Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in older adults usually results in weakness or immobility in one half of the body or in the limbs on one side, as well as speech difficulties.
The internist and medical director of the “Hogar La Ponderosa” Residence and Comprehensive Care Center for the Elderly, Aquiles Salas, pointed out that these diseases affect the flow of blood in the brain, which causes a deficit of nutrients and oxygen. “Acute events can occur, which are mostly ischemic such as strokes, in which a clot blocks or covers a blood vessel in that organ,” the specialist pointed out.
He stated that these brain injuries are the most common. “There are other more serious events, which are hemorrhagic, in which a blood vessel breaks and bleeds inside the brain. Both types of CVD can be life-threatening, but many people survive,” she stated.
The specialist indicated that acute events such as strokes generate a strong impact for the relatives of the patient who suddenly have to assume their care. “That means they have to make arrangements to care for that person,” and they often lack the time and adequate preparation to do so.
CVDs lead in most cases to dependence, both physically and neuropsychologically or neuropsychiatrically, “especially in older adults, where there may already be some deficits that are later exacerbated by an event of this magnitude”.
Salas, who is also director of the UCV’s Luis Razetti School of Medicine, commented that CVD “can exacerbate the development of neurocognitive deficits, and following this it can happen that people register changes in their memory, in the loss of ability to do things (for example, dressing or bathing), and orientation. These modifications can be the starting point of some vascular dementias”.
brain care
For his part, the neurologist, researcher and medical director of the Alzheimer Foundation of Venezuela, Dr. Ciro Gaona, pointed out in the framework of World Brain Day, that this “is a physical and spiritual organ, which feeds on glucose and oxygen, but also of love and social bond”.
The specialist in research dedicated to the cognitive area explained that among the risk factors for CVD are “high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and insulin resistance, fat disorders, smoking, stress, obesity , sedentary lifestyle, alcohol abuse and other drugs.
“Other high-risk factors are those related to the way of coping with life’s difficulties, such as anger, selfishness, resentment, pessimism, fears, indifference, complaints, resentment and guilt. All of them have repercussions on the health of the arteries and, of course, of our brain”, he expressed.
“It should be noted that the consequences of CVD do not only include motor, sensory, sphincter control or language deficits, but also progressive vascular lesions (generally of small vessels) are associated with enormous frequency to emotional-affective alterations. , highlighting the anxiety, anguish, panic, irritability and depression that can be added to progressive cognitive deterioration, which causes greater burden on the caregiver and the family”, emphasizes the neurologist.
Gaona stressed that to prevent CVD it is necessary to do physical activity and take care of emotional and social ties. “If the brain is isolated, it deteriorates. The positive social bond is the number one factor of non-pharmacological protection of this organ, and far exceeds tasks of high mental complexity, without forgetting spiritual development, including everything from faith, prayer and meditation to smiling and gratitude. ”.
The expert stated that families can go to a comprehensive care center for the elderly, such as Hogar La Ponderosa (located in Caracas), where there is trained personnel not only at an academic or professional level but also emotionally for physical and cognitive rehabilitation for let the patient out. They offer a permanent stay or daily day care.
