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Memory loss and dementia

by Simone McClenaughan | 12 Nov 2012

Memory loss is not always a normal part of ageing. It could be Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

What is dementia?

 Forgetting where you left your keys could be more than just ageing. While the odd memory blank is actually a normal part of life, frequent memory loss isn’t. It’s a disease, and a fatal one.

“Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are diseases, not a normal part of ageing,” stresses Dr Chris Hatherly, National Research Manager at Alzheimer’s Australia.

Dementia is an illness that slowly destroys the brain, affecting intellect, rationality, thinking abilities, problem solving and social skills, and causing the most well-known symptom: memory loss.

Nearly 280,000 Australians have dementia; 16,000 of those are aged under 65 and have a form of the condition called Younger Onset Dementia (YOD).

Dementia is the third highest cause of death in Australia, behind heart disease and stroke. “Most people don’t realise dementia is a fatal condition,” says Dr Hatherly. People with dementia also make up well over 50 per cent of people living in residential aged care.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

 Alzheimer’s disease in the most common form of dementia, accounting for 50-70 per cent of dementia cases. Other causes of dementia include vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and dementia caused by Parkinson’s disease.

“The diseases such as Alzheimer’s that lead to dementia basically kill more and more brain cells until the brain starts to malfunction,” says Dr Hatherly. “A toxic chemical substance called amyloid beta builds up inside brain cells until they die. As cells die, the brain starts to lose its ability to send messages to the body, so proper functioning deteriorates and the symptoms of dementia start to emerge.” 

Prevention and treatment

 Dementia cannot be cured, but treatment may help reduce the severity of symptoms or ease anxiety and depression.

Nutrition may also assist. “A folate deficiency has been associated with people with dementia,” explains accredited practising dietitian Dr Catherine Itsiopoulos. Leafy greens such as spinach and broccoli are good folate sources.

Alzheimer’s Australia research shows that a diet high in fruit, legumes, vegetables, fish and olive oil, and low in meat is associated with lower rates of dementia.

Exercise can slow dementia’s hold. “Once diagnosed, people who remain active or start exercising have a slower decline,” advises exercise physiologist and specialist in exercise for chronic disease management, Dr Rebecca Sealey of James Cook University.

“As little as one hour of exercise twice a week can slow the decline by up to a third.”

Reduce your risk

  1. Eat a diet rich in omega-3s (good fatty acids). These are essential for brain health. Eat plenty of oily fish, walnuts and linseed, and look for omega-3 fortified foods such as eggs, breads and breakfast cereals enriched with soy and linseed. – Dr Itsiopoulos
  2. Get moving! Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and stimulates the brain’s growth, as well
  3. as reducing the risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, known to increase the risk of dementia. – Dr Sealey
  4. Socialise, learn new hobbies or play brain games. Engaging in stimulating and challenging mental activities can reduce your dementia risk. – Dr Hatherly
  5. Visit www.mindyourmind.org.au or download BrainyApp for free on iPhones and iPads. – Alzheimer’s Australia

 

What are the three stages of dementia?

First stage or early dementia

This stage is characterised by minor problems, often overlooked or considered normal parts of ageing. Symptoms include:

  • Memory lapses
  • Confusion
  • Irritability
  • Reduced vocabulary
  • Losing interest in hobbies and activities
  • Poor decision making skills
  • Becoming slower at everyday tasks
  • Being forgetful

Second stage or moderate dementia

 Signs are more obvious now and have a greater impact on life, including:

  • Forgetting familiar things such as friends, family members or places
  • Becoming lost
  • Odd behaviour
  • Poor hygiene
  • Poor eating habits
  • Mood swings
  • Frustration and anger at inability to do or remember things

Third stage or advanced dementia

 Now the brain has been severely damaged by the disease and full-time care is essential. Features of this stage include:

  • Long-term memory loss
  • Loss of speech
  • Immobility
  • Incontinence
  • Unable to care for self
  • Vulnerable to infections and other medical complications