Dementia

• Dementia is a wide term that elaborates a loss of thinking, power of retention, and other mental abilities.
• Lot of things can cause dementia. It occurs when the parts of your brain used for learning, intellectual ability, memory, decision making, and language are damaged.
• It is also called as major neurocognitive disorder. Dementia isn't a disease. Instead, it's a bunch of symptoms caused by various conditions.
• Around 8 percent of people over age 65 have some sort of dementia. This percentage duplicates after every 5 years. Around half of people in their 80s have some dementia.
• Alzheimer's disease is the common reason behind dementia. Approximately 60%-80% of people with dementia have Alzheimer's disease. However, there are 50 other causes of dementia as well.
• Dementia symptoms may get better with treatment. But many of the diseases that cause dementia are not treatable.

Causes and Risk Factor

• Degenerative neurological diseases are major cause of dementia. These include Alzheimer's disease , Huntington's disease , Parkinson's disease , and some other types of sclerosis . These diseases get worse with time passes.
• People who are having vascular disorders, these conditions affect the blood circulation in brain .
• Traumatic brain damage caused by car accidents, concussions, falls, etc.
• Infections of the central nervous system . These conditions include HIV, meningitis and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
• Hydrocephalus , fluid accumulation in the brain .

Some lifestyle and physical components can put you at higher risk of having dementia, including:

• History of dementia in your family
• Diseases including Down syndrome, heart diseases, diabetes and sleep apnea
• History of Depression
• Smoking, heavy alcohol abuse, diet poor in nutrients, and lack of physical exercise

Signs and Symptoms

People with dementia have trouble with thinking, intellectual ability and remembering that affect their ability to manage their routine life. These are some signs to watch for:

• Short-term memory loss, like forgetting small things where you put certain things or asking the same question over and over again
• Trouble with communication like not being able to come up with a sentence
• Getting lost
• Trouble with intricate but familiar tasks, like paying bills or organizing meals
• Personality transitions, like depression, paranoia, agitation and mood swings

Types of Dementia

Dementia can be divided into 2 groups based on which part of the brain is affected.

Cortical dementia occurs because of issues in the cerebral cortex part, the outermost layer of the brain. It plays an important role in thinking, memory and language. People with this type of dementia generally have extreme memory loss and can't remember routine terms or understand language. Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are two patterns of cortical dementia.

Subcortical dementia develops because of issues in the regions of the brain beneath the cortex. People with subcortical dementia likely to show transitions in their speed of thinking and ability to initiate activities of routine life. Usually, people with subcortical dementia don't have short term memory loss and language problems . Parkinson's disease , HIV and Huntington's disease can cause these types of dementia.

Stages of Dementia

Generally, these are the stages of dementia. But it may differ depending on the region of the brain that is involved.

1. No impairment.Some individuals at this stage will have no symptoms, but tests may exhibit a problem.
2. Very mild decline.You may notice mild transformation in behavior, but your family members will still be independent.
3. Mild decline.Patient will notice more alterations in their thinking ability and reasoning. They may come up with problems in making plans, and they may repeat their words a lot. They may also have a tough time remembering latest incidents.
4. Moderate decline. Patient will have more difficulties with organizing plans and remembering latest occasions. They may have difficulties with traveling, handling cash and paying bills
5. Moderately severe decline. Patient may not remember their mobile number or their relative's names. They may be puzzled about the time of day or date or name of the day in week. At this time, patient will need support with some basic day-to-day activities, like picking out clothes to wear.
6. Severe decline. Patients will start to forget the name of their spouse. They'll need assistance going to the toilet and having meals. You may also see alteration in their personality, behavior and emotions.
7. Very severe decline. They can no longer express their thoughts in sentence. They loss ability to walk and will spend most of the time in bed.

Ayurveda in Dementia

• Modern medicine has not yet found a complete cure or treatment for dementia. There is no surety to reverse the disease.
• That's why Ayurveda aims on preventing, controlling and managing dementia with natural methods.
• Ayurveda is based on a holistic approach of treatment which endorses and supports equilibrium in various forms of human life: the physical body, mind, and soul
• Ayurveda promotes the importance of a healthy diet for proper functioning of brain. An energetic and stress-free lifestyle is beneficial in maintaining a subtle memory even as you age.
• Vedic science has introduced the world many medicinal flora and herbal formulations that are effective in slowing down brain aging.

Natural herbs that works good for enhancing memory:

Brahmi: Brahmi is well known brain booster. It sharpens the memory, reduce depression and fight stress. Brahmi also acts as an anti-depressant, tranquilizer, anti-anxiety and brain function enhancer.

Licorice: Licorice enhance reasoning power and memory. It has anti-aging effects on the brain by preventing degeneration of brain cells.

Turmeric: This is one of the best medicines for enhancing memory and concentration power. It contains antioxidant, curcumin, and curcuminoids, it fights with free radicals. Turmeric also reduces inflammation in brain cells, improves sleep, reduces tension and acts as a brain relaxant.

Ashwagandha: It gives overall nourishment to the brain and act as rejuvenator. Ashwagandha repairs brain cells from further damage. It prevents and reverses the damage resulting to dementia .

Chandigarh ayurved centre provides Brodley syrup, Tagaradi churna, Nerveup tablet, Rasayan vati and detox premium powder for the overall management of dementia .