Some medical and social conditions can
cause dementia or dementia-like symptoms. Never assume or lay diagnose. Don't
allow well-meaning friends and family to lay-diagnose! Not only is that
bullying behavior, but I am amazed how many clients tell me their grown
children have diagnosed them with Alzheimer's Disease.
Dementia is not
inevitable and NOT normal aging! Older adults experiencing cognitive changes
must be examined by their primary care physician to find out the cause. Older
adults already know that ageism is prevalent in our healthcare system. If
a physician brushes off cognitive changes as "just old age," get a
new doctor!
The good news is that
the OVERWHELMING number of dementias are actually not dementia at
all. With the right course of treatment, these types of dementia can be
controlled and possibly cured. There are over twenty conditions that
cause dementia-like symptoms. Never assume it is dementia: It is
important to get a diagnosis as early as possible. According to the
Alzheimer Society of Canada, some dementias are preventable, treatable, and
reversible. Some examples of reversible psudo-dementias from ASC include:
- Depression
- Medication (side effects, drug
interactions, drug overdose)
- Alcohol abuse
- Drug abuse
- Dietary, vitamin and mineral
deficiencies (A, C, B-12 and folate)
- Traumas (due to falls,
concussions or contusions to the head)
- Hormonal dysfunction (thyroid
problems)
- Metabolic disorders
(dehydration, kidney failure, COPD)
- Infections
- Heart disease
- Brain disease (tumors)
- Environmental toxins
Other conditions I am
including here also mimic dementia symptoms and are preventable, treatable, and
reversible:
- · Sleep disorders and sleep
deprivation
- · Jet lag
- · Anemia
- · Hypothermia or Hyperthermia
- · Poor nutrition
- · Dehydration
- · Hearing loss
- · Multitasking
- · Bipolar disorder
- · Worry and stress
- · Caregiver burnout
- · Family strife and discord
- · Natural disaster, evacuation,
and displacement
- · Urinary tract infection
- · NPH [Normal Pressure
Hydrocephalus]
No comments:
Post a Comment