2023-07-25 02:56:28
[메디컬투데이=김준수 기자] Dementia occurs when the function of the brain deteriorates, and due to various causes, brain cells are damaged, making it difficult to function properly. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia, but there are several types of dementia, including vascular, alcoholic, elderly, Parkinson’s, and Lewy body dementia. There are many symptoms, but since the characteristic of Alzheimer’s dementia is memory impairment, the first thing that comes to mind is often memory loss.
Memory impairment is a symptom representing dementia, and disappears from trivial, temporally close, and less important things. In other words, the contents that have been known or impressed for a long time remain relatively long. As the symptoms worsen, important memories gradually disappear. The ability to learn or memorize new things deteriorates, making it impossible to learn new things, and in the middle or late stages of dementia, not just memory loss, but the thinking itself changes abnormally.
As a result of language dysfunction, the frequency of using pronouns increases, grammatically incorrect speech, and writing difficulties occur, making it difficult to write properly. In addition, the function of the frontal lobe is damaged, so they become stubborn, inflexible, often nervous, and unnecessarily rough and violent behavior occurs. They imitate meaningless actions or movements, and do strange things in the eyes of others because unnecessary impulses are not suppressed. Their ability to perceive space deteriorates, so they get lost, wander because they cannot find a familiar place properly, and sometimes go missing due to wandering.
Director Park Joo-hong of Soul Oriental Medicine Clinic said, “It depends on the type, aspect, and progress of dementia, but it is sometimes accompanied by personality changes. The frontal lobe, which regulates emotions, is not functioning properly, so personality changes are noticeable. They can’t remember properly, but their judgment is poor, so they sometimes make misunderstandings without context and think that people around them ignore them. Also, they tend to repeat it even if they suffer damage from wrong choices, such as going out to go out alone and getting lost,” he explained.
Emotions also change, and I often feel anxiety and nervousness, which is reflected in my behavior. For example, asking a question repeatedly or performing a specific action. Emotional expression becomes as simple as it was in infancy, and even if there is no sensory function disorder, they may not be able to recognize objects or grasp their meaning. They may show symptoms of apathy, such as expressionless expression, lack of motivation, trouble with everything, and negligence in self-management. Depression is often caused indirectly.
▲ Director Joo-Hong Park (Photo=provided by Sool Oriental Clinic)
As there are various symptoms of dementia, and there are many causes, it is necessary to accurately understand the current condition through examination rather than judging only what is visible. Depending on the cause of destruction of brain cells, types of dementia are classified, and among them, some have heritability or show secondary problems. For example, there are vascular dementia caused by stroke and alcoholic dementia caused by alcohol dependence.
In particular, early detection of symptoms is important because Alzheimer’s, which occurs most frequently, has a very poor progression and a high fatality rate, and the symptoms quickly deteriorate. Due to the fact that there is no specific treatment, such as a treatment for dementia, and that the occurrence pattern varies from person to person, it is difficult to proceed with uniform treatment, so it is necessary to differentiate by testing. However, as the cause is not fixed, all three elements of the brain, mind, and body must be confirmed.
Director Park said, “It can also be helpful to manage for prevention in normal times. Keeping your brain active and engaging in social activities can also help. It is necessary to stay away from harmful substances such as heavy metals, avoid smoking and drinking, and have regular sleep and exercise. Do not consume unverified drugs or foods, and if there is a cause disease, treat it. Above all, if you see suspicious symptoms, you need to accurately identify them through a dementia test,” he advised.
Reporter Kim Junsu of Medical Today ([email protected])
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