Dementia in Seniors

Dementia is characterized by declining mental abilities.

It can be difficult to know if a senior has the beginning symptoms of dementia because of how closely these symptoms resemble healthy aging. Dementia, a form of Alzheimer's disease, is a condition of declining memory and mental abilities in senior citizens. For instance, the senior will have problems doing ordinary daily activities such as driving a vehicle, balancing a checkbook or planning a meal. Signs of dementia include short-term memory loss, the inability to think problems through or complete complex tasks without instructions, and difficulties concentrating during tasks. In addition, changes in personality--becoming aggressive, paranoid or depressed--may be early signs of dementia.

Early Symptoms

An early sign of dementia for a senior could be getting lost in his neighborhood.

Detecting the early symptoms of dementia in seniors is critical to getting early treatment. The U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment estimated that 1.8 million Americans have severe dementia. The National Institute of Mental Health showed that Alzheimer's disease affects about 4.5 million Americans, and the number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease has more than doubled since 1980. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia among people age 65 and older. Other studies have found that another 5 million Americans have mild to moderate dementia. According to the Alzheimer's Association, approximately 4 million seniors are afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Some studies have indicated that seniors who received treatment for dementia early are able to delay its progression.

Diagnosing Dementia

If these symptoms are evident, they should be brought to the attention of the senior's doctor.

To diagnose dementia, medical experts recommend seniors schedule an appointment with their physicians for a medical history evaluation. Then the patient will complete a medical and neuro-psychological evaluation, brain scans such as CT ("CAT") scans or an MRI, which is Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The scans help physicians determine if senior citizens have dementia.

Seeking Help

Exercise may benefit the dementia patient by improving both symptoms and quality of life.

The first step is to know the early symptoms of dementia in seniors. Encouraging your loved one who is suffering from dementia to seek medical help can be challenging because even though these seniors realize they are forgetting things, they may be resistant to receive medical attention. Nevertheless, seeking the help of a medical professional is critical to prolonging the life of a senior citizen.

Specialized Care

An exercise routine may decrease the severity of symptoms of dementia.

Families who are caring for seniors with dementia at home or in a residential facility will need to plan special arrangements to support their loved ones. Chronic or irreversible dementia requires this kind of special care. Medical experts say that the families of dementia patients need to create preventative measures in their environment for wandering, disorientation, sleeplessness or incontinence. In addition, these families should set up safety precautions for seniors attending to electrical appliances, using car keys and locking doors. These family caregivers may also need to consider legal consultation for arranging finances for their senior citizens when dealing with dementia.

Exercise for Seniors

Keep an open mind and share much love with dementia seniors.

According to Dementiaguide.com, many medical studies have shown that regular exercise can improve the cognitive function and enhance the mood in many seniors with dementia. These studies indicate that regular physical activity such as a daily mild cardiovascular workout can delay the onset of dementia symptoms. An exercise program for seniors should combine various activities to promote balance, strength, endurance and flexibility. This is important because the earliest physical symptoms of dementia include slower walking, poor balance, a weaker hand grip and poor coordination. A medical physician or a qualified physical therapist can help family caregivers design an appropriate exercise program for dementia seniors.

Exercise Benefits

Regular exercise is great for everyone, including seniors with dementia, because it includes many emotional, mental and physical challenges that will decrease the number of symptoms in dementia patients. Studies have shown that a daily exercise routine will enhance cognition skills, improve mood patterns through the release of serotonin, reduce anxiety, promote concentration and alleviate boredom in many seniors suffering from dementia.

References

• Alzheimer's Association: Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease: Dual Diagnoses
• National Institute of Mental Health: The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: A Petition for Health Claims

Resources

• Dementia Guide
• Senior Home Care Guide