Alzheimers & Dementia

It’s heartbreakingly tough when you or a loved one begins to experience memory loss and other symptoms of dementia during the aging process. Robert Price, MD, and the team at Central Coast Neurology want you to know there are treatments available to help control the symptoms and, depending on the cause, possibly even reverse the condition. Don’t give up hope. Make an appointment by calling the office in San Luis Obispo, California, or requesting one online today. 

What is dementia?

Dementia involves damage to nerve cells in your brain, can occur in several areas of the brain, and affects people differently.

Rather than a specific disease, dementia describes a group of symptoms that may affect your memory, thinking, and social abilities significantly enough to interfere with your capacity to function.

You may, for instance, suddenly have difficulty participating in activities you once excelled at, such as board games or crossword puzzles. Memory issues are certainly a symptom of dementia, but it’s often more than just forgetting where you put the car keys – it’s forgetting what car keys are.

Doctors often group dementias according to the part of the brain that’s affected or whether they’re considered progressive, those which worsen over time, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

What are the symptoms of dementia?

Dementia symptoms vary by individual and can depend on the cause but often include:

• Changes in your ability to acquire or retain knowledge
• Memory loss
• Difficulty communicating or finding words
• Problems planning, organizing, or handling complex tasks
• Decreased coordination
• Confusion and disorientation

Dementia may also cause:

• Personality changes and inappropriate behavior
• Depression and anxiety
• Paranoia, agitation, or hallucinations

What causes dementia?

Dementia has many potential causes. Sometimes, treating the cause can reverse the condition. This may include dementia resulting from: 

• Infections and immune disorders
• Metabolic problems and endocrine abnormalities such as thyroid problems, low blood sugar, too much or too little calcium or sodium, decreased ability to absorb vitamin B12
• Dehydration
• Nutritional deficiencies such as lack of vitamin B1, B6, or B12 in your diet
• Adverse reaction to one or a combination of medications

Types of dementia that progress and can’t be reversed but may respond to treatment/therapy  that helps slow the progression include:

• Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia
• Vascular dementia, caused by damage to the vessels that supply blood to your brain, such as during a stroke
• Lewy body dementia, which may be related to abnormal clumps of protein in the brain, also found in people with Alzheimer’s
• Parkinson’s disease

The first step in effectively treating dementia requires an evaluation that helps pinpoint the cause.

If you’re worried about dementia affecting you or a loved one, call Central Coast Neurology or request a consultation online today.