Prevention of dementia is not possible. However, attempts can be made to prevent forms of dementing changes by eliminating risk factors. Behavioral risk factors Diet High intake of sweet drinks, especially if they contain artificial sweeteners Micronutrient deficiency (vital substances) – see Prevention with micronutrients. Consumption of stimulants Alcohol (woman: > 20 g/day; man: > … Dementia: Prevention
Note: For the diagnosis of dementias, international guidelines and diagnostic criteria provide for a two-step approach: As thorough as possible elicitation, description, and confirmation of the dementia syndrome. Specification of the dementia etiology (cause of dementia). The following symptoms and complaints may indicate dementia: Possible early warning signs: Deterioration of memory and short-term memory. Failure … Dementia: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs
Pathogenesis (development of disease) Dementia is usually preceded by a mild “cognitive impairment” (“MCI”), which presents as an anamnestic (affecting memory) form, a precursor of Alzheimer’s dementia. In about 10-20% of all patients with MCI, the mild impairment progresses to manifest dementia within a year. Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is probably present in approximately 20% … Dementia: Causes
General measures When caring for persons suffering from dementia, consideration should be given to: Presentation of the patient to a psychiatrist or neurologist for clarification of differential diagnoses (e.g., pseudodementia in severe depression) Aim to maintain normal weight! * Determination of BMI (body mass index, body mass index) or body composition by means of electrical … Dementia: Therapy
Therapy target Slowing down the disease process Note: 84% of all vascular dementia (VD) sufferers also have detectable AD pathology. In these cases, it is justified to treat them as Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) with AChE inhibitors [S3 guideline recommendation]. Therapy Recommendations In Alzheimer’s dementia, drug therapy can be used to try to slow the disease … Dementia: Drug Therapy
Obligatory medical device diagnostics. Computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging of the skull (cranial CT or.cCT/cranial MRI or cMRI) for basic diagnosis; recommendation grade A [S3 guideline] – to exclude brain-organic changes and to assess the degree of atrophy; this primarily reveals the following signs Volume reduction in the temporal lobe (amygdala, hippocampus). Note: The specificity of … Dementia: Diagnostic Tests
An at-risk group indicates the possibility that the disease may be associated with the risk of vital substance (micronutrient) deficiency. The complaint Alzheimer’s dementia points to a vital substance (micronutrient) deficiency for Vitamin C Copper In the context of micronutrient medicine (vital substances), the following vital substances (macro- and micronutrients) are used for the prevention … Dementia: Micronutrient Therapy
The case history (medical history) represents an important component in the diagnosis of dementia. The initial history should include a caregiver; often it is an extraneous history (family members). Family history What is the general health status of your relatives? Were there any life events that were drastic in the run-up to the illness? Is … Dementia: Medical History
Congenital malformations, deformities, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99). Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) – specific human genomic mutation in which the entire 21st chromosome or parts of it are present in triplicate (trisomy). In addition to physical characteristics considered typical for this syndrome, the cognitive abilities of the affected person are usually impaired; furthermore, there is an … Dementia: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis
The following are the major diseases or complications that may be contributed to by dementia or dementia-related symptoms: Respiratory system (J00-J99) Pneumonia (pneumonia) Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90). Malnutrition (malnutrition) Malnutrition* Malnutrition Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99). Infections of all kinds Mouth, esophagus (food pipe), stomach and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93). Caries Constipation (constipation) – … Dementia: Complications
According to the current understanding of the disease, dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (DAT) is divided into four stages that merge into one another Stage Description I Preclinical/prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease. II Stage of subjective cognitive decline (“SCD”). III Stage of mild cognitive impairment (“Mild Cognitive Impairment”, MCI). IV Stage of dementia as a … Dementia: Classification
A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps: General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further: Inspection (viewing). Skin and mucous membranes Auscultation (listening) of the heart [due todifferential diagnoses: chronic heart failure (chronic heart failure), cardiac arrhythmias]. Auscultation (listening) of the lungs [due todifferential diagnoses: chronic … Dementia: Examination
