Under the term senility, the medical profession refers to an age-related exhaustion. In the vernacular, people like to use the word frailty. The fact is: old age infirmity is not a disease, but a, in old age occurring, state of appearance of the person.
What is senility?
Under the term old age weakness, the medical profession refers to an age-related exhaustion. In common parlance, people like to use the word frailty. Old-age frailty is a complex phenomenon, which – as the name suggests – occurs in old age. However, it is not considered an independent disease. The patient suffers from memory and functional disorders due to the aging process. Likewise, in the case of advanced senility, nursing support and measures are necessary. The consequences of senile insufficiency are sometimes osteoporosis, muscle atrophy and muscle weakness. However, senile weakness can also develop into the frailty syndrome. The patient complains, compared to other people in his age group, of significantly increased symptoms of the body, as well as weight loss, fatigue and increased unsteadiness of gait.
Causes
The cause of senile dementia is, as the name implies, old age. After a certain age, the onset of senility or frailty is a natural change in physical condition. For this reason, medical professionals only deal with the frailty syndrome. This syndrome is considered to be in need of treatment and medical attention. There are certainly different developmental processes and risk factors that favor the frailty syndrome. For example, people who suffer from hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic inflammation are often affected. Likewise, people who have a weak immune system, suffer from anemia, or have significantly altered hormone levels are more likely to be affected by the syndrome than others in their age group. Physicians repeatedly describe that it is “typical” that in the case of frailty syndrome, the CRP level is significantly elevated at the same time. Furthermore, physicians repeatedly note a reduced testosterone level. Also this leads probably, in connection with a low Vitamin D mirror, to the syndrome mentioned. Likewise, physicians could determine an age-dependent prevalence; the symptoms of the syndrome become significantly stronger from the age of 65.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
A typical sign of senile dementia is a decrease in memory, affecting names and birth dates, for example. Affected individuals are also often obstinate and frequently feel exhausted and tired. This can be accompanied by unwanted weight loss, immune deficiencies and sleep disturbances, as well as problems falling asleep and staying asleep. Physiological changes include a decrease in hearing, up to and including complete loss of hearing. The sense of sight may also be impaired – there is a weakening of color perception and other visual disturbances. The development of lens opacity or other eye diseases such as cataracts or glaucoma is also typical. The sense of smell and taste can also deteriorate with age, which can lead to a lack of appetite. Accompanying this, senility also manifests itself in disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Those affected can usually move only to a limited extent and much more slowly than before. There is a decrease in bone mass, often accompanied by bone pain. Externally, senile weakness is manifested by the typical age spots and senile skin. Incipient or advanced senility can be recognized primarily by a decrease in physical and mental performance.
Diagnosis and progression
If the patient complains of relatively severe symptoms of senility that clearly exceed those of people in the same age group, it is advisable that a doctor be consulted. The physician must clarify whether it is a case of pronounced weakness due to old age or the frailty syndrome. The physician applies the examination and classification according to Fried. If the patient exhibits more than three symptoms, he or she is suffering from the frailty syndrome. In this syndrome, a strong, no longer controllable weight loss occurs. Muscle weakness is also evident, which is accompanied by a loss of strength. The patient complains of fatigue, shows an unsteady gait and stance pattern and has a higher risk of falling.Likewise, the patient shows symptoms in the area of physical instability; many affected persons also have significantly slowed reactions. Likewise, the performance capacity is significantly reduced. If the affected person exhibits more than three symptoms, he or she is probably affected by the frailty syndrome. However, if the physician diagnoses only one or two symptoms, one must assume an age-related deterioration of the general condition. However, the frailty syndrome must be clearly distinguished from other diseases of old age. For example, neither Alzheimer’s nor dementia have anything to do with the syndrome. Although it is possible that these diseases occur together with the syndrome, therapy and treatment are strictly separated. To what extent the syndrome changes – in the course of time – is not yet clear. However, physicians assume that the syndrome – like the classic frailty of old age – becomes more severe over the years and thus a general deterioration of the condition occurs. Neither frailty syndrome, nor natural senility, can be cured. However, there are treatments that slow the progression or progression of symptoms.
Complications
Weakness due to old age is a perfectly common symptom and occurs in all people. However, some are more affected by it than others, which is due to a different diet, mental and physical lifestyle. The extent to which senile debility affects the patient also depends greatly on the progress of the disease and the limitation of bodily functions. As a rule, there is no treatment for senile dementia. It can be stopped or limited with medication, but a complete cure is not possible. For example, senile dementia often leads to memory loss or memory impairment in patients. Various other organs can no longer perform their functions properly. In the worst case, senile insufficiency leads to the failure of an organ and thus to death. However, whether and when this case occurs cannot be universally predicted. In many cases, senile dementia also means that patients can no longer cope with everyday life on their own. They are then dependent on help from family or caregivers to perform everyday activities. In some cases, inpatient hospitalization is also necessary due to senile dementia.
When should you go to the doctor?
Because of senile debility, people usually do not see a doctor until the weakness or fatigue reaches a certain level. For some people, fitness and vitality last well into old age. Others “weaken” at a relatively young age. It depends on many circumstances when and how old-age frailty takes effect. Increasing frailty is normal at the appropriate age. However, a visit to a doctor is still advisable. Increasing frailty in old age can have secondary symptoms that can be treated. In some cases, nursing measures are also necessary to provide more support for people who are becoming frail. In the case of excessive frailty and accompanying illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes or anemia, medical experts speak of a frailty syndrome. Elderly people should see their doctor regularly to discuss appropriate measures as soon as frailty begins. If necessary, administration of vitamin D3 or calcium may be necessary. The intake of antihypertensives or the better adjustment of diabetes can be initiated by the doctor. The first point of contact in the case of senile dementia should initially be the family doctor. If necessary, he or she can refer the patient to an internist or another specialist. In the case of advanced senility and decreasing independence, it is also possible to apply for a nursing degree or home help. Here, the physician can advise on possible measures.
Treatment and therapy
First and foremost, a balanced diet is important. The affected person should receive all the necessary nutrients and make sure to drink enough fluids. If the affected person is already too weak or forgets to take in sufficient food as well as fluids, it is necessary that relatives or even professional caregivers take care of him. In extreme cases, intravenous nutrition may even be used. Furthermore, care should be taken to continue building up the muscles and thus stop the loss of strength.The affected person should therefore carry out an individual fitness program or also fight against the symptoms of old age weakness with physical therapies as well as physiotherapy. Finally, a combination of coordination tasks as well as strength training not only improves the muscles and brain, but also reduces the risk of falls.
Outlook and prognosis
In general, senile dementia is a common symptom that does not require treatment. It occurs at older ages and cannot be avoided. Those affected feel relatively tired, fatigued and weak due to senile dementia. There is also a greatly reduced ability to cope with stress. Ordinary activities in everyday life can thus seem difficult for the affected person, so that the patient may be dependent on the help of other people in his or her daily life. Similarly, senile dementia has a negative impact on the patient’s memory and concentration. There are also disturbances in orientation, balance disorders and increased frailty. This increases the risk of infections, inflammations and bone fractures. The quality of life of the affected person decreases significantly due to senile dementia and there are restrictions in everyday life. Dementia can also develop as a result of senile dementia. It is not possible to treat senile dementia causally. However, those affected can limit most of the complaints and symptoms relatively well through a healthy and active lifestyle, so that everyday life becomes bearable.
Prevention
Everyone can take preventive action against senile dementia if they avoid – throughout their lives – various risk factors, enjoy a balanced diet and make sure they get enough exercise.
Aftercare
With aftercare, a medical professional would like to prevent, among other things, the recurrence of a disease. However, this is not possible with senile dementia. It cannot be cured and inevitably occurs as a result of the aging process. However, pain or a deterioration in the quality of life do not necessarily have to be accepted. The typical complaints of old age become more and more intense. Therefore, aftercare has the task of preventing possible complications. Doctors support elderly people in this. It is not unusual for patients to be seen every six months. It is essential that those affected take part in check-ups and preventive examinations. After a diagnosis, it is also important to learn how to deal with old age. Suitable measures can be taught in a therapy session. Affected persons must then apply them independently at home. Anti-aging measures include, above all, exercise, memory training and a healthy diet. They minimize the symptoms. Doctors can only accompany the aging process. Drug treatments are used rather rarely. Follow-up care can be provided by the family doctor, an internist or specific specialists. If senile dementia leads to severe symptoms and other infirmities occur, assistance may also be approved through long-term care insurance.
What you can do yourself
Since the age weakness is a natural process, also any measures for self-treatment help only conditionally. However, they are suitable for the preservation of the still existing functions and can hinder the progress of occurring complaints. Thus, programmed cell death is always involved in senile insufficiency. A healthy diet with many vitamins, healthy fats and minerals helps to protect already existing cell structures. Thus, already existing cells can be preserved longer. Antioxidants also help because they protect cells from free radical damage. However, areas in the body that are already severely structurally damaged cannot be restored in this way. It is also important to maintain the functions of the muscles. Gymnastics should be practiced by older persons within the limits of their possibilities. Sports activities should also be integrated into everyday life. Every muscle that is maintained or developed slows down the onset of age-related movement restrictions. The boundary between moderate exertion and pushing the limits of what is still possible should be explored in slow sports practices. Deteriorated cognitive performance can be countered by targeted brain training.Here, games that require memory performance are just as suitable as lively participation in social events and targeted stimulation with stimuli that are readily perceived. An abundance of activities improves the feeling of being alive and thus also the perception of old age.
