Dementia is a growing concern in India, affecting millions with its impact on memory, cognition, and daily functioning. As life expectancy rises, understanding and addressing dementia becomes increasingly urgent for families and healthcare providers alike. In today’s story we explore its prevalence, challenges, and available support.
Watching our parents struggle with dementia is heartbreaking. Seeing their once-vibrant personalities fade and their memories slip away like grains of sand through our fingers is truly painful. Remember, each forgotten moment is a silent danger. Approximately 7.4% of adults aged 60 and above in India are estimated to have dementia, totaling around 8.8 million individuals in this age group affected by the condition. Let us delve deeper into understanding this condition.
What is Dementia?
The decline in cognitive abilities, such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning, to the point where it intervenes in day-to-day activities, is known as dementia. Some patients experience emotional instability and personality changes as a result. The severity of dementia can differ broadly; in its mildest form, it begins to hinder a person’s ability to function, while in its most extreme form, it leaves a person completely incapacitated and dependent on others for even the most basic daily functions, including feeding themselves.
It’s essential to be aware that millions of people have dementia, and it becomes more prevalent as people age (about one-third of those 85 and older may have dementia of some kind). However, it’s crucial to remember that dementia is not a typical aspect of aging. Many people do not show any symptoms of dementia until they are in their 90s or older. However, taking precautions will help you deal with potential challenges more effectively.
What Causes Dementia?
With age, neurons (nerve cells) and their connections cease to function correctly due to abnormalities in specific brain regions that result in dementia. Researchers are tirelessly examining why certain people experience these changes in their brains but not others, as they have linked certain types of dementia to alterations in the brain. Rare genetic variations that cause dementia have been found in a tiny number of individuals. While the exact cause of dementia is yet unknown, the ongoing research in this field gives hope that future treatments and prevention methods will eventually emerge.
What are the Symptoms?
Let us now explore some of the most common early signs of this condition, which will help us take proactive steps.
- Memory Loss: Forgetting important dates, phone numbers, and names of acquaintances.
- Difficulty in Communicating: Struggling to find words or follow conversations.
- Impaired Judgment: Poor decision-making or difficulty assessing risks.
- Confusion and Disorientation: Not being able to recognize familiar places or losing track of time.
- Difficulty with Complex Tasks: Challenges in planning and completing tasks.
- Trouble with Motor Functions: Coordination and motor skills may decline.
- Personality Changes: Mood swings, irritability, or withdrawal from social activities.
- Loss of Initiative: Lack of interest in activities once enjoyed.
What Can be Done to Prevent Dementia?
Preventing dementia involves a holistic approach to health, focusing on diet, exercise, mental stimulation, cardiovascular health, sleep quality, stress management, and injury prevention. For physical health, exercises such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling can improve heart health. By embodying these strategies in daily life, individuals can reduce their risk of developing it to a great extent and enhance their overall well-being. Although some risk factors for dementia cannot be undone, many lifestyle modifications can make a substantial difference in maintaining cognitive health into old age.
Strategies to Keep Adults Mentally Active
A healthy and active mind is considered one of the most critical steps in reducing the risk of dementia and is always overlooked. Here are some of the strategies that you can use to help older people in your household to adapt
- Life-long learning – The process of learning helps stimulate them mentally and intellectually. Some of the options could be learning a new language, creative reading and writing, picking up a new musical instrument, attending workshops or discussion groups of their interest, taking new courses related to hobbies, etc. By pursuing these hobbies and interests, our parents are less likely to fall behind in their cognitive development and are less susceptible to dementia. The thumb rule is not letting the brain go on autopilot mode, and make sure to exercise daily.
- Social Interaction – Being part of social circles always helps keep them active, especially among older people, who have ample time on their hands. Activities such as teaching in a local school, tutoring their skills, and walking with friends in the neighborhood significantly impact their mental activity.
- Make them use technology – This can be pretty challenging for them, but once they learn how, it would keep them engaged for all the good reasons, like learning to use new software or apps, engaging or connecting with others, and using educational apps designed for cognitive training.
- Staying Organized – Regularly decluttering living spaces and creating routines to manage daily tasks efficiently helps reduce adults’ stress levels.
- Puzzle and Brain Teasers – Engaging in puzzles and brain teasers can keep the brain active. Consider:
- Jigsaw puzzles.
- Logic puzzles and riddles.
- Brain teaser books and apps.
In conclusion, while dementia can be very challenging, understanding and addressing its impact can lead to better care and potentially delay its onset. Through awareness, support, and proactive measures, we can improve the quality of life for those affected.
P.S. – Scott Kirschenbaum famously stated, “Though those with Alzheimer’s might forget us, we as a society must remember them.”