Dementia is a syndrome, while Alzheimer's is a common disease of progressive dementia in older adults. We often use the term together as dementia in the elderly, why are people still confusing the above two concepts, let's refer to more information with Hio!

What is dementia?

Doctor Than Ha Ngoc The, Head of Geriatrics - Palliative Care Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City said: Dementia Dementia is a group of cognitive disorders characterized by memory loss, difficulty in expressing language, activities, recognizing objects... The disease greatly affects the patient's quality of life, creating a burden for the family and society.

Dementia in the elderly

There are currently 50 million people in the world with dementia, with one person diagnosed every three seconds. Each year, the world loses $1 trillion in economic losses due to dementia. It is predicted that by 2050, there will be 152 million people in the world with dementia.Elderly people in Vietnam often suffer from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obstructive pulmonary disease and most typically SSTT. According to statistics, one in every 10 people is 60 years old or older. It is predicted that by 2050, one in every 5 people will be 60 years old or older.

What causes dementia?

Including genetics, effects from Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Parkinson's, long-term abuse of sedatives, antidepressants... The disease often appears in the elderly but is not a normal aging process but a disease that needs to be diagnosed and treated early.Although dementia is generally associated with memory loss, memory loss has different causes. And just having memory loss does not mean that a person has dementia. Symptoms depend on the stage of the disease.

• • In the mild stage: The patient may have short-term memory loss, mood swings, irritability and agitation.

• • Average stage:
    • • Patients have difficulty with personal hygiene, lose the ability to absorb new information, and have disorientation in space and time.
    • • Patients may experience delusions of persecution and attack others for no reason.

• • In severe stage:
    • • The patient lost all ability to function and was completely dependent on the caregiver.
    • • The patient cannot recognize family members and loses the ability to walk.

• • End-stage complications include cachexia, malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and pressure ulcers.

What is Alzheimer's disease?

Is one of the brain diseases that affects the patient's thinking, behavior and memory, commonly known as dementia in the elderly. This is not a common geriatric or neurological disease.The disease affects both the patient and the caregiver, as caring for an Alzheimer's patient can easily lead to depression or extreme emotional stress.

The Alzheimer's Association International reports that 58% of the people with the syndrome are in developed countries, but by 2050, with the aging population trend, Asian countries will be the main place where dementia patients are concentrated. Alzheimer's is the most common form of this syndrome, accounting for about 60-80% of the total number of dementia cases.According to Huffington Post

The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is still unknown. Scientists can only determine that when Alzheimer's occurs, the brain cells that store and process information begin to weaken and die. In addition, abnormal proteins are produced, creating plaques and accumulating around and inside cells, hindering the transmission of information.

Conclusion

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease can be improved if detected early and with proper intervention from the family. In addition to using drugs for treatment, home care for the elderly, actively confide, read books, help the elderly practice cognitive function. In addition, patients must also pay attention to treating well associated diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, Parkinson's.