HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER?

Dementia and Alzheimer's are diseases that are often confused with each other, thought to have the same meaning, but different from each other. They are so dangerous that they seriously reduce the quality of life of the person and even prevent a person from continuing their life without help.

Having information about the two disorders and knowing the difference between them will lead you to the correct diagnosis. In this article, we will give brief information about these diseases and look at what we can do to prevent them.

1. What Is Dementia?

• Dementia is a general name given to many diseases in which forgetfulness is at the forefront. Dementia, which is common, especially in the elderly population, may occur due to different diseases.
• Dementia describes a group of symptoms that affect memory, thinking, and social abilities severe enough to interfere with your daily life.
• Although dementia usually involves memory loss, there are different causes of memory loss. Just because you have memory loss doesn't mean you have dementia.
• Dementia is not a single disease name, it is a finding that can be described with impairment of memory and similar mental abilities.
• Dementia; can manifest itself with impairments in memory and thinking ability, attention and decision-making, language, and speech center. All of these diseases cause some changes in the brain and reveal the specific findings of the diseases.

1. What Are the Symptoms of Dementia?

• Cognitive changes
• Memory loss, often noticed by a spouse or other person
• Difficulty communicating or finding words
• Difficulty with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving
• Difficulty reasoning or problem-solving
• Difficulty performing complex tasks
• Difficulty with coordination and motor functions
• Confusion and disorientation
• Psychological changes
• Personality changes
• Anxiety
• Improper conduct
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations

2. What Is Alzheimer?

• Alzheimer's disease is a disease of advanced age, and it is a disease that manifests itself with deterioration in all intellectual activities, daily functions, and behaviors, especially memory, as a result of gradual damage to some parts of the brain over time.
• Alzheimer's is a nervous system disorder that includes symptoms of dementia. In other words, it can be defined as a different health problem that includes dementia.
• It is important to make an early diagnosis thanks to awareness studies on the disease so that the disease can be brought under control at an early stage. While this increases the quality of life of patients' relatives as well as Alzheimer's patients, it also reduces the treatment costs of the disease.

3. What Is The Difference Between Dementia And Alzheimer's Disease?

• Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of diseases characterized by cognitive decline, and then Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia under this umbrella.
• According to the World Health Organization, 60 to 70 percent of people with dementia are estimated to have Alzheimer's disease. However, the remaining 30 to 40% of dementia cases come from a wide variety of causes.
• Early symptoms in Alzheimer's patients begin with memory disorders that will cause disruptions in daily life. Other functions are affected in the later stages of the disease. 
• Due to the memory disorders caused by Alzheimer's, the person may encounter situations such as not being able to remember acquaintances, and not being able to use the tools he knows to use anymore. This is not the case with dementia.
• Alzheimer's tends to affect your learning and memory more at its onset than other types of dementia, and is more likely to affect your planning or speech repertoire.

4. How To Reduce Your Risk Of Alzheimer's And Other Dementias?

There is no sure way to prevent dementia, but some changes in living standards can delay the onset of dementia or slow its progression. 

Some of those:

• Keep your mind active: Mentally stimulating activities such as reading, solving puzzles, and playing word games can delay the onset of dementia and lessen its effects.
• Be physically and socially active: Physical activity and social interaction can delay the onset of dementia and reduce its symptoms. Move more and aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week.
• Quit smoking
• Organize your sleep
• Get your other health conditions treated: If you have hearing loss, depression, or anxiety, see a doctor for treatment of these problems.

If you suspect you are experiencing any of the warning signs of dementia (like getting lost in a familiar place, forgetting things, or regularly skipping social events), the first thing you should do is see a doctor.