The treatment of dementia depends on its cause. Most types cannot be cured but there are ways to manage the symptoms.
Medications
- Memantine: This works by regulating the activity of glutamine. Glutamine is a chemical messenger involved in brain functions such as learning and memory. The common side effect of memantine is dizziness.
- Cholinesterase inhibitors: This works by boosting levels of a chemical messenger involved memory and judgement. The medicines include donepezil (Aricept, Adlarity), galantamine (Razadyne ER) and rivastigmine (Exelon). The side effects of these medicines may include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fainting and sleep problems.
- Other medicines: You might take other medicines to treat symptoms or other conditions. You may need treatment for depression, sleep problems, hallucinations, parkinsonism or agitation.
Therapies
- Occupational therapy: Occupational therapy teaches you how to make your home safer and also teaches coping skills. This helps prevent accidents such as falls. Occupational therapy also helps you manage behaviors and prepare you for when the dementia progresses.
- Changes to the environment: Reducing clutter and noise can make it easier for someone with dementia to focus and function. Monitoring systems alert you if the person with dementia wonders.
- Music therapy: this involves listening to soothing music.
- light exercise
- Pet therapy: This includes visits from dogs or other animals to promote improved mood and behavior.
- Massage therapy
- Aromatherapy
- watching videos of family members.
- Art therapy: This involves creating art, focusing on the process rather than the outcome.
COPING AND SUPPORT
Below are suggestions that can help you cope with the disease:
- join a local support group
- write about your feelings in a journal
- learn about the disease
- get individual or family counselling
- spend time with friends and family
- Stay active
- find new ways to express yourself e.g. painting, singing, or writing
PREVENTION
There is no sure way to prevent dementia but there are things you can do that might help.
- Be physically and socially active: This might delay the onset of dementia and reduce its symptoms.
- Quit Smoking: Certain studies have shown that smoking in middle age and beyond might increase the risk of dementia. Quitting smoking might reduce the risk and improve health.
- Keep your mind active: Mentally stimulating activities might delay the onset of dementia.
- Get enough vitamins
- Treat health conditions
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Get good quality sleep.
- Treat hearing loss: People with hearing loss have a greater chance of developing problems with thinking, known as cognitive decline. Early treatment of hearing loss might help reduce the risk.
- Get regular eye exams and treat vision loss: Studies suggest getting not treating vision loss may be associated with a raised risk of dementia.
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