alzheimer's disease - ReaDementia

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.

Dementia and Cholesterol – Is There a Risk?

Petra Boh Blog, Causes February 21, 2021October 16, 2021alzheimer's disease, cholesterol, dementia, vascular dementia

Several studies report that there is a link between dementia and cholesterol levels in the human body.

Before getting deeper into this, it is important to note that cholesterol is essential for the healthy functioning of the body.

But there is a catch.

Is There a Link Between Dementia and Cholesterol?

Without this, people would not be able to produce hormones or digest food.

We can describe cholesterol as a waxy-like fatty substance that the liver produces.

It is also present in some foods. Cholesterol circulates through the blood-stream in carries known as lipoproteins made of proteins and fats.

Even though the fatty substance is beneficial, too much cholesterol in the blood can harm vascular and heart health.

There are two types of cholesterol

1. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) – also known as “good cholesterol” this is responsible for preventing the build-up of cholesterol in the arteries. Not just that, but it also protects a person against stroke and heart attack.

2. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) – referred to as “bad cholesterol” this is what causes high levels of cholesterol.

With this in mind, let’s jump into the relationship between dementia and cholesterol.

Health experts agree that watching cholesterol levels can help keep Alzheimer’s disease at bay which is one of the most common dementia types.

It can also help prevent the development of vascular dementia which is one of the most common types of dementia.

Below we will expound more on how lowering cholesterol may be instrumental in starving off dementia.

Studies on How High Levels of Cholesterol can Increase Dementia Risk

One of the factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing dementia is high cholesterol.

A neurology study borrowing insights from Niemann Pick-C disease and Down’s syndrome stated that high cholesterol disrupts the process of cell division.

Dr. Kensuke Sasaki one of the authors of this study said that his team of researchers discovered that high levels of cholesterol were related to brain plaques that are markers for Alzheimer’s disease.

Kensuke is a researcher at Kyushu University in Japan.

Together with his team of professionals, they tested cholesterol levels for about 2600 people aged 40-79.

At the beginning of the study, all the participants were dementia-free. The researchers then checked on the participants after 10-15 years.

They also conducted autopsies on the persons who had passed on. They found 34% of the individuals had been diagnosed with dementia.

Autopsies also revealed hallmark tangles and plaques of the illness which normally translated to protein build-up in the brain.

The study recorded that 86% of individuals with high levels of cholesterol had brain plaques.

Only 62% of the people with low cholesterol had plaques.

A similar study investigating the link between dementia and cholesterol was reported by researchers in Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Low levels of HDL can contribute to a memory decline

In this study, professionals observed 3,673 participants from the Whitehall II study. 26.8% of the subjects were women.

The researchers discovered that low levels of HDL cholesterol were among the major predictors of declining memory by the time a person turns 60.

The experts came to the conclusion after measuring lipid concentrations in blood samples they collected after the participants underwent an eight-hour fast.

Researchers at Emory University and the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Centre also conducted a study that found an association between early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and high LDL cholesterol levels.

This condition is considered “early-onset” when it develops before a person is 65 years.

To find out whether early-onset AD is related to cholesterol the experts sequenced various genomic regions of 2,125 participants.

Among them, 654 already had early-onset Alzheimer’s while 1,472 wee controls.

The researchers also went ahead to test blood samples from 267 subjects to determine their LDL cholesterol levels.

From the blood samples, the experts discovered that people with elevated LDL levels were more likely to develop early-onset AD when compared to persons with lower levels of cholesterol.

They published their findings in JAMA Neurology.

Contracting Studies on the Link between Risk of Dementia and Cholesterol Levels

While many studies state that high cholesterol levels can increase dementia risk, some scientists in the US dispute this.

They are on record stating that high cholesterol levels in seniors over 85 have been linked to reduced decline in thinking abilities and memory.

They published their findings in Alzheimer’s and Dementia a scientific journal.

Knowing that high levels of cholesterol were linked to cardiovascular diseases and higher dementia risk, the scientists opted to study people who are over the age of 85.

In their study, they found that the elderly who had already celebrated their 85th birthday has fewer problems with thinking and memory even though they also had higher levels of cholesterol.

Chief Scientific Officer of Alzheimer’s Research UK Dr. David Reynolds said that although most of the evidence points towards the dangers of high cholesterol levels it is not easy to pinpoint one dementia factor in the group of seniors who do not have the disease.

He continued to explain that high cholesterol levels in the participants of the study might have been linked to enhanced cognitive function because it was a reflection of the genetic makeup of individuals who live to an advanced age instead of the cholesterol levels in their blood.

There is still no evidence or suggestion from the research that people need to increase their levels of cholesterol levels to sustain a healthy brain.

Because of the results of this study, the impact of high cholesterol levels remains a controversial and intriguing subject.

Closing Remarks

Seeing that overwhelming evidence points to the association between dementia and cholesterol levels, everyone must get to know the levels of this waxy-like fatty substance in their blood.

The recommendation for adults over the age of 40 is to take a blood test once every 5 years which can help in identifying the risk.

Women who are above 50 years and men who are over 45 may need to take the tests more frequently.

For now, scientists will continue to explore the role that cholesterol has in dementia development.

Migraine and Dementia: Is There a Link?

Petra Boh Blog, Signs February 19, 2021October 16, 2021alzheimer's disease, dementia, migraine

Research looking into the link between migraine and dementia reveals that migraines are among the top dementia risk-factors.

Migraines are a neurological disease that involves repetitive and severe headaches as well as other symptoms.

In some cases, there may be an aura which is a sensory change before the headache occurs. Migraines are not your typical headaches.

They can last for days and can affect an individual’s daily life including their ability to study or work.

The Migraine Research Foundation reports that the disease affects one billion people across the globe.

That makes it the 3rd most widespread disease in the world.

Are Migraines and Dementia Closely Related?

Dementia on the other hand is not a specific disease but a group of conditions that are characterized by impairment of brain functions like judgment and memory loss.

One of the reasons why researchers were interested in studying dementia and migraines is because both are common neurological diseases.

While dementia mostly affects seniors, migraines usually affect people of all ages.

One of the studies that support the idea that there is an association between migraine and dementia was published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

It explains that researchers talked to 679 seniors asking them about their migraine history. More than half of this group were women and none had a history of cognitive problems.

Are migraine sufferers more likely to develop one form of dementia?

The average age of the subjects was 76. The experts pursued elderly individuals for 5 years and discovered that 51 of them had a positive dementia diagnosis.

Considering factors such as age and education, the researchers found that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were over four times more likely to have had migraine attacks.

AD is one of the most common forms of dementia.

Suzanne L. Tyas a senior author of the study said that persons with migraines history were three times more likely to develop a kind of dementia and four times more as likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

The study, however, did not find a link between migraines and vascular dementia.

What affects migraines?

According to Rebecca Edelmaye, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, the link between migraine and dementia is advanced by the fact that migraines affect the lifestyle decisions of a person.

This includes not eating a healthy diet, poor sleep, reduced social/cognitive stimulation, and not being active.

These factors have very much in common with those known to increase the risk of dementia.

Previous research had found connections between dementia risk and migraines. Scientists have, however, not yet pinpointed the exact link between the two diseases.

Many suspect that it has a lot to do with vascular risk factors like diabetes and hypertension. On record, these are potential dementia risk factors.

Research also reveals that long-term migraines can alter the structure of the brain resulting in some destructive effects.

A study published in Neurology in 2013 examined the contribution of migraines to structural changes in the brain including volumetric changes in white and gray matter, white matter abnormalities, and infract-like lesions.

Experts in this study were looking for solid evidence and a better understanding of the relationship between migraine and dementia.

Implications of the Studies

There are a couple of things that come up after the discovery that there is a link between migraine and dementia.

One of them is the fact that the research can help medics predict better the people who are at risk of this neurodegenerative disease.

This might also lead to early detection of the disease. This is an essential part of treatment according to the professionals.

Early detection is helpful because it means that affected individuals can start treatment as soon as possible. It can, in turn, enhance the effectiveness of the treatment therapies.

This can also empower persons with the illness and their loved ones to make the proper decisions at the right time.

There is also a chance that future research will better explain how migraines affect Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia as well as how to ease the risk.

Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease

Rok Krivec Blog February 13, 2021October 16, 2021alzheimer's disease, dementia, down-syndrome

After years of research, experts uncovered that there is a link between Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease.

Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s

Down syndrome is a medical condition where an individual is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21 rather than the normal two copies.

The genetic abnormality usually results in health issues and developmental challenges that can affect memory, learning, and language.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be defined as a brain disease that is one of the major causes of dementia. It makes affected persons experience impaired memory, behavior, and thinking.

It can also affect mood and emotions.

The illness is caused by an abnormal build-up of beta-amyloid which is a type of protein that forms plaques in brain cells.

This accumulation damages the connections between brain cells which, in turn, disrupts how messages are passed from one part of the brain to another.

The brain cells die eventually and this will reduce the size of the brain.

Brain degeneration that happens because of AD can impair an individual’s ability to carry out day to day activities. Because Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive illness, the symptoms become worse as time goes by.

Correlation between Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease

Studies reveal that most people (not all) who have Down syndrome will also develop AD.

Chromosome 21 carries the APP gene (amyloid precursor protein). Beta-amyloid forms when APP breaks down.

This clumps together into brain plaques that are common with AD.

As stated earlier, persons with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21 which implies that they can make 11/2 times more APP than persons who only have two copies.

Individuals who have Down syndrome have a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s.

Many studies state that about 50% of individuals with Down syndrome will end up with AD by the time they are celebrating their 60th birthday. The average onset age, however, is usually 50-55 years.

The National Down Syndrome Society reports that about 30% of individuals who have Down syndrome and are in their 50s already have AD.

Early Alzheimer’s disease Signs for Persons with Down syndrome

A person who has Down syndrome can showcase several symptoms that may indicate they have AD such as:

Deterioration in short-term memory
Reduced ability to complete daily living tasks
Increased inactivity and apathy
Withdrawing socially
Problems with communication
Changes in sleep patterns at night
Confusion and disorientation
Restlessness
Fearfulness, sadness, and anxiety

Diagnosing AD in Individuals with Down syndrome

To determine whether a person has both Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease, a doctor may subject the individual to various tests that may include:

Memory and thinking tests
Physical examinations that may include brain scans and blood tests
Assessing medical history

Careful observation of symptoms as well as how a person’s behavior and abilities change is crucial.

This is because persons with Down syndrome already have pre-existing difficulties with memory, thinking, and daily living skills.

Naturally, a person with Down syndrome may not be in a position to report concerns about memory or other changes happening in their lives.

For this reason, their loved ones or professional caregivers must help with observing cognitive changes.

Indidivual diagnosis for Down syndrome

Experts recommend certain principles that can help with a person-centered diagnosis for individuals with Down syndrome, such as:

1. Documenting baseline adult function by the time they are 35 years. The medical records of a person with Down syndrome should include details about their adult abilities.

2. Checking for Changes in Daily Function. Family members or other reliable individuals should also be on the lookout for changes in day to day function.

A person may note that an individual with Down syndrome showcases less interest in social interactions or things they loved doing previously. Changes in behavior and personality may also indicate a decline in thinking skills.

Doctors also perform other examinations to rule out other medical conditions that may look like Alzheimer’s disease.

This is because of something that is known as “differential diagnosis.”

When a person with Down syndrome showcases a decline in abilities or loss of skills, medics can consider:

Changes in sensory impairments like vision or hearing difficulties that can inhibit social engagement or lead to a loss in skills
Life changes, for instance, adjustments in a person’s day service, retirement, menopause, or reaction to something like bereavement.
Thyroid disorders which can be treated
Depression which is treatable with the proper interventions
Drug interactions
Poor sleep patterns
Urinary or other types of infections
Vitamin deficiencies

Because the above conditions are treatable, a person with Down syndrome needs to undergo a comprehensive medical assessment, especially during the early stages to rule them out.

Research on Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease

Scientists are working round the clock to figure out why some people with Down syndrome end up with AD while others do not.

The experts want to get a clear picture so that they can come up with medication or other treatments that can help delay, stop, or prevent the development of AD.

Some studies are already in the clinical trial phase and people can only hope that these will yield great results in the future to help effectively deal with the two medical conditions.

Living with a Positive Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis

Sadly if a person has Down syndrome and they get diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, they have to live with both medical conditions.

Currently, there is no approved cure for AD. However, there are some medications and alternative treatments like therapies and natural remedies that a person can try to treat some symptoms as well as slow or stabilize the decline in thinking abilities and memory for a while.

It is important to consult a physician before starting any treatment regimen to ensure it is best suited for the weak person.

Support services for people with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease also exist. They help affected individuals and their families or carers live well with the conditions.

Research is, however, ongoing to try and find a cure for AD as well as discover new treatments to help delay or avoid the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms for persons who already have Down syndrome.

How Can the Peanut Butter Test Detect Alzheimer’s

Rok Krivec Blog, Signs February 7, 2021October 16, 2021alzheimer's disease, peanut butter test

One study indicates that it is possible to use a peanut butter test to diagnose if a person has Alzheimer’s disease.

The study that was published in 2013 in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences states that the diagnostic test involves measuring an individual’s ability to smell peanut butter through each nostril to determine whether or not they have Alzheimer’s.

How does peanut butter detect Alzheimer’s?

The researchers that conducted the study believe that persons who have dementia cannot smell peanut butter through their nostrils.

Even when the peanut butter is placed close to their noses.

Why Was the Research Conducted?

Jennifer J. Stamps who was the leader of the study opted to use the peanut butter test because from her research after she concluded that smell is dependent on olfactory nerve.

She noted that this was among the first thing that cognitive decline affects.

Additionally, the temporal lobe’s front part is one of the first regions in the brain to degenerate because of the illness.

She thought of the idea when working with Dr, Kenneth Heilman a distinguished neurology and health psychology professor.

This is after observing that they were not testing patients in the clinic for their sense of smell. She chose the peanut butter because according to her, the butter is a pure odorant that is easy to access and the olfactory nerve can detect it.

While conducting the study, the experts thought that there would be a difference in the left nostril because the neurodegenerative disease affects the left side of the brain.

However, they found out that people with Alzheimer’s were not able to smell peanut butter through their left and right nostrils as well.

How was the Study Conducted?

Jennifer Stamps led a team of researchers from The University of Florida.

They requested more than 90 participants to smell a spoonful of peanut butter (about 14 grams) that was placed a short distance from their noses on a metric ruler.

All the subjects had to close their mouths, eyes, and one nostril and have the peanut butter moved closer until they could smell it. The process was repeated after 90 seconds with the other nostril.

Among the participants, some had no neurological or cognitive problems, others had various dementia types, while the rest had confirmed Alzheimer’s diagnosis in the early stages.

After everyone was through smelling the peanut butter, the team found out that the only people who had difficulties in smelling the peanut butter test were the ones that had first-stage Alzheimer’s.

The researchers also recorded that these groups of participants had more trouble using their left nostrils to smell the peanut butter.

The individuals were able to use their right nostrils to smell the peanut butter ten centimeters farther away than the left one.

The difference in smell between the two nostrils is unique to Alzheimer’s disease.

Reactions to the Study

The results of the study were not readily accepted in the medical field. Many neurologists like Dr, David Knopman said that there were doubting about such a simple study being used for a complex disease.

Other professionals also recorded their concerns stating that other kinds of dementia record greater smell impairments; thus, the peanut butter test cannot distinguish different forms of dementia.

Some experts, however, commended the efforts of the research saying that it may lead to more affordable and non-invasive ways of detecting Alzheimer’s.

Closing Remarks

The results of using the peanut butter test as an Alzheimer’s diagnostic test remain inconclusive. This is because the study was only done on a small sample size which included 94 participants only.

A follow-up study that was done at the University of Pennsylvania could not replicate the results of the initial study.

This research team said that their study showed no difference in the ability to smell peanut butter in their right and left nostrils.

More research needs to be done to identify more cost-effective, accessible, and accurate testing measures not only for Alzheimer’s disease but other dementia types as well.

Middle Stage Alzheimer’s Disease – What to Expect

Rok Krivec Blog, Stages February 4, 2021October 16, 2021alzheimer's disease, middle stage alzheimer's disease, signs of alzheimer's

In this article, we cover all the possible symptoms, challenges and what to do during the middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease.

This comprehensive “guide” will help you as a caregiver or someone who is concerned about their situation.

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder, one of the most common dementia types. It causes numerous changes in the lives of persons who have the illness.

This includes confusion, memory loss, gradual loss of independence, and changes in personality among many others.

The disease progresses through four main stages.

4 Alzheimer’s Disease Stages

Pre-clinical stage

This is where a person experiences changes in the brain before any symptoms of the disease start showing up.

Early/mild stage

It is the onset of the disease that makes a person mildly experience various symptoms. Examples of such include mild forgetfulness and problems managing money, etc.

Middle/moderate stage

At this stage, the symptoms of the illness become more pronounced where persons with the disease start to face new challenges like difficulties learning new information and problems with communication amidst others.

Late/severe stage

This is the last leg of the disease where an individual becomes less independent as they have to tackle worsening symptoms before their demise.

Each of these stages of Alzheimer’s is unique in terms of the level of independence a person has and the symptoms they go through.

Today we will focus on middle stage Alzheimer’s disease. This is typically the longest stage of the illness.

Below we will let you in on what to expect during this phase.

Signs of Middle Stage Alzheimer’s disease

Some of the symptoms that you may experience during the middle stage of the illness include:

Communication Problems

Persons with Alzheimer’s gradually lose their ability to express thoughts, find the right words, and keep conversations going.

As time passes by, a considerable percentage will also have a problem understanding what other people are saying.

Communication problems that may crop up during the middle stage include repetitiveness, trouble finding the proper words, reverting to native language, losing train of thought, and relying on non-verbal communication.

Behavioral Changes

Individuals with Alzheimer’s may experience various changes in behaviors. These may include anxiety, depression, irritability, verbal, and physical outbursts.

Loss Of Independence

Most people with Alzheimer’s will start to have difficulties completing daily tasks.

They may need assistance with activities like grooming, eating, choosing the clothes to wear, taking a bath, brushing teeth, and so forth.

Memory Loss

More significant loss of memory is one of the hallmarks of mid-stage Alzheimer’s. Persons at this stage may have a hard time recalling information.

These include personal details like phone numbers, where they live, or important dates like anniversaries and birthdays.

Some people have challenges identifying people who are close to them. They may recognize familiar faces but have no clue what their names are or the relationship they share.

Other symptoms that people experience at his stage include worsening judgment and poorer concentration levels.

People with Alzheimer’s at this point may not be able to tell the time or place they are in.

Knowing the changes to expect is important for the person with the disease and the caregivers as well.

The person suffering will not be too overwhelmed with the changes happening because they already anticipate them.

Caregivers can also come up with the most suitable solutions to deal with these signs so that the person under their care remains as comfortable as possible.

With this in mind, it is also vital to emphasize that Alzheimer’s disease is an individual experience, which means that the warning signs and progression rate can vary widely across individuals.

Safety Concerns During Alzheimer’s Disease Middle Stage

The signs above may lead to the development of a couple of safety concerns for persons who are going through Alzheimer’s middle stage.

One of the main ones has got to be driving.

Because of changes that are happening in a person’s body, it is advisable for people who have Alzheimer’s to stop driving when they get to the middle stages because it is no longer safe.

Persons with the illness may find it hard at first, but the people around them must reassure them it is the right move.

Additionally, friends and relatives should make sure the affected individuals always get rides when need be.

It also becomes dangerous to leave a person who has Alzheimer’s alone during the middle stages. They are bound to wander and get lost or hurt.

Safety precautions also need to be prioritized, especially if the person is still living at home to avoid accidents and enhance safety.

If the person with Alzheimer’s lives alone, it would be a great idea for them to move in with relatives who are willing to offer round the clock care.

If this is not possible, a residential care setting is an excellent alternative.

These are usually built for seniors who have Alzheimer’s; thus, take care of resident’s needs in the proper way.

Coping with Middle Stage Alzheimer’s Disease

Going through mid-stage Alzheimer’s does not mean that life comes to an end. There are plenty of things that ill people can do to remain sane and enjoy life a little bit like:

Engage in Pleasurable Activities

Depending on the level of interest and ability, a person with Alzheimer’s needs to take part in activities they will enjoy.

This can be anything from going for short walks, gardening, crafts, or helping with meal times. These do not need to be anything strenuous and difficult.

The main goal of engaging in various activities is to have fun and forget about the sickness even if it’s just for a little while.

This will not only enhance the quality of life, but it can also help to reduce some behaviors like aggression and wandering.

Remember that the person with Alzheimer’s has to enjoy these activities, or else it will not bring forth the desired results.

Work with a Suitable Daily Care Plan

Daily routines work out well for persons experiencing middle stage Alzheimer’s disease. Planning out the day in advance means that a person knows what they will do.

This is beneficial because the suffering individual does not need to spend a lot of time trying to figure out what they should be doing.

At this stage, a caregiver should assist in planning for the day. They should schedule activities that focus on a person’s strengths, likes, interests, and abilities.

The day must include adequate time for bathing, dressing, meals, and rest time.

For people who experience any type of sleep problem, it would be best if they stick to regular times for going to bed and waking up.

Daily routines also need to be flexible enough so that if need be a person can add some spontaneous, meaningful activities.

Most importantly, the day to day routines should adapt to changes the person with Alzheimer’s is going through.

Incorporate Music and Art

Art and music have a way of enriching the lives of individuals who have Alzheimer’s, particularly at the middle and end stages.

These allow affected people to engage and express themselves better.

Studies show that music might help improve some behavioral issues.

For instance, if a person listens or dances to the tunes, they love, it can help them feel less agitated.

Music is also known to offer a way to connect in cases where verbal communication becomes more difficult.

Art projects, on the other hand, can offer a sense of purpose and achievement. It should be exciting to engage in using materials that are not toxic or sharp.

Persons participating in the art project should also take their time and have a blast with the activity keeping in mind that the project does not have to end in a single sitting.

Join Support Groups

Alzheimer’s disease can be a very alienating illness where most people just want to stay alone. This is not wise because this is what leads to health complications like depression.

It is crucial to find a support group that is close to your location. You can thereby meet other people who are in a similar situation.

This can give you solace, knowing that other people also experience the same challenges.

The support groups can also offer great resources that can help make the Alzheimer’s journey a little bit easier.

Closing Remarks

Experts are currently working tirelessly to come up with a cure for Alzheimer’s because there is none.

For this reason, is important for a person going through middle stage Alzheimer’s to closely work with their doctor to explore treatment options that can help to reduce symptoms that a person experiences.

Do not forget to pay attention to other health issues like dental needs.

Understand that the middle level of the disease requires more effort than the earlier stages.

This implies that persons with Alzheimer’s need all the support they need to live life to the fullest.

As a side note, the person with Alzheimer’s also needs to start planning for the future if the necessary measures are not put in place yet.

This way, there will be no debate when it comes to fulfilling care, legal, and financial wishes when the time comes. Some steps that you can take to secure the future include:

1. Looking into services that are available as your needs change and the illness progresses. These can include care facilities, community programs like Meals on Wheels, respite care, and homecare.

2. Appointing a power of attorney to a trustworthy person. This is the individual who will be responsible for voicing out your decisions when it comes to legal, care, and financial matters where you are not in a position to make a sound judgment.

Senile Dementia – What Is It & What Causes It?

Rok Krivec Blog February 2, 2021October 16, 2021alzheimer's disease, dementia, senile dementia, senility

Dementia typically comes in various forms; one of them believed to be senile dementia. Generally, this is a term that was in the past used to describe all types of dementia.

This is no longer the case since senility is no longer in use as a diagnosis for dementia. Before going deeper into this illness, it is better to start by describing what senility is.

What is Senile or Senile Dementia?

Senility is regarded as the deterioration of the mind and body, which usually comes with advanced aging.

A majority of senile persons usually experience a mental decline or decrease in cognitive abilities.

This can be characterized by an individual’s inability to recall information, concentrate, and judge situations in the proper way.

Sadly, the word “senile” for the longest time had an undesirable connotation largely due to a lack of understanding of the challenges that come with growing older.

This leads to people using the word in the wrong way.

Meaning, making it sound like a senile person is one who is dazed, confused, or unable to function well, rather than look at it as an authentic health condition.

Nowadays, we do not use the term senile to describe older people anymore.

The term senile has also been used in combination with other phrases.

These include senile dementia, senile plaques, and senile Alzheimer’s. It has also been added as a descriptor of other medical conditions like senile osteoporosis or senile arthritis.

In such a context, senile usually refers to the age (older) when the condition started developing and has nothing to do with cognitive function or decline.

Several symptoms associate with senility such as:

Wrinkled skin
Changes in posture
Reduced muscle strength
Stiffness of joints
Brittle bones or bone loss
Changes in the eye’s muscles and lens
Brittle bones
Hardened arteries
Loss of hearing or vision
Childish behavior at times
Impaired judgment
Memory loss

A majority of the physical changes are attributed to growing older. On the other hand, we can assign psychological changes to the aging of cortical brain cells.

Senility in most cases applies to mental decline.

Factors That Cause Senility

We are familiar with many causes that can lead to senility, including:

1. Alzheimer’s disease

This tops the list when it comes to the most common senility causes. In short, Alzheimer’s disease usually begins with challenges learning and also recalling recent events.

2. Brain disorders

A person who suffers from brain disorders is a potential candidate for senility. The disorders can be caused by anything from illness, infection, or trauma.

3. Medical Conditions

An array of medical conditions is also documented to cause senility. These can include illnesses such as Pick’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, vascular dementia, stroke, Huntington disease, AIDS, Down syndrome, and many others.

4. Depression

Persons who undergo major depression are also at risk of senility.

5. Alcohol and drug abuse

People who overindulge in alcohol and abuse drugs are prone to senility. Likewise, individuals who inhale paint or any other substances so that they can become high are also at an increased risk of developing senility.

6. Dehydration and over-medication

These are factors that can make a person exhibit some senility signs which most of the time lead to a false diagnosis of dementia.

Going by the signs above it is obvious that some of the factors that lead to senility are similar to those of dementia.

For this reason, it is important for everyone who shows signs of dementia to get tested by a professional first to confirm the diagnosis.

Now that you have a little background on what senility is all about, let’s jump back to senile dementia.

What exactly is senility?

Judging by the past use of this term, it is safe to say that it is a mental deterioration that is typically associated with old age.

There are two models of this type of dementia:

1. The one that comes because of Alzheimer’s type dementia (atrophy).
2. The second one is usually the result of vascular problems, mostly strokes.

Primary Differences between Dementia and Senility

By now, it should be quite clear that senility and dementia are two different medical conditions although many may use the terms interchangeably.

Dementia is a medical term that refers to a wide range of brain conditions that can lead to a progressive decline in how a person remembers things and thinks.

In the end, the loss of these abilities can make it increasingly challenging for individuals to care for themselves and function as before.

Dementia is certainly not senility because serious mental decline is not part of the normal aging process.

Several causes can lead to dementia, such as:

When you look at the causes of both senility and dementia, there may be some similarities but there are also some major differences.

Most of the comparable causes exist because both conditions typically affect seniors as they grow older.

On one hand, dementia can be quite seriously messing up with a person’s reasoning skills, visual perception, communication skills, focusing abilities and memory.

This is an illness that can turn your life upside down.

Senility rarely interferes with a person’s daily life, especially if one is proactive in slowing down or minimizing the decline process.

Persons who have senility may occasionally struggle to remember people they know, things, events or struggle to find the right words to use at a particular moment.

While people with dementia may also go through this, it tends to happen all the time rather than occasionally as is the case with senility.

A person with senility may end up remembering things later and most of them can use organizational tools and notes successfully.

This does not usually happen with individuals who have dementia, especially if they are in the final stages of the disease.

The loved ones of a person who has senility may not have to worry about his or her memory issues.

The situation is different from dementia cases because family members continuously worry about an individual’s memory.

It is also important to note that another difference between senility and dementia is the fact that dementia is an accepted medical term.

Senility, however, is not yet accepted as an international medical term.

Similarities between Senility and Dementia

Because senile dementia is no longer a thing, it is wise to look at the conditions separately.

Even though the two conditions are not synonymous, they do share quite a few similarities, including:

1. One of the major similarities between these two is the fact that they normally affect people who are above the age of 65. This is not to say that younger individuals cannot get dementia or senility but a majority of the cases happen as people grow older.

2. Both dementia and senility do not have sure treatment methods. When talking about treatment for senility, it is safe to say that there is no cure for normal aging.

However, there are a few things that people can do to stave off its severity and decline.

These include things like keeping physically active, eating a balanced diet, and engaging the mind, among many others to stay sharp.

The same case applies to dementia because there is still no cure for the disease.

Physicians can, however, prescribe drugs and lifestyle changes that can help one cope better with their current situation.

3. Both tend to become worse as the years go by. Persons with progressive dementia usually experience a decline with time.

This happens at different paces for different individuals. With some, the decline may occur fast while others may remain semi-independent for many years.

Senility can get worse as well. It primarily happens when an individual stays for a long time without taking hands-on measures to put a halt or reduce the decline process.

4. In the end, candidates who have senility and individuals who have dementia may both end up in senior care homes such as assisted living homes or nursing care.

This happens when a person’s independence is compromised; thus, needs extra help to go about their daily activities.

5. A person who has dementia may experience changes in mental health like the decline in judgment or memory loss. This can also happen to an elderly individual with senility because the condition also leads to a decline in adult’s cognitive and physical health.

Closing Remarks

It’s not hard to see why senile dementia was a term that they commonly used in the past, seeing that senility and dementia have a few similarities.

Experiencing senility signs can be alarming and scary. As soon as you struggle to remember where you kept your keys or think of a word while having a conversation, you may immediately think that you are at the onset of dementia.

This is not always the case.

To have peace of mind, it is best to seek medical advice as soon as possible. It is the only way to get a proper diagnosis so that you can now take the right steps to stay fitter and sharper to thrive in your golden years.

Also worth noting is that a person can have dementia without being senile.

The opposite scenario is also true where an individual may experience senility without getting dementia.