Medication for Senility
Symptoms of senility, such as forgetfulness, disorientation and negative changes in behavior, are now known to be the result of dementia. Dementia occurs when brain cells stop communicating in the brain and subsequently die.
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Misconceptions
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The word "senile" is an outdated term reflecting the medical community's previously held notion that dementia was a natural part of the aging process, according to Medicinenet.com. Physicians now know there are several causes of dementia.
Treating Cognitive Symptoms
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Although most progressive forms of dementia have no cure, there are medications that work to slow cognitive deterioration. Prescriptions such as donepezil hydrochloride, rivastigmine tartrate and galantamine HBr aim to prolong cognitive function by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain.
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Treating Behavior Symptoms
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Radical behavioral changes, such as paranoia, hallucinations, anxiety, delusions, aggression or mood swings, are often treated with anti-depressants, anxiolytics, anti-psychotics, mood stabilizers or sedatives.
Reversible Dementia
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Dementia can sometimes be caused by poisoning, nutritional deficiencies, a reaction to medication, subdural hematomas, immune disorders, metabolic or endocrine abnormalities, anoxia, and heart or lung problems. In these cases, it is possible to reverse the onset of dementia.
Diagnosis
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To diagnose a patient with dementia, doctors must first rule out other conditions that may produce similar symptoms. This is done by evaluating a patient's medical history and administering a comprehensive series of physical and neurological examinations.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Charles Williams
