24 Aug 3 Symptoms of Dementia and 3 Ways to Strengthen Your Brain
Dementia is an umbrella term for various cognitive issues related to aging. Resulting in the death of one-third of seniors, dementia, and specifically Alzheimer’s, is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Finding out a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, which causes as much as 70% of all dementia cases, is a very scary moment.
Knowing the symptoms of dementia is extremely important, especially if you have an aging loved one, so you know exactly when to get medical assistance. Here are a few of the most common symptoms of dementia to keep an eye out for, as well as some simple ways you can strengthen the brain.
- Sudden Behavior Changes — They might become irritable and restless more often. Or they might often wander around and get lost for a few moments.
- Mood Changes — Extreme mood swings can be a good indicator for dementia issues, along with anxiety, loneliness and nervousness. However, the key word there is extreme. Mood swings can be a normal part of life at any age.
- Speech Shifts — Monitor your loved one’s speech patterns. If you notice them jumbling their words together, struggling to form sentences, or losing their train of thought, you might want to have a visit with a medical professional.
Those are a few of the earliest symptoms of dementia to be aware of when dealing with an elderly parent or loved one. Sadly, there is no cure for these cognitive issues. There are ways to slow it, however, and even if unsuccessful, some of these tips can at least improve other facets of an elder’s health.
- Get Healthy — Exercising to get better fitness levels could decrease the risk for dementia later in life. But no matter how old someone is, if they aren’t taking care of their body, their risk levels for a wide variety of diseases increases. If your loved ones can maintain a healthy weight, eat right, and stop bad habits like smoking, their chances of successfully f
ighting some diseases will increase.
- Stimulate the Mind — If your aging loved ones can keep their brains active, they can fight some illnesses and will have a much stronger mental capacity later in life. Reading more, playing cognitive games, and learning a new skill can all improve the brain.
- Less Stress — By doing whatever they can to limit the amount of stress they bring on themselves, they will feel a little bit better every day. If your loved ones remain social and do activities that they enjoy, they will feel stimulated and their minds will be kept active.
Out of all the assisted living residents in the U.S., more than three-fourths of them have at least two of the 10 most common chronic conditions, with high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease the most prevalent. In these cases, many families choose to hire senior care professionals to provide home healthcare. Home care can drastically increase a senior’s quality of life by allowing them to age in place, especially after you’ve spotted common symptoms of dementia.
If you’re searching for in home caregivers in Houston, Texas, get in touch with Family Tree today!