While moments of forgetfulness are a common part of aging, they should not be confused with dementia, a general term for a decline in cognitive abilities. The most common form is Alzheimer’s disease. Learn more about this syndrome below, including causes and what you can do to slow its progression.

Causes & Symptoms

When nerve cells in the brain are damaged or lost, they cause symptoms that vary according to type, such as vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or Parkinson’s-related dementia. Vitamin deficiencies and medication reactions can also cause symptoms, as can brain injuries, infections, and tumors.

The most common symptoms of this progressive syndrome include cognitive changes like memory loss; problems communicating, planning, and completing tasks; and confusion. Issues with motor skills can also occur, as can psychological changes such as anxiety, depression, paranoia, agitation, and hallucinations. Personality changes are common.

Management

While Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases cannot be cured, there are many therapies and treatments that slow progression and manage symptoms. These options depend on the individual’s disease, but they can include medications such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors that delay symptom progression.

Diet and exercise also help manage symptoms by boosting brain health. Low-impact exercises that are easy for seniors, such as walking and swimming, increase oxygen and blood flow to the brain. Antioxidant-rich foods — vegetables, whole grains, fatty fish, and fruit, for example — remove free radicals from the brain. Other treatments include music therapy, which has been shown to increase cognitive skills, help loved ones recall certain memories, and contribute to happiness and well-being.

If you believe a loved one has a form of dementia, contact Memory Care Home Solutions. All services from this St. Louis, MO, organization are free and designed to help family members provide loved ones with the best care possible. Call (314) 645-6247 today to discuss your family member’s symptoms, or visit the website to learn more about the organization that has served Eastern Missouri and Illinois’s St. Clair and Madison counties since 2002. Get caregiver tips and the latest memory care event news on Facebook.