Dementia. One of the most feared words in our vocabulary next to cancer. While cancer often takes away the body, dementia takes away the mind and often leaves the body intact. My grandmother suffered from dementia. Her body was strong, but we lost a little bit of her each day. Every now and then, we would catch a glimpse of the woman who was trapped inside.
Dementia affects over 5 million families in the United States. There are no cures on the horizon. However, researchers have discovered more about the physiology of the brain in the last decade than the last 100 years. We know how to keep the brain healthy and avoid disease. Genetics plays an important role in dementia, yet you can still give yourself the best possible chance for healthy brain function in advanced years.
Dementia is a large umbrella, a generic term, that covers a number of types of dementia. The most common is Alzheimer’s. Other forms of dementia include Mild Cognitive Impairment Lewy Body, Vascular, Frontotemporal Lobe, Korsakoff’s syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob (CJD), Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Posterior Cortical Atrophy, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, and Traumatic Brain Injury. Whatever the form of dementia, the symptoms are incredibly challenging for families and family care givers, especially as the disease progresses.
Many families struggle helping their loved ones with dementia. Transitions are difficult, either to a facility, or with an increase in home care. There is usually plenty of conflict and guilt to go around for all the family members. A Decision Tree of Aging Professional can help any family in conflict. We are here to help you create peace in your family.