According to Dr. Tran Ba Thoai - Member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Endocrinology - Diabetes Association, dementia is a cognitive syndrome and some other diseases can also cause dementia. We need to know the symptoms clearly to have the most effective treatment, otherwise it will greatly affect our daily lives.
Symptoms
memory loss: Difficulty remembering recent events, names, or conversations.
cognitive decline: Difficulty thinking, reasoning, and problem solving.
Language problems: Difficulty finding the right words or keeping up with conversations.
Disorientation: Struggling with time, location, or people.
Mood and behavioral changes: Feeling anxious, depressed, or irritable increases.
Difficulties in daily work: Difficulties in planning, organizing or completing familiar activities.
Decreased judgment: Making unusual decisions or showing a decrease in judgment.
Dr. Tran Ba Thoai noted that Alzheimer's memory loss is the most common cause of dementia, but not all people with dementia suffer from Alzheimer's!
Some ways to treat
Most dementia symptoms cannot be cured, treatment is to relieve, control symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
In addition to taking internal medicine, some symptoms of dementia and behavioral problems can be initially treated by using non-medical methods such as:
Vocational therapy: A occupational therapist can show patients how to make a safer home and teach coping behaviors. The purpose is to prevent accidents, such as falls, and manage behavior.
Environmental adjustment: Reducing chaos and noise can help people with dementia concentrate and operate more easily...
Some ways to prevent
According to expert Tran Ba Thoai, there is no certain way to prevent dementia, but there are some useful steps that patients can take, such as:
Keep your mind active: Mental-stimulating activities, such as reading, solving puzzles, playing textbooks, and memory training, can delay the start of dementia and reduce its consequences.
Physical and social activity: Physical activity and social interaction can delay the start of dementia and reduce its symptoms.
Quit smoking: Some studies have shown that smoking in middle age and older can increase the risk of dementia and vascular diseases. Quitting smoking can reduce the risk and improve the health of patients.
Supplement enough vitamins: Some studies show that people with low vitamin D levels in their blood are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement enough vitamin D through certain foods, functional foods and sun exposure. More research is needed before increasing vitamin D intake to prevent dementia, but it should be ensured that you have enough vitamin D. Taking vitamin B and vitamin C every day can also help.
Manage cardiovascular risk factors: Treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and high body mass index (BMI). High blood pressure can lead to the risk of some types of dementia, but more research is needed to determine whether treating high blood pressure can reduce the risk of dementia.
Maintain a healthy diet: Eating a healthy diet is as important as a diet like the Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains and omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in some fish and nuts, which can improve health and reduce the risk of developing dementia. This diet also improves cardiovascular health, which may help reduce the risk of dementia. Try eating salmon three times a week and a few nuts, especially almonds and walnuts every day.
Ensure sleep quality: Practice good sleep hygiene and talk to your doctor in case of loud snoring while sleeping or occasional breaks or wheezing while sleeping.
