Shailla Cannie
Dementia is a condition in which there is a gradual loss of brain function; it is a decline in cognitive/intellectual functioning The main symptoms are usually loss of memory, confusion, problems with speech and understanding, changes in personality and behaviour and an increased reliance on others for the activities of daily living. It is not a disease in itself but rather a group of symptoms which may result from age, brain injury, disease, vitamin or hormone imbalance, or drugs or alcohol. A person with dementia may also exhibit changes in mood, personality or behaviour. The loss of mental functions must be severe enough to interfere with daily living. Confusion and disorientation may be present.
A mild cognitive impairment is a condition which is associated with impairments in understanding and memory of the person. Gender is one of the major factors and cause Dementia for a combination of reasons. The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics states that there is 11.7% rise in Dementia deaths and out of which two-third were of women in the year 2009-10. Dementia is now the third leading cause of death in women.
The stressful life of women in early years is gaining more attention and has come into limelight as a prominent cause of dementia. Dementia is a concern for many women. The women in menopausal transition also seem to be most fearful of developing breast cancer, closely followed by Alzheimer’s dementia. This latter fear is heightened by the word-finding difficulties commonly seen with declining levels of estrogens. The relationship between stress and cognitive function is well known and suggests that stress in early life may affect memory function in midlife.
Women who are exposed to psychological stressors are also at increased risk of experiencing prolonged periods of distress or feeling of irritability, fear or anxiety. The increased productivity of inflammatory factors in the brain may in turn be a risk factor of dementia.
Apart from the stress, there are various conditions which could lead to dementia. There are complications of high blood pressure, blood vessel disease, Deterioration is in the steps rather than steady progression, Nutritional deficiencies, Infections like meningitis and encephalitis (brain infections), Bleeding between the brain surface and its outer covering, Parkinson’s disease (involuntary or small tremors) and Down syndrome may develop.
The symptoms may vary from individual to individual. The most prominent are impairment in abstract thinking, impaired judgement, disturbances in higher cortical functioning and personality changes. The intellectual impairment and language difficulties like difficulty in finding right words, inappropriate filling up of words which can’t be able to understand gets unnoticed by the family or oneself. Women always ignore their wellbeing and seek medical help only when the deterioration starts showing significant effects in the daily working in respect to the ill health.
Dementia can be reversed if gets an attention in the early stages. The early stage is considered with duration of two to four years with signs of forgetfulness and poor performance. A decline in the environmental interest is as well foreseen. The middle stage progressed between two to twelve years. The individual may represent progressive memory loss, hesitancy in response, difficulty in following simple questions and neglect of personal hygiene and irritable mood. The later stage may lead to loss of weight, unable to communicate, does not recognize family members, loss of ability to stand and walk and death may be the cause of aspiration pneumonia.
Researches and studies have revealed that some steps of prevention can keep dementia at bay. The measures include
MENTAL ACTIVITY- Intellectual activities can help to keep the mind in shape in later stage of life. One should have to keep oneself busy and even a mentally demanding occupation may prevent the dementia during the thirties, forties and fifties. These activities prevent by building a “brain reserve” between neurons.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY- Physical activity is not only limited to the vascular effects but it also gives rise to the new neurons in the brain.
DIET- Diet as well plays an important part in the prevention but it varies from individual to individual. Excess consumption of alcohol may increase the risk. Estrogens and vitamin B3 is also believed to prevent dementia. Maintain a healthy weight.
SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT- Individuals should engage themselves socially by attending community activities, support groups and qualitative time with the family.
EDUCATION- Education works as a protective bridge against the effects of dementia.Education may cause the brain to develop robust nerve cell network which compensate for the cell damage.
COGNITIVE TRAINING- It provides a way to apply skills, procedural knowledge and motor memory to overcome the cognitive and functional deficits.
Women who are in their midlife or late adulthood particularly need to keep an eye on their physical and mental health, because they are the backbone of their family and community. They should not burden themselves with the loads of stress, though it is a domestic or workplace stress. We get ourselves so much involved in chores and do not get plenty of time to take care of ourselves.
“Today we need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own agenda or ‘to do” list, only then we can have a better and strengthened future.”
(The author is a Ph.D Scholar)
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