Dementia Causes and Risk factors

  • Dementia
    is a broad term for a range of conditions that involve loss of mental ability and so cause problems with memory, language, behaviour and emotions. Dementia is most common in the elderly. Around five percent of people over the age of 65 are affected to some extent.  According to Alzheimer’s Disease International with increasing life expectancy, this is expected to surge to 75.6 million in 2030. Disease awareness and understanding is a huge challenge  
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 19 September 2015

What causes Dementia

The most common cause is Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for up to 60% of all cases. Alzheimer's disease is caused by the destruction of certain brain cells leading to the loss of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke, is the second most common dementia type. But there are many other conditions that can cause symptoms of dementia, such as thyroid problems and vitamin B complex deficiencies. Dementia can also be caused by excessive alcohol intake.

Are you at risk of developing Dementia

Risk factors include:

• Increasing age: As you age, the risks of Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and several other dementias greatly increase, especially after the age of 65. However, dementia isn't a normal part of ageing, and dementia can occur in younger people.

• Positive family history: If you have a family history of dementia, your risk goes up by approximately 20-25%. It can be an inherited condition and the gene responsible is the amyloid precursor protein gene (APP)

• Poorly managed high blood pressure

• Brain injury

• Brain tumours

• High cholesterol

• Atherosclerosis: This build-up of fats and other substances in and on your artery walls (plaques) can reduce blood flow to your brain and lead to stroke. Reduced blood flow to your brain can cause vascular dementia. Some research shows there may be an association between blood vessel (vascular) conditions and Alzheimer's disease.

• Diabetes

• Smoking

• Poor diet 

• Excessive alcohol intake

• Vitamin B 12 deficiency

• Down syndrome: By middle age, many people with Down syndrome develop the plaques and tangles in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease. Some may develop dementia.

Community
Alzheimer's and Dementia
Condition
Dementia

Stories

  • It is important to talk to people with dementia
    Talk to your loved one with dementia; talk to others in your shoes, says Melissa Chan, founder of Project We Forgot, which supports caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Please share your encounter with Alzheimer’s Disease.  I was about 14 when my dad was diagnosed at age 53. Initially, we were confused because his family had no history of the disease but later the doctors pinned it down to the late-onset of effects caused by a car accident he had…
  • Dementia caregiving challenges and solutions
    Families often find themselves at wit’s end looking after a loved one with dementia. Porrselvi A.P., a cognitive and psychosocial interventions specialist, offers a case study that shows that caregiving challenges can be overcome with the right strategies.  We received a call from a very disturbed Mr. K, who was trying to find a dementia care home for his aged father, Mr. S., aged 73. Mr. K was distressed because he had never thought there would come a day when he would have to seek…
  • Image description: Black and white image shows an elderly persons hands on a lap
    Coping with Disasters and Dementia
    Disasters such as floods have an even worse impact on people with dementia. Dr Sridhar Vaitheswaran explains what precautions and coping measures can be taken A disaster is defined as an unexpected event that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary). During a disaster, routine life is affected to a significant extent. Individual lives are under threat and the immediate focus is on protecting lives. The capacity of organisations that generally manage…
  • Living well with Dementia in Hindi
    A excellent video in Hindi from the UK.  Covers the following aspects: What is Dementia Types of Dementia - Alzheimer's, Vascular Dementia, Lewy Body, etc.. Difference between Dementia and Ageing Medication and treatment  Management of Dementia Importance of a support network so you realise you are not alone Advise to caregivers and carers: Share your worries and concerns with friends and family members Join support groups Involve the family, even children Use care services whenever…
  • Can Lifestyle Changes Prevent Dementia [INFOGRAPHIC]
    Can healthy eating, regular exercise and maintaining healthy weight prevent dementia? Find out what you can do to prevent dementia [INFOGRAPHIC]. Related reading here
  • Dementia – Drop the Negative Attitude
    Misconceptions, early warning signs and the latest reseach that offers hope… PatientsEngage interviews Dr.Jacob Roy Kuriakose, Vice President, Alzheimer’s Disease International on the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Month. 62% of people with dementia live in low- and middle-income countries. Why is this? Is it due to lifestyle, diet or lack of awareness? What can be done to lower the numbers?  With increasing life expectancy, number of people with dementia is going up.  …
  • Management of Dementia
    Managing the condition Dementia generally gets worse with age but the development of symptoms can often be slowed with drugs or other treatments. Treatment of dementia usually aims to improve memory and concentration, reduce psychiatric problems, and improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. Read here for various treatment options: http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/dementia/treatments Improving quality of life: There are several psychological techniques to…
  • Dementia Treatment
    Dementia generally gets worse with age but the development of symptoms can often be slowed with drugs or other treatments. Treatment of dementia usually aims to improve memory and concentration, reduce psychiatric problems, and improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family. Improving memory and concentration: The memory difficulties seen in Alzheimer's disease can be relieved for a short time in some people with drugs that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine in the brain…
  • Prevention of Dementia
    Managing the following may help: Cardiovascular risk factors: Your brain is nourished by one of your body's richest networks of blood vessels. Anything that damages blood vessels anywhere in your body can damage blood vessels in your brain, depriving brain cells of vital food and oxygen.  Blood vessel changes in the brain are linked to vascular dementia. These are often present along with changes caused by other types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies…
  • Types of Dementia
    Different types of Dementia • Alzheimer’s disease: This is the most common type of dementia and is marked by protein deposits in the brain and nerve cell damage.  • Vascular (or blood vessel) dementia: This is a type of dementia that is caused by disease or injury to blood vessels in the brain. • Lewy body dementia (DLB): This is a dementia that has the primary symptoms of visual hallucinations. • Frontotemporal dementia (FTD): This is a dementia that is characterised by drastic…