Naturopathic Vascular Dementia Treatment
Vascular dementia is a term describing difficulty in thinking, memory and behavior caused by the narrowing of blood vessels in the brain. Curing vascular dementia is unlikely no matter what treatment you use. Natuopathic or conventional treatments can slow down the progression of the dementia.
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Vascular Dementia
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In vascular dementia, blood vessels become blocked because of elevated cholesterol, increased homocysteine or the presence of other foreign matter in the blood vessels of the brain. High blood pressure causes the narrowing of blood vessels. Decreased blood flow and oxygen to the brain occur in both situations. If this continues over time, problems in thinking, memory and behavior develop. These problems may include trouble reasoning, difficulty speaking, inability to perform routine tasks or struggling to identify everyday objects, If gone untreated, complete blockage of one or more blood vessels causes a stroke. A stroke potentially worsens vascular dementia as well as causing other mental and physical problems.
Naturopathic Treatment
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Naturopathic treatment
Naturopathic treatment uses the body's natural healing abilities to remedy or cure diseases. Included as part of natural medicine are mental and physical exercise, eating healthy, stress reduction and taking natural solutions. Naturopathic treatment complements traditional medicine. It treats the whole person.
Increase Antioxidant Consumption
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Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables
Researchers from King's College, London found noteworthy proof that antioxidants called flavonoids, found in red wine, cocoa and many fruits and vegetables, increase blood flow to the brain thereby reducing brain cell death and improving brain function in many people with vascular dementia. The body produces antioxidants to defend itself against free radicals in our body, including our brain. Free radicals destroy or render cells useless by attacking the cell membranes, Common thinking is that the brain attacks free radicals there with the formation of plaques and tangles if we do not consume enough antioxidants to do the job. Get antioxidants from eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and supplement with vitamins A, E, C, B-complex and D. Follow the recommended dosage prescribed by your doctor..
Music Therapy
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Music stimulates the brain
New research from the University of California-Davis uncovers associations between music and memory, according to the article "New Music Therapy Research" in the March 1, 2009 issue of Dementia Today. Music elicits strong responses from people with vascular dementia, calming agitated behavior often seen in people with the disease. Listening to music acts as a trigger to old memories. Even those who do not speak can sing many of the words to familiar songs. Exposing people with dementia to music at least once a day helps them retrieve memories that might otherwise be forgotten. Any activity stimulating the brain is a good natural treatment for those with vascular dementia.
Other Mind-Stimulating Activities
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Sharing a photograph
Many activities stimulate the brain of persons with dementia. It depends what the person liked predementia. Involvement in activities slows down the progression of the dementia, elevates the mood of people with dementia, decreases agitated behavior and gives them a feeling of self-worth. Besides music and musicals, doing word puzzles, reading easy short books, looking at pictures--especially baby pictures--and playing simple card games all keep their brain active and are natural with no side effects.
Physical Exercise
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Exercise is good
A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that exercise can slow down memory loss even in those who are already having difficulty, such as those with vascular dementia. Physical exercise costs nothing and is good for both the body and the brain. Like mental exercise, physical exercise slows the decline associated with vascular dementia, elevates the mood of people with dementia, decreases agitated behavior and reduces stress. Walking, simple aerobic exercise including water aerobics, movement to music and sitting exercises all benefit persons with vascular dementia and treats the dementia naturally. Check with a doctor before starting any exercise program.
Homocysteine Reduction
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Give the person with vascular dementia the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, an amino acid, together with folate and vitamin B, because people with vascular dementia often have high homocysteine levels in their blood, which leads to loss of brain function. N-acetylcysteine increases urinary excretion of homocysteine. Ventura and colleagues (Pharmacology, 2003) suggested that this approach may be an alternative therapy for elevated levels of homocysteine in persons with vascular dementia
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