Dementia is a common illness among the elderly population that impairs the ability of remembering, thinking, or making daily decisions. Even though dementia is often inevitable due to the progress of aging, dementia can become reversible in certain stages such as the “mild cognitive to moderate cognitive” stages. What is reversible dementia? Reversible dementia can be associated with cognitive or behavioral symptoms that can be treated or resolved within time. In fact, the cognitive or behavioral symptoms do not always have to be sufficiently severe in order to fulfill the criteria of dementia.
How do you know if your loved one is experiencing reversible dementia? Reversible dementia can be identified by cognitive impairment such as forgetting, having difficulties in concentrating, and/or making decisions that affect their daily life tasks.
The common conditions that cause reversible dementia are:
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Tumors
- Subdural hematomas, blood clots beneath the outer covering of the brain
- Normal-pressure hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain
- Metabolic disorders such as a vitamin B12 deficiency
- Low levels of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism)
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND)
These common conditions cause reversible dementia due to the fact it can affect the brain (physically and mentally), central nervous system, and blood circulation throughout the body.
There are ways to treat reversible dementia such as:
- Exercise daily. Taking a 30-minute walk around your neighborhood or at a local park will increase your physical activity.
- Eat healthy foods. As you age, your dietary needs will change. Intaking fewer unhealthy calories (chips, soda, baked goods, alcohol) and adding sufficient nutrients such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meats.
- Control stress levels. Having too much stress can cause your brain to dysfunction and it can be overwhelming to your health and ability to function throughout your day.
- Get at least 8 hours of sleep. Studies show that poor sleep can become a risk factor for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.
Having dementia and caring for a loved one who is diagnosed with dementia can be challenging. How can you provide care for a loved one with dementia? By educating yourself about dementia, it can provide a realistic outcome and attitude towards caregiving. For instance, you will be expecting the challenges that you will encounter and how to deal with it by remaining control of the situation. Moreover, accepting support throughout the process of caring for a loved one is crucial. Family caregivers constantly go through moments of uncertainty and losing hope. Therefore, by finding support groups with individuals who are empathetic and understand what you are going through, it can help you engage, learn more about dementia, and have someone to talk to.
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By: Carolina Lupercio
Senior Care Advising Intern at WellPath Partners
Health Science Student at California State University, Long Beach
