain which damages and kills brain cells.

This is normally due to a stroke that suddenly cuts the blood supply to the brain, many “mini-strokes,” and narrowing of small blood vessels in the brain.

Other risk factors of the illness include obesity, diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol, increasing age, and abnormal heart rhythm.

From here, get to learn the role of genes in the human body, as well as essential factors that touch on genetics and vascular dementia below.

Role of Genes

It is also crucial to highlight the roles that genes play when seeking to answer the query is vascular dementia hereditary?

Genes are found in chromosomes, which is the genetic material that children inherit from their parents.

Females have 22 pairs of chromosomes as well as two X chromosomes. Males also have 22 pairs of chromosomes and an additional Y and X chromosome.

Each chromosome has thousands of genes. Genes are the basic heredity units that pass on characteristics like height, hair color, or the tendency to develop certain diseases.

Humans have two copies of every gene one that they inherit from the father and the other from the mother.

Genes can go through mutations that can either be beneficial or harmful. Mutations happen when a gene permanently changes from its normal form.

When it comes to diseases, a gene can either be causative or a risk-factor gene. When the gene is causative, it means that a person will inherit a gene for a specific disease and without a doubt, they will develop the illness.

The risk-factor genes do not lead to a person developing an illness.

Nonetheless, the risk associated with a specific gene typically determines whether an individual is less or more likely to inherit an illness.

Genetics of Vascular Dementia

Because vascular dementia is common, it can lead to the assumption that it is passed down from one generation to another. This is not the case because not many people inherit the disease from their parents or grandparents.

Although vascular dementia is not commonly passed down through families, there are certain instances when genetics can increase the risk of developing the disease.

This has a lot to do with the underlying health issues that contribute to the development of vascular dementia. For instance, your chances of getting strokes are higher if a close family member has them.

Strokes are one of the major causes of vascular dementia.

Health issues can contribute to the development of vascular dementia

Conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure may be passed from one generation to the next. These can also contribute to the development of the illness.

This is because the type of genes that increase vascular dementia risk is, in most cases, the ones that increase the risk of diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

This goes to show that leading a healthy lifestyle like staying physically active and eating well is vital for keeping vascular dementia at bay.

This said, there is still not much information about the genetic basis of vascular dementia even though it is one of the most common dementia forms.

Scientists have acknowledged that the modification of various lifestyle and physiological risk factors, as well as comorbidities, can increase the risk of vascular dementia.

Comorbidities are the extra conditions that co-occur with a primary condition. To date, the genetic component of the illness is still not well understood.

To answer the question is vascular dementia hereditary, experts state that gene mutations are only responsible for rare forms of vascular dementia.

Gene mutations occur in rare forms of vascular dementia

According to a report by “Genetics of Vascular Dementia” Working Group, there has been one study in 24 twins that has tried to look into vascular dementia heritability intimately.

This, however, failed to identify a noteworthy genetic component. This led to the general interpretation that the environment plays a bigger role in the development of vascular dementia when compared to genetics.

Conversely, there is some evidence that the illness may have a significant genetic component.

This has led to the conclusion that vascular dementia’s genetic background remains well established for monogenic disorders.

Monogenic illnesses are Mendelian disorders, where modifications in one gene are implicated in the disease process. These usually showcase inheritance patterns like dominant, additive, or recessive genetic models.

Evidence has been brought forth that the dysfunction of single genes causes vascular dementia. This can also help to answer the query be is vascular dementia hereditary.

Vascular dementia is hereditary but at the same time, it is not

One of the disorders is cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with leukoencephalopathy and subcortical infarcts. It is one of the most common heritable cause of vascular dementia.

It comes about from the mutations of a gene known as NOTCH3. Some of the manifestations of the mutation include seizures, migraine headaches, mood disorders, and cognitive impairment.

Another example of a monogenic ailment is Fabry disease. This is as a result of the mutation of gene GLA. Symptoms that persons who have this disease showcase include renal disease, cardiomyopathy, and stroke.

Experts believe that the single gene ailments above only account for a small percentage of vascular dementia cases. There is a possibility that their occurrence is taken lightly. There is a need for systematic studies on these disorders. After all, they can play a vital role in understanding vascular dementia.

Closing Thoughts

The answer to the query is vascular dementia hereditary is both yes and no. As seen above even though in most cases, vascular dementia is not linked to genetics, some genetic factors can increase the risk of developing the illness.

Aromatherapy and Dementia Patients

Rok Krivec Blog January 25, 2021September 9, 2023aromatherapy, dementia

Researchers for some time now have been conducting studies on aromatherapy and dementia.

This has led to the discovery that people with dementia can benefit from aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, and now persons with dementia can enjoy some of its benefits.

Read on to find out how.

What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils or aromatic plants to enhance wellbeing through scents.

The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy states that it is a science and an art that uses extracts from plants and essential oils that chemically balance the spirit, mind, and body.

There are different ways to release these scents, such as:

Using oil burners to warm oils
Dripping scents into tissues or pillows
Adding the oils to baths
Massaging oil infusions into the skin, etc.

How Does Aromatherapy Help Persons With Dementia?

For centuries, people have used aromatherapy to promote better sleep and relieve stress.

Many people can attest that they sleep better after sprinkling lavender oil on their pillows before bedtime.

Sleep issues are common for persons with dementia because the illness often affects an individual’s sleep patterns.

This can be very stressful not only for the person with dementia but their caregivers as well. Aromatherapy can help to deal with sleep disturbances effectively.

Research has shown encouraging results concerning aromatherapy and dementia. One of the core areas of study was on the effects of lavender oil.

Experts record that applying lavender oil through massage or dripping it on a pillow can help to lengthen the time a person with dementia sleeps.

Lavender is also said to be an antidepressant that can improve mood and balance strong emotions.

Another oil that has been under scrutiny was Lemon balm. Researchers found that rubbing this into the skin also helps people with dementia to sleep for longer.

Additionally, it allows users to relax and stay calm. Both oils were also found to decrease agitation signs like excessive movement and wandering.

Aromatherapy stimulates olfactory receptors

Essentially, aromatherapy stimulates olfactory receptors which in turn stimulate the section of the brain responsible for regulating emotions.

An example of a study that was done concerning aromatherapy and dementia is one from Jimbo D and his team. The study had 28 elderly participants, 17 of whom were living with Alzheimer’s disease.

They went through a 28 day control period and aromatherapy sessions during the following 28 days. The researchers also subjected the participants to a 28 day washout period.

Lemon and rosemary essential oils were used during the morning sessions and orange and lavender during the evenings.

After the study, all the elderly persons recorded improvements in personal orientation regarding cognitive function.

Lab tests also showed that there were no side effects of using aromatherapy.

The researchers then concluded that aromatherapy is beneficial for dementia as it has the potential to enhance cognitive function.

Oils to use for Aromatherapy and Dementia

In addition to the ones mentioned above, there are other essential oils that people with dementia can try out during aromatherapy such as:

Peppermint

This is an essential oil that you can use to calm nerves and stimulate the mind. Some studies also state that it can stimulate appetite, energize a person and enhance memory.

Bergamot

It helps to relieve stress, mild depression, and anxiety. Additionally, the oil is a mood elevator and can be used to treat insomnia.

Ginger oil

This oil assists persons who have digestion issues. The help can help to promote healthy eating habits because it treats constipation and loss of appetite.

Rosemary

This stimulates the mind and body. A recent study by Lorraine Oliver and Mark Moss uncovered that rosemary oil can boost cognitive performance in both accuracy and speed measures.

Ylang Ylang

It offers a relaxing effect.

Many other oils are beneficial to persons with dementia. Above are just a few that have the most clinical support.

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Considerations

When it comes to aromatherapy and dementia, there are a few considerations you must have in mind, such as:

1. Aromatherapy, just like any other alternative therapy, is not a replacement for medical treatment.

2. Individuals with dementia should only use aromatherapy if it brings calm or pleasure. You should also prepare a person well before embarking on this type of therapy.

If they are happy with the process, consider doing this every day because consistency brings out the best results.

3. Some undiluted essential oils can cause skin irritation; thus, it is important to carefully read labels to ensure the oil is ideal for the person it is being used on.

4. Always practice aromatherapy in a place that is good ventilation because the scents are quite powerful.

5. Do not mix or experiment with all types of oils. Pick the one that is the best fitting for the outcome you want and stick to it.

6. Stop aromatherapy if a rash appears. The practice may not be necessary if a person has bruises, cuts, allergies, eczema or psoriasis.

7. Some aromatherapy oils are potent and might lead to headaches or trigger memories that may be distressing or confusing.

Look out for such signs during the practice, especially in cases where the person with dementia may not be in a position to communicate effectively about what is going on.

Closing Thoughts – Aromatherapy and Dementia

There is evidence that aromatherapy helps ease some dementia symptoms.

Even though research on aromatherapy and dementia has shown promising results, more studies still need to be done on this subject.

History of Dementia – A Brief Overview

Rok Krivec Blog January 25, 2021September 4, 2022dementia, history of dementia

While studying dementia, it is important to look into the history of dementia to get some background information about the illness.

The concept of dementia is probably as old as mankind.

The term dementia comes from “demens” which is a Latin word that means being out of a person’s mind.

Philosophers in ancient civilizations like Greece and Rome viewed this as a normal part of growing old.

A Brief History Of Dementia

Before the 19th century, dementia was a broad clinical concept. It included all types of mental illnesses and psychosocial incapacity whether reversible or not.

During this time, if a person had lost their ability to reason, it would be said that they have dementia. It was also categorized as an organic disease such as syphilis responsible for destroying the brain.

Old people who got dementia were thought to have developed the illness because of the hardening of arteries.

However, as the lifespan of humans extended, advancements in the field of medicine also occurred and experts were able to study the brain in the 1800s.

This led to the realization that various diseases can result in this form of cognitive deterioration. Check out the evolution of dementia over the years, specifically before and after the 19th century.

Dementia before the 19th Century

Not much is recorded about the history of dementia during this period primarily because science and research during the medieval age were virtually non-existent.

In fact, before the 1700s, terms like stupidity, amentia, foolishness, senility, and idiocy were common when referring to various degrees of behavioral and cognitive deterioration resulting in psychosocial incompetence.

Plato and Aristotle spoke of mental decay in advanced age as an inevitable process affecting all old people without any preventive measures.

Cicero, a Roman statesman, had another view stating that loss of mental function was inevitable as it only affected weak-willed older men.

He explained that wanting to learn new things and staying mentally active could stave off the development of dementia.

A majority of people with mental illnesses were treated, sadly some nations locking them up in asylums. This started to change in the 19th century when Philippe Pinel, a French physician, advocated for a more humanitarian way of caring and treating persons who were mentally ill.

This offered better settings for clinical observations.

Dementia after the 19th Century

In 1910, the most common dementia (Alzheimer’s disease) was named after a German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer.

This was after Alois studied the post-mortem brains of younger individuals who were affected by the illness. He published his first case in 1906. This was a case of a 50-year-old woman who was showcasing dementia symptoms.

After the lady passed on, Alois observed the microscopic tangles and plaques that are known to be hallmarks of the illness. He was, however, not convinced that the plaques were behind the development of dementia.

Alzheimer reported that they were just one of the features of the illness. Oskar Fischer, another Czech psychiatrist at the same time, was also researching the brains of older individuals.

He, too, saw the tangles and plaques.

Contributions from these two professionals shed more light on the condition making significant contributions to the history of dementia.

With the advancement of technology, there has been a better understanding of dementia and what causes it.

Later on in the 1960s, an electron microscope was introduced. This allowed medics to further study the plaques and tangles because they could use this equipment to zoom in while exploring the brain.

Alzheimer’s disease soon became the most common

In the 1970s, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was officially recognized as the most common dementia form.

At this time, experts also revealed information that Alzheimer’s was different from the mild cognitive decline that is associated with growing old.

CT scans at this point confirmed shrinkage of brains in the persons affected by the neurodegenerative illness.

A decade later, in the 1980s, biochemical and molecular advances led to the identification of amyloid-b and tau as components of plaques and tangles.

When talking about the history of dementia, it is also important to mention that it was in the 1990s when experts were able to identify genetic mutations and the risk factors of AD.

At this stage, the stages of dementia were also categorized.

Additionally, there was a better understanding of the processes that result in dementia, particularly brain imaging, genetics, and molecular biology.

All through the 19h century, dementia was still considered a rare disease, perhaps because not many individuals lived past the age of 80.

Closing Thoughts

There have been a lot of changes in the history of dementia over the years.

People are now aware of a lot more information about the disease from when the Romans and Greeks first described dementia.

Even so, experts continue to do more research to discover more details about the disease, especially in regards to causes and treatment options.

There may be loads of fresh information and discoveries about dementia in the new future.

The Link Between Dementia And Epilepsy

Rok Krivec Blog, Signs January 25, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, epilepsy

While studying the symptoms of dementia, you will come across dementia and epilepsy.

Epilepsy is one of the lesser-known symptoms that people with dementia may experience along the course of the illness.

To date, it is still not clear how epileptic seizures occur because, most of the time, they are usually subtle.

Many individuals with dementia will experience a type of epileptic seizure that is known as focal onset seizure.

This is different from the generalized tonic-clonic seizures that you see on TV where a person falls to the ground, becomes stiff and unresponsive as their whole body shakes in a convulsion.

Focal onset seizures are quite the opposite because they generally involve short periods of increased unresponsiveness or amnesia. The weak person may showcase involuntary repeating movements of the arms, hands or face like swallowing, chewing, or lip-smacking.

In most cases, this is a symptom that might go unnoticed, especially if the person with dementia goes back to normal after a short period.

Seizure incidents typically vary depending on an individual. Records, however, state that about 20% of persons with dementia will experience an unprovoked seizure.

What is the Link Between Epilepsy and Dementia?

For many people, the seizures occur in the late stages of the illness, say after six years of diagnosis.

Worth noting is that time matters when it comes to seizures.

Many seizures will last for about 30 seconds to 2 minutes. If one lasts for over five minutes, it is considered a medical emergency.

With this in mind check out more vital information about dementia and epilepsy below.

Do Seizures Increase the Risk of Dementia?

In the past, experts believed that only people who had lived with dementia for long could experience seizures.

They thought that this was a result of the changes that occurred in the brain because of the neurodegenerative disease.

More research was conducted on this, and researchers uncovered that seizures could also happen at the onset of dementia.

In fact, for some people, seizures may occur even before the loss of memory becomes apparent.

This raises the possibility that epileptic episodes may be tied up intimately with the progression of dementia.

Numerous studies have been done looking into the relationship between dementia and epilepsy.

An example is a study with 55 participants between the ages of 50-69. All the participants had experienced a seizure before getting admitted to an Israeli medical center.

A quarter of the population developed dementia after about an average of 81/2 years. Another study followed 300,000 U.S. veterans who were all above 55 years.

Researchers, in this case, found that seizures were associated with double the risk of dementia development between 1-9 years.

Other studies also indicate that persons who have dementia are at higher risk of seizures when compared with individuals who do not have the illness.

One of the studies was presented by Ruby Castilla MD, DrPH, and MBA. It has participants who were over the age of 60. Among the participants, 2.8% had dementia and the rest did not have the illness.

Results stated that individuals with dementia had 61/2 times the risk of partial seizures and 5.2 higher risks for generalized epilepsy.

What Causes Epileptic Episodes in People with Dementia

Naturally, anything that contributes to changing the brain structure can result in seizures. Mostly, people suffer from epilepsy after a head injury, stroke or brain infection.

In line with this, it is safe to say that something similar happens in the brain of those with dementia. The brain shrinks in size as some of its cells die off, leading to epilepsy.

Tau and amyloid are two proteins that can build up in the brain of individuals with dementia. This affects how the nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other.

At times, the cells can behave uncontrollably resulting in epileptic seizures.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Seizures in Persons with Dementia

Keep in mind that it is not everyone who has dementia will get seizures. Proper diagnosis is crucial.

The seizures can be challenging to diagnose because some of the behaviors may mimic those of dementia. The input of an epileptologist may be necessary because these are experts who can help with the diagnosis process.

Thankfully, there is an effective way to deal with dementia and epilepsy. Doctors can recommend medication that can reduce or even stop epileptic seizures. These can include anticonvulsants like Neurontin, Depakote, and Lamictal.

There is also evidence that administering drugs like Keppra can help to reverse some loss of memory in persons with dementia.

Other than the drugs, an individual with dementia may also go through deep brain stimulation. This is a more invasive option for treating epilepsy.

This is only recommended when other pharmaceutical options have failed and the epilepsy symptoms are severe because it requires surgery.

Dementia and Epilepsy Closing Remarks

Scientists are now doing more research concerning dementia and epilepsy in the hope of offering deeper insight into the progression of the illness which may lead to uncovering new treatments.

Quality of Life and Dementia are Closely Related

Rok Krivec Blog January 24, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, quality of life

Among the concerns that caregivers and people with dementia have is the quality of life and dementia.

There is no universal definition for the term quality of life because it is personal and different for everyone.

Some people may consider spending time at the beach a definition of quality of life (QoL) while others may think that gardening defines the quality of life and so forth.

For people with dementia, the illness may affect the quality of life not only for the affected individual but those around them as well.

Worth noting, however, is that quality of life does not automatically decrease as dementia progresses.

This is because the illness does not remove a person’s ability to respond, appreciate, or experience various feelings like sadness, love, joy, or fear.

As time goes by the sick individual will lose abilities that they may consider crucial to the quality of life.

Scientists today consider the quality of life as an outcome measure for persons with dementia.

This is where researchers are now conducting studies to determine the factors that relate to changes in the quality of life.

Studies that have already been done give varying results.

To come up with conclusive results about the factors that affect the quality of life and dementia more research needs to be done to help both the caregivers and the persons with the illness.

How To Enhance Quality of Life for Persons With Dementia

This said, there are several suggestions that caregivers can work with to help maintain or enhance the quality of life for persons with dementia such as:

Understand what Quality of Life means to the Affected Person

It is easy for a caregiver to try and impose their perception of the quality of life to the person they are looking after.

This is the wrong approach because as earlier stated QoL means different things to different people.

Although it is not an easy task, you must try and figure out what good quality of life means to the person with dementia, so that they can end up living life on their terms.

Even though you think you may know a person well, keep in mind that interests and abilities may change with time.

Talk about likes and dislikes and take note of the things or activities that bring pleasure to the person.

If a person who has dementia is constantly doing the things they enjoy it can help to tremendously improve quality of life.

Encourage Independence

Supporting a person to be as independent as possible is another approach that can help when you are dealing with the quality of life and dementia.

One of the changes that persons with dementia struggle with is becoming more dependent on those around them.

Try as much as possible to make the ill person feel as though they are in control of their lives. This can be through something as simple as offering choices.

Letting a person decide what to wear or eat in a day can help to improve their quality of life.

Foster Social Relationships

Boredom and loneliness are some of the experiences that people face when they have dementia.

This is because many prefer to withdraw socially because of the disease.

As a caregiver dealing with the quality of life and dementia, you should not let this happen because it can be the cause of other health complications like depression.

Slowly introduce a social life to the weak individual so that they are around people they love.

You can do this by joining support groups so that the person with dementia does not feel like they are in it alone.

Relatives and friends should also try and spend quality time with the affected individual.

When a person feels like they are valued and loved, it can help to improve the quality of life.

While fostering relationships, you must also be tactful when dealing with conflicts so that you or the suffering person do not end up losing it, but end up co-existing peacefully and happily.

Monitor Health

When you are dealing with the quality of life and dementia, you must remember to monitor the health of the person you are looking after.

This is because dementia can bring about other health complications that make the life of a person unbearable.

Visiting a GP, dentists, and other health professionals as needed can be instrumental in improving the life of a person.

This is because the experts can diagnose and treat other symptoms that you may not pick on. This way, the person with dementia does not have to live with unnecessary aches and pains.

Closing Thoughts

The primary focus of care when looking after a person with dementia is to ensure that they enjoy the best quality of life as the disease progresses.

As you work with the person, you will be able to identify some of the factors that relate to the quality of life and dementia so that you can offer care that is based on their strengths, abilities, and wishes safely and effectively.

Omega 3 and Dementia Prevention

Rok Krivec Blog, Prevention January 24, 2021October 18, 2021dementia, omega 3, omega 3 and dementia

In the quest to find some of the most effective ways of preventing dementia, experts have been pursuing an angle that is worth looking into – omega 3 and dementia.

Omega 3 remains one of the diet components that come highly recommended concerning brain health.

New reports also link the consumption of omega 3 to dementia prevention.

Read on to find out more about how omega 3 may potentially help with the prevention of dementia.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids For Dementia Treatment

What is Omega 3?

To better understand the topic of omega 3 and dementia, it is best to start with explaining what omega 3 is.

It is a type of polyunsaturated fat present in the cell membrane. It is an umbrella term for all omega 3 fatty acids. These include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

The human body produces omega 3 but at a very slow rate which means that you should get it from your diet. Plant-based omega 3 rich nuts, vegetables, and seeds are good sources.

Oily fish like tuna, mackerel, salmon, and herring are rich in omega 3.

Importance of Omega 3

Omega 3 plays a significant role in the brain from when the fetus is developing to old age.

Omega 3 fatty acids are vital for the structural development of the brain because they improve mood and support neurotransmitter signaling according to a nutritionist at BioCare Mana, Chouchane.

Scientists believe that the brain cells with high omega 3 levels communicate better with other cells, a move that is crucial for brain function.

When the body takes the fat, it breaks down some of it to carry out various functions. Some of these reduce the immune response in the body.

Others are responsible for protecting cells from oxidative stress.

In addition to brain health, omega 3 also helps with heart health, energy production, supporting hormone synthesis, and regulating inflammation.

How Omega 3 May Help with Dementia Prevention

Now that you have some background information on what omega 3 is and its importance in the body, let’s look at some of the reasons omega 3 and dementia prevention correlate.

To start off, research indicates that oxidative stress and immune response are some of the key contributors to dementia development.

The fact that omega 3 protects against these goes to show that it may have a hand in the prevention of dementia.

Several studies have already been conducted to investigate these claims. These have taken different directions.

Some studies looked into what people with and without the disease eat and how often to see if this has an effect on the disease.

Others involved clinical trials where a percentage of participants were given omega 3 supplements and the rest placebo to compare dementia risk.

The studies focusing on risk of dementia and the consumption of fish produced varying results.

One of the studies supported the notion. It has 2233 participants all older individuals. They were followed for about six years.

The researchers concluded that those participants that were eating fish two times a week has reduced dementia risk by 41% compared to the elderly who were eating it once a month.

Another study had conflicting results where the experts found that there was no difference in dementia risk based on the amount of fish that a person consumed. This is after studying 5,395 individuals for ten years.

While discussing omega 3 and dementia, stakeholders also talk about the anti-inflammatory properties that omega 3 has. These might help with the risk of dementia development.

Raise DHA levels

Persons with dementia usually have low DHA levels in the brain when compared to individuals who do not have the disease.

Many omega 3 supplements contain DHA and EPA according to information on the packaging.

These are essential for human health because they are the main types of omega 3 that exert the most benefit.

DHA helps with cell membrane structural role while EPA assists with body functions like inflammation.

There are also claims that omega 3 fatty acids help to reduce levels of beta-amyloid. These are a marker for dementia in the brain.

One study published in the journal Neurology researchers stated that people who ate the highest omega 3 levels had the lowest levels of beta-amyloid buildup in the blood.

Clinical trials, on the other hand, although small, have also tried to show the relationship between omega 3 and dementia.

For instance, one study offered 171 people with dementia omega 3 supplements.

It found that there was no cognitive improvement after two years compared to weak persons who were not on the supplements.

Another clinical study studied 437 healthy people who were begging to show some dementia symptoms like troubles with memory recall.

They reported that after taking the omega 3 supplements for 24 weeks there were improvements in learning and recall.

This suggests that omega 3 may improve symptoms during the onset of dementia. On the other hand, it has no effect during the later stages.

Closing Thoughts

To date, the topic on omega 3 and dementia prevention remains highly controversial. Indeed, omega 3 may be good for brain health.

However, there is no overwhelming evidence that it may help prevent dementia development.

Further research is still necessary on this topic. Only that, it will be clearer, whether or not omega 3 is instrumental in the prevention of dementia development.

Acupuncture and Dementia for Improved Memory

Rok Krivec Blog, Prevention January 24, 2021October 18, 2021acupuncture and dementia, dementia, dementia prevention

There have been several studies looking into acupuncture and dementia. This is because there is an assumption that the treatment technique can help improve memory in persons with neurodegenerative illnesses.

Professionals perform acupuncture on a holistic perspective in a bid to defeat various exogenous factors.

Reports confirm that acupuncture may help protect neurons from deterioration to stimulate axonal regrowth in neurodegenerative illnesses like dementia.

Check out more details on what acupuncture is and how it can help improve memory in persons with dementia.

What is Acupuncture?

We can describe acupuncture as an ancient Chinese healing method.

It primarily treats various disorders by having expert insert needles into the skin. When the practitioner does things properly, acupuncture is very safe.

WHO (World Health Organization) recommends the use of this healing technique for 43 diseases.

Experts base this theory on acupoints and meridians that play a crucial role in maintaining and regulating the “yin” and “yang” in the human body system.

This is all about Qi which is patterns of energy in the body that are important for good health. When a person’s Qi is interrupted, many believe that this can cause diseases.

Acupuncturists believe that they can fix this by inserting needles in specific locations on the skin to restore energy flow, hence treat the illness.

How Acupuncture Helps Improve Memory of Persons with Dementia?

For many people with dementia, acupuncture is not a foreign concept. One of the ways of using acupuncture is to treat some dementia symptoms like behavioral disturbances.

New studies, however, claim that acupuncture can also help to enhance memory for persons with dementia.

Several studies have been conducted to explain the relationship between acupuncture and dementia such as:

Acupuncture Outperforms Use of Drugs

Multiple clinical trials reveal that acupuncture works better than drug therapy when it comes to treating vascular dementia.

While there are different types of acupuncture several studies conclude that scalp acupuncture is the most beneficial for persons who have vascular dementia.

Researchers from Wuhan University of Science and Technology found out that acupuncture is more effective at alleviating dementia than conventional drug therapy.

Their study indicates that acupuncture is also a safe treatment option for vascular dementia.

It is important to note that dementia affects the flow of blood to the brain.

Consequently depriving this organ of essential nutrients and oxygen. When this happens, it affects language skills, memory, personality, and emotions.

The researchers cite TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) theory as the basis of their study which involved three groups of people.

One group was on drug therapy where they received 0.8 g tablets of piracetam for 30 days three times a day. This is a drug that helps to enhance cognition or memory.

It is also an anticonvulsant, neuroprotective, and improves neuroplasticity. The second group was on conventional acupuncture, and the third on scalp acupuncture.

Scalp Acupuncture is Most Effective

This went on for 30 days where the acupuncture protocols were applied once a day for six days a week. The researchers said that using scalp acupuncture protocol achieved a 90% total effective rate.

Conventional acupuncture was slightly lower at 80% while drug therapy came in last at 60%.

In the future, the researchers were interested in combining scalp acupuncture with the use of piracetam to determine if this would produce more effective results.

A similar study with 184 participants all with vascular dementia also showed that acupuncture is an effective treatment modality.

It went on to conclude that scalp acupuncture works well to not only boost memory but daily living activities, social behavior and mental state as well.

In related MRI research touching on acupuncture and dementia, there was a conclusion that acupuncture can help improve hippocampal connectivity in persons with dementia.

The study involved the measuring of some regions that experience disrupted brain connectivity in people with dementia.

After acupuncture sessions, the subjects of the study demonstrated significant improvements in the connectivity for lateral and frontal-temporal hippocampus regions.

Researchers in this study made use of fMRI technology to determine the effects of two acupuncture points in the brain i.e. L14 (Hegu) and LV3 (Taichong).

Acupuncture Weakens Mental Problems that Dementia Cause

When talking about acupuncture and dementia, worth mentioning is that the healing technique can improve memory by treating mental illnesses that are dementia led.

This is done through amelioration of outside symptoms like lack of sleep which makes memory loss more severe.

One of the studies that came up with this conclusion followed 19 participants who researchers observed in the control stage for one and a half months.

From here, the participants went through 30-minute acupuncture sessions for six weeks.

At the end of these six weeks, the participants recorded improvements in both sleeping and resting times. Another study was performed on persons with dementia and depression.

The study took place in 2000 at Wellesley College.

This followed 11 human subjects who went through acupuncture sessions 2-3 times every week for three months.

The participants recorded improvements in anxiety and depression some of the symptoms that make memory loss worse.

They also experienced more energy levels.

Dr. Nancy Emerson the lead researcher also added that acupuncture helps to relieve pain from other ailments that develop with age encouraging persons with dementia to try out this healing method.

Closing Thoughts

As scientists continue to work on a cure for dementia, multiple studies on acupuncture and dementia show promising results on how the treatment technique can enhance memory in persons with dementia.

The studies out there, nonetheless, are not enough to include acupuncture on the list of dementia treatment options.

They have, however, laid a foundation for more studies that may bring forth more conclusive evidence on whether acupuncture will be established as a treatment option for dementia.