Dementia Is A BIG Problem For Some Old People

It reduces the quality of life

Old age is not always golden

It used to be years ago that old people were called “senile” if they were getting forgetful or had been reduced to not knowing what was going on in their lives. Now the common term is “dementia” which is often associated with “Alzheimer’s disease.” These health risks generally strike older people although relatively young people can have some symptoms as well. Although dementia does not have a cure, there are mediations to somewhat help manage the symptoms.

Dementia results from damage to the brain cells. It affects the memory and normal thinking of the person. Communicating and reasoning may become difficult. Sometimes victims get to the point of not recognizing their own family members. Dementia may make the person unable to perform simple daily tasks such as bathing and eating. Confusion and disorientation may be symptoms. Depression and anxiety could come with dementia or help bring its onset. Stress can be a cause as well.

Alzheimer’s disease is said to be the main cause of most cases of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that destroys memory and thinking skills. It affects older people and is a problem that can come with advancing years. There is a lot of research going on to try and find a cure for Alzheimer’s.

Medical research has shown that irritability, depression, and anxiety can trigger dementia before memory issues become a major problem. Changes in mood or personality can be a sign for the person to be checked by a doctor. Family members might note these changes in an older member of their family. Patients can be given a PET scan or cerebrospinal fluid sampling to show if there are problems. Treatment may be started if necessary.

Dementia is a sad thing.

Gale Sayers, the pro football hall of famer who passed away on September 22, 2020, had dementia for seven years before his death at the age of seventy-seven. Many pro football players and even college players are known to get brain injuries and dementia because of many hits to the head playing football. Their brains are often analyzed for research after their passing.

An eighty year old man passed away recently of natural causes, not the COVID-19. He did not have dementia, but his wife did. There was a small funeral. A person who attended the funeral said he talked with the daughter of the man who had died. The wife did not attend the funeral. The daughter said that her mother of the same age as her father was in a nursing home and physically unable to attend. It would not have been feasible for her to go anyway because she was suffering from dementia. The daughter said that her mother does not even know who her daughter is when she visits her. She probably would not have realized that her husband had died or possibly who he was.

Some people who have dementia are required to be in a nursing home because their family cannot take care of them at home. They require constant care and could wander off if they are not watched continuously.

Eighty is not that old these days. Life can still be meaningful and active for people of that age and much older IF they are not suffering from dementia or some other dibilitating disease. Keeping your brain active is good advice.

Life is not easy for those who get dementia. Having it means that you can no longer take care of yourself and cannot do the normal daily activities that make life meaningful. You may not recognize or remember people. You can no longer take care of your finances. You need help.

Dementia does not have to happen. Most people I know who are senior citizens do NOT have dementia. It is a sad thing when it occurs, but it is not something that is going to happen to everyone. Most people are likely to live to a ripe old age without getting dementia.

We should all be thankful for the good health we enjoy. We are blessed if we are able to read, learn, think, write, talk, and walk. If our health is not the best, there are probably people who are worse off than we are. If we don’t have or get dementia, we are fortunate. We all want to have a good quality of life even as we age.

Life can be cruel, but LIFE CAN BE GOOD!

[Sources: Wikipedia, Mayo Clinic website, CNN]