| Dementia often occurs in the elderly but it can | | | | fall under the primary type. The most common |
| also affect young adults though rarely. If the | | | | forms of primary dementia include Alzheimer's |
| condition starts before the age of 65 it is called | | | | disease and multi-infarct dementia (MID). |
| presenile dementia. The senile type, on the other | | | | Alzheimer's disease is named after the German |
| hand, occurs after 65. | | | | neurologist Alois Alzheimer who first described the |
| Depending on its cause, dementia may either be | | | | condition in November 1906. But the disease was |
| primary or secondary. Primary dementia is found | | | | known as long as 140 years ago and descriptions |
| in about 80 to 90 percent of cases and is caused | | | | of it were made as early as 1838. |
| by pathological changes in the brain cells or | | | | Alzheimer's patient was a 51-year-old woman who |
| cerebral vessels. While these changes are also | | | | was jealous of her husband, didn't trust her |
| apparent in secondary dementia, these are the | | | | doctor, and believed that people were out to |
| result of other diseases. This is true in 10 to 20 | | | | murder her. |
| percent of cases. | | | | "On admission, she was helpless, disoriented, could |
| Secondary dementia usually follows diseases alike | | | | not understand anything, was confused and lost. |
| brain tumors or multiple head injuries that can lead | | | | She seemed to have auditory hallucinations, and |
| to subdural hematoma (the accumulation of blood | | | | would scream for hours on end. She had |
| in the skull). Not a few boxers have died because | | | | perception disorders, forgetting the names of |
| of this. An unrecognized infection can also cause | | | | common objects. Reading, writing, and |
| secondary dementia. Formerly, the culprit here | | | | conversation were impaired: often she would stop |
| was syphilis but now all eyes are on Lyme | | | | talking completely. However she still walked |
| disease - a frequent cause of dementia. | | | | normally and had full use of her hands, and had |
| Diabetes and an underactive thyroid are other | | | | normally reacting pupils, Any focal symptoms |
| possible causes of secondary dementia. So are | | | | were mild and transient." according to Dr. Siegfried |
| nutritional, deficiencies, particularly those involving | | | | Kanowski of Freie University in Berlin who talked |
| vitamin B12 and folic acid. Heavy metal poisoning, | | | | about Alzheimer's first case at the 9th |
| excessive alcohol intake and an overdose of | | | | International Bayer Pharma Press Seminar in |
| sleeping pills, tranqui1izers, and narcotics can also | | | | Vienna. |
| affect brain function and eventually result in | | | | "Mental regression advanced steadily and she died |
| secondary dementia. | | | | four and a half years after she was first seen. At |
| Sometimes the problem may be brought about | | | | the end, she was completely apathetic, confined |
| by loneliness or depression. But this is properly | | | | to bed in a fetal position and incontinent." he |
| labeled "pseudodementia" since there is no | | | | added. |
| underlying cerebral deterioration. It may, however, | | | | This wasn't the last time doctors heard about this |
| lead others to think that the patient has the real | | | | mysterious disorder. Over four million Americans |
| thing. Thus, the doctor should take the pain of | | | | have Alzheimer's disease which is the most |
| ruling out any underlying disorder to make an | | | | common cause of dementia in western countries. |
| accurate diagnosis of dementia. | | | | Although the disease may begin as early as age |
| "Before you conclude that an older relative or | | | | 4O, it usually strikes the aged with devastating |
| friend who's behaving 'strangely' has irreversible | | | | results. |
| dementia, ask the doctor whether other disorders | | | | "The disease occurs in approximately 4 percent |
| have been considered and excluded," said Dr. | | | | of persons 65 to 74 years old, 10 percent of |
| Isadore Rosenfeld of the New York Hospital | | | | those 75 to 84 years, and 17 percent of those |
| Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in The | | | | 85 years or older. Alzheimer's disease is |
| Best Treatment. | | | | extremely rare in young people and is uncommon |
| If your relative has any of the above conditions, | | | | in middle age," said Dr. David E. Larson, |
| don't panic. They are reversible and respond well | | | | editor-in-chief of the Mayo Clinic Family Health |
| to treatment. The irreversible forms of dementia | | | | Book. |