Dementia is a common disease in the elderly, with various symptoms that bring many inconveniences to patients’ lives, and treatment is difficult. Understanding the symptoms and causes of this condition is particularly important in order to prevent it better.
Memory decline is one of the early signs of dementia in the elderly. Unlike occasional forgetting, patients may repeatedly ask the same questions or repeat the same behavior, and it is difficult to remember the forgotten content afterwards. In addition, a decline in language expression ability is also an important warning sign, manifested by frequent difficulty in finding words, unclear communication, and even family members having difficulty understanding their words. Getting lost in familiar surroundings, confusion in time and spatial orientation, such as forgetting seasons, dates, and not being able to find one’s own location at home, is also a common phenomenon. Difficulty in writing, expressing thoughts accurately, especially when elderly people who were good at written work show this change, deserves special attention. Significant decline in judgment and cognitive function, such as placing objects in unreasonable locations, is also a sign of dementia in the elderly. Emotionally, patients may experience dramatic emotional fluctuations and inexplicable emotional shifts, such as crying for no reason or sudden outbursts of anger.
The causes of dementia in the elderly are complex and varied, including multiple minor cerebral infarctions leading to substantial damage, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, as well as metabolic disorders, drug poisoning, endocrine diseases, and genetic factors. The key to preventing this disease lies in maintaining brain health through continuous learning, engaging in social activities, and maintaining a positive attitude. Intellectual training, social interaction, maintaining good interpersonal relationships, and mental nurturing have positive effects on promoting brain vitality, reducing stress, and enhancing cognitive abilities. In addition, avoiding prolonged depressive moods and maintaining family harmony are also important preventive measures.
In conclusion, paying attention to and recognizing the early signs of dementia in the elderly, combined with a healthy lifestyle and a positive mindset, are crucial for preventing and delaying the progression of this disease.
