Dementia - what is it? Senility

There are many mental disorders. One such is dementia. What is it, what are its types, we will tell in the article.

Dementia

In Latin, the word dementia means insanity. The term itself refers to dementia, acquired either because of age, or in connection with certain external and internal factors. A sharp or gradual decline in the brain's ability to work, a deterioration in cognitive activity, which in turn affects the recovery (recall) of previously acquired knowledge and skills, as well as the deterioration in the process of acquiring new data - all this causes dementia. We already know what it is, but we need to learn how to distinguish it from other mental illnesses. For example, do not confuse dementia with oligophrenia (mental retardation). Oligophrenia is the underdevelopment of mental processes, and dementia is the process of disintegration of mental functions in connection with external or internal brain damage. In the people this disease was called "senile senility".

WHO data

To date, the world has more than 35.6 million people with this diagnosis. According to WHO forecasts, in 2030 their number will increase to 65.7 million, and in 2050 - to 115.4 million people.

Diagnosis

Dementia is not a clearly age-related disease. Her symptoms can manifest completely at different times - both in infancy, and in adolescence, in adulthood and in old age. All this depends on when the injuries in the brain area were received.

Types of dementia

There are two types of classification of this disease: syndromic and basic. Each of them, in turn, is divided into several more types, thereby more clearly denoting the term "dementia". What is it, we'll tell you below.

Syndromal classification

Includes two types of dementia - lacunar and total. The first signifies small mental changes, which is why the level of self-control decreases and memory may deteriorate. An example of this is Alzheimer's. The second has a rough character with more serious changes, not only emotionally, but also at the personal level. An example of the second type is Pick's disease.

Main classification

Types of the disease are divided according to the reasons for which they were received. This type of classification includes three types: vascular dementia (example of the disease - cerebral atherosclerosis), atrophic (example - Alzheimer's and Pick's disease) and mixed dementia.

Vascular dementia

Her cause is a violation of the blood circulation of the brain. Symptoms depend on which department of the brain was damaged. The early stages are characterized by signs of neurosis, as well as frequent emotional changes. Irritation, irritability and apathy become frequent signs. If the disease progresses, memory loss is noted, a delirium attack accompanied by hallucinations.

Atrophic dementia

This species is typical only for people of the older generation, that is, for those aged 60-65 years. Symptoms are memory loss, problems with thinking, and frequent changes in the emotional background. Atrophic dementia has three stages:

• Initial - it is characterized by problems with thinking, aphasia, agnosia, a violation of coordination of movements and orientation in time and space;
• Moderate - thought is blunted, and vital needs are reduced to a minimum, a person becomes unable to care for himself;
• Severe - the final loss of memory and the ability to distinguish the world around.

Mixed Dementia

This species is the cause of simultaneous vascular lesions with atrophic changes, while retaining the symptoms of both species.

The result

Now you know a lot about the term "dementia" - what is it, what are its types and symptoms. However, you do not need her signs to look for yourself, if you have doubts, you should see a doctor.