Common Diseases - Dementia

Dementia is a very common condition amongst the elderly. Dementia stems from decreasing brain activity caused by degradation and resulting damage to the connections between the brain and nerve endings in the body. The most common of the 100 or so types of dementia are Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies, caused by the destruction of nerve cells in the brain.
What causes the disease is not known, and there is very little that can be done to treat it once it has taken hold. However, some drugs do hold off the symptoms for a while. The most common form of dementia is known as Alzheimer's Disease. This tends to be the most serious version of dementia and can be extremely frustrating for sufferers because they gradually become more confused. A particularly sad and distressing aspect of the disease is that in the early stages, the victims will know what is happening to them. It can take years for the disease to fully develop (although it can be months), but in the end, it is unlikely that the sufferer will know who you are.
Dealing with a elderly person with dementia requires dedication and patience. They are often prone to wandering behaviour. It's important to treat the person concerned with kindness and respect. However, often, carers of elderly people have to resort to professional care.