Possible causes of dementia - senility versus Alzheimer’s disease.Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia that tends to affect the older generations. Alzheimer's disease leads to the debilitation of cognitive impairment and loss of functional abilities, and unfortunately results in death of the patient. Since senility carries some of the same symptoms as Alzheimer's disease, there are often questions and confusion about which is which. The following paragraphs will quickly examine the meaning and origin of senility versus Alzheimer's disease's, as well as some history, to help clear up some of the confusion between the two. As we become older, we often endure an entire host of physical manifestations. These changes may include:
On top of these inevitable changes in our physical well being, age can affect the mind, clouding memory, weakening the ability to think, and dulling the senses. When this happens, it has traditionally been referred to as senility. Scientists have conducted studies that have shown that age alone does not cause senility, or symptoms of senility. On the contrary, these studies have concluded that it is age related disease in which causes mental malfunctioning in many seniors. For this reason, the term senility has been replaced by the more general medical term, dementia. This denotes cognitive impairment that can occur in both young people as well as old people. Taking this fact into consideration, the debate between senility versus Alzheimer's disease would more accurately be called the debate between "dementia" versus “Alzheimer's disease”. Alzheimer's disease happens to be the most common form of dementia. However, dementia is not always associated with this disease. It can also be caused by other health factors such as:
In some circumstances, what appears to be Alzheimer's disease in a patient can actually be something quite different? The symptoms could be caused by mood disorders, dehydration, or drug allergies and interaction, which can all be successfully treated by a doctor. Finally, all forms of dementia do not result in ultimate death, but Alzheimer's disease does. The progression of this disease resembles a form of reverse child development, resulting in the loss of all functions and abilities, and ultimately death. The sooner Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed, the earlier treatments can begin. Alzheimers medications are now available to help slow the progression of the disease, but there is no known cure at the moment. |
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