subject: Is Dementia A Curable Disease? [print this page] Strictly speaking, dementia is not a disease but rather a condition brought on by other degenerative conditions. People afflicted with dementia have a serious loss of mental function that affects memory, speech and reasoning. Although dementia is associated with the aging process it is not a normal part of growing older.
Depending on the cause of the dementia it is possible to partially treat the condition. For example, if dementia is caused by drug abuse, hypoglycemia or Vitamin B12 deficiency, treatment is available at Danville Home Care that can slow the symptoms and bring about improvement.
The majority of cases of dementia are brought on by Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington disease or a host of other neurological illnesses. These diseases destroy brain cells which bring on the dementia. In these cases, treatment is extremely difficult and a cure is not possible. One can, however, still benefit from assistance given by a Danville Dementia Care assistant. The aid provided can improve the quality of life of the afflicted person.
Symptoms of dementia vary from person to person. In general, the condition is marked by short term memory loss, delusions, hallucinations, depression, confusion, loss of appetite and problems with speech. It has been shown that exercises for the brain such as the solving of crossword puzzles is very beneficial to the person suffering from the early symptoms of the condition. There are computer programs that are specifically designed to help patients suffering from dementia and most people report remarkable progress when the programs are used on a regular basis. The stimulation given by Danville live in Care aids provides for the brain is proving to be extremely helpful in improving brain function.
Research is underway to find medications that can significantly slow the progression of this condition. The goal is to find a way to significantly slow the destruction of brain cells in the early stages before permanent and irreversible damage is done. Early detection of dementia is key if treatment is to be successful. At the beginning of the condition symptoms may be hard to define. The dementia will worsen but a great deal depends upon the patient's general health and the correct identification of the root cause of the problem.
Clearly, medical science has a long way to go in the treatment of dementia. At the present time the condition is considered to be incurable but partially treatable. Perhaps in the not so distant future a cure will be found to put a permanent end to this debilitating condition.