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Causes of Dementia
Causes of dementia are as varied as the different
types of dementia. Reversible types
of dementia are temporary and often can be treated to be reversed.
Examples of reversible dementias may include those caused by a
vitamin deficiency (such as a lack of Vitamin B) or from a head
injury or infection such as meningitis.
Irreversible types of dementia
are those caused by some type of permanent damage that cannot be
reversed. Examples of irreversible dementias include: Alzheimer’s
disease, Vascular dementia, Lewy Body Dementia and Frontotemporal
dementia. Causes of The Most Common Dementias
Alzheimer’s disease,
the most common of all the irreversible dementias, results from
abnormal protein deposits in the brain which destroy brain cells.
These critical brain cells which are not intact, involve cognitive
abilities such as reasoning and memory use; functional skills such
as dressing and toileting and have some control over behavior and
mood levels. In addition, the brain sees a decrease in specific
brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which help the brain to
send important signals back and forth for typical tasks of everyday
life.
Vascular dementia,
which may account for up to 40% of all dementias, is caused by
deposits in the arteries which block critical blood flow to the
brain via strokes. Lewy Body
dementia, has similar causal factors to Alzheimer’s
disease, with abnormal protein deposits destroying brain cells. The
difference is the size of the protein deposits. In Lewy Body
dementia, the protein deposits are microscopic and involve nerve
cell damage. Causes of Dementia: Is Age A Factor?
Age appear to be a factor in causing Alzheimer’s
disease where a person at age 65 has a 1 in 10 chance of developing
Alzheimer’s disease but a person at age 85 has a 1 in 3 chance of
having the disease. Treatment Options For Causes of
Dementia
Unfortunately, there are no cures at this time for
the common irreversible dementia. Research continues for each
disease on the causal factors in order to determine a cure and/or a
way to halt the progress of each type of dementia.
There are some treatment options using medication but there is no
research that supports the absolute use of medications as a way to
slow any of the dementias. For further information
about dementia, please return to the main
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