There are millions of people living with dementia across the globe, and it’s suggested that a new case is being diagnosed every five seconds or less. What most people don’t realize is that this can take place in many different forms, and it’s not as cut and dry as people think. For instance, Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, but other forms include Lewy body dementia. Learning how to help is vital, so here are 16 things you may not know.
No Cure
As sad as this is, right now, there is no cure-all for dementia. One of the reasons is that there are different causes for this. Because of this, researchers are constantly studying and trying to come up with the common causes of the disease and ways to find a cure. They’re hopeful that one day in the near future, a solution can be found.
Sundowning
If you know someone with dementia, you’ll know about sundowning, but if not, it can be a shock. Sundowning is a state of confusion where the person gets troubled, which leads to agitation, anxiety, or aggression. It could be a person’s exhaustion or issues with their internal clock, but it can cause mixups, and the person can experience insomnia or hallucinations on the more serious end.
Hoarding
Some people who have this issue may hoard things. It can make someone feel safe or in control, and while it’s often harmless, it can lead to dangerous amounts of clutter taking up space in the home. Unfortunately, there have been cases of people, both young and old, dying in a hoarder’s house because they’ve been trapped under boxes or other things. The hoarding actions can be caused by anxiety, confusion, or because the items may resemble memories for a certain person.
Aggression
Many people with dementia can also suffer from aggression. It’s one of the toughest things to witness, and it can shatter a person’s heart when they are attempting to help the person. The aggression can present itself as horrible words, screaming, or even physical violence. It can be especially rough for families to see the one they love lashing out at them, particularly if it’s a spouse.
Ultimately Fatal
People typically pass away still dealing with dementia right up until their passing. It’s been suggested that deaths due to Alzheimer’s have increased to almost 90%. Most commonly, people will have damage, difficulty swallowing, breathing, and falls, or worse. All from the dementia. It can also impair the immune system, leaving people vulnerable to infections they can’t fight off.
Caregiver Toll
If you’re a caregiver to a person with dementia or want to be, it takes a toll. There is considerable stress and exhaustion, and it takes a great emotional toll on the person. It can be amazingly fulfilling to help someone when they’re struggling, and it’s an amazing thing to do for another person. However, some people won’t let anyone help, or they’ll refuse your help. You have to know what you’re getting into to prepare yourself emotionally.
Social Appropriateness
Sometimes, people lose the distinction between what’s alright socially and what isn’t. Their judgment is impaired, and they have issues communicating. As such, they can swear and engage in other taboo behaviors that become an issue. Because they’re actively losing the functioning in their brain, they can’t determine that swearing at someone might be rude or mean.
Treatments Do Exist
While there isn’t a cure for dementia (yet), there are treatments that can help. There are inhibitors that are designed to help your brain in terms of communication with nerve cells. Another popular method is cognitive stimulation therapy or rehabilitation. The idea behind it is that these methods are supposed to strengthen the brain.
Women
Statistically, it’s been suggested that women are more likely to suffer from dementia than men. In fact, women are around 11% more likely to have this disease than men. Studies also suggest that the reasoning behind this is that they typically live longer, and menopause and estrogen levels can possibly affect the chances as well.
Protection
While there is no known way to 100% stave off dementia, there are ways to keep it at bay, potentially. Eating a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol, smoking, and other issues can also help. Exercising and maintaining a healthy weight are also important. Taking care of yourself in the current can help you avoid issues in the future, or stave them off a little longer.
Risks
There are risk factors for dementia. Research studies have theorized that having a traumatic brain injury could help dementia thrive, but other factors include age, having a family history of dementia, or being of poor heart health. If you’re of Hispanic or African American descent, research studies have suggested that you’ll also be at a higher risk.
Young Set
If you get dementia under the age of 65, typically between the ages of 30 and 65, it’s considered to be young-onset dementia. This happens to over 130,000 people, and it can be incredibly difficult for families to see adults so young and older begin to suffer from the disease.
It’s Not Normal
While so many people have dementia that it seems normal, it’s not. It’s not a normal part of life or aging, but surveys have been taken, showing that more than 70,000 people think it is because so many people suffer from it. Thankfully, if you do have it or are beginning to suffer from it, there is help available.
Early Diagnosis
If you can get an early diagnosis, it will improve your quality of life because you’ll know what you’re dealing with. While the symptoms may be mild at first, you can avoid being blindsided by the true extent of the issues. It’s believed that symptoms can begin occurring as much as five years before you get an official diagnosis.
Helping People
When someone has dementia, implementing certain activities can help the person. For instance, memory books, safety strategies, or visual aids and audio aids can all help the quality of life, so the person isn’t suffering. Music, love, and laughter for the emotional connection, as well as redirecting techniques, can help calm them down.
Dementia Is Never Easy
Dementia is never an easy thing to go through. It’s devastating to see the people you love deteriorate, and it can be incredibly difficult on family members and caregivers because you might feel like you’re not helping enough, but don’t give up. What you’re doing is one of the greatest gifts you can give someone.
