Do you know someone who is affected by dementia? Maybe you’re caring for a parent, a grandparent, a spouse, or another loved one with a cognitive disorder. Dementia is one of the most stressful and often misunderstood diagnoses for family members and caregivers. In fact, there’s still a lot of confusion about what dementia is. In the public’s mind, dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease might be the same. However, in reality, Alzheimer’s is only part of the picture when it comes to cognitive disorders. And while we can’t prevent Alzheimer’s, we can prevent some other types of dementia, especially cases related to the vascular system. Some experts estimate that up to one-third of dementia cases are not Alzheimer ’s-related and are preventable.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia is an umbrella term that describes various conditions that lead to impaired thinking, reasoning, and memory. Patients often get diagnosed when it interferes with their ability to function and complete daily tasks. In the medical community, we describe dementia as a mild or major cognitive disorder. Another myth is that dementia is a normal part of the aging process. Age-related forgetfulness is not the same thing, and dementia is related to specific physical diagnoses. A 2022 study in JAMA Neurology estimated that around 10 percent of Americans 65 and older have some form of dementia.
While dementia is sometimes used interchangeably with Alzheimer’s Disease, the two are not the same thing. Alzheimer’s is the primary cause of dementia, leading to 60 to 80 percent of cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. However, there are several other causes, including vascular conditions and Parkinson’s Disease. Some patients have dementia with more than one cause, for example, Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
What Is Vascular Dementia?
Vascular dementia happens when the arteries leading to the brain become clogged, limiting blood flow to the brain. High blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, smoking and diabetes can all contribute to vascular dementia. According to Johns Hopkins, a 2017 study showed that patients with high blood pressure increased their risk of having dementia over the next 25 years by 40%, and people with diabetes saw an increased risk of 80%.
How Can I Prevent Vascular Dementia?
The good news is that many medical and lifestyle choices that help preserve our overall health can help us prevent vascular dementia. They include:
- Keep high blood pressure under control with medication and lifestyle changes.
- Quit smoking. Your primary care provider can help with medication and referrals for counseling.
- Manage diabetes by taking your medications as prescribed and eating a healthy diet.
- Lose weight if needed and maintain a healthy weight.
- Add physical activity and exercise to your routine.
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s Disease is a brain disease caused by damage to neurons in the brain. A protein plaque buildup outside the neurons kills neurons and damages brain tissue. Alzheimer’s affects nearly seven million Americans and is the most common form of dementia, leading to memory loss that disrupts daily life, difficulty completing daily tasks and confusion with time or place.
Can I Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s and no medication to prevent it. However, in the last five years, significant strides have been made in developing medications to make Alzheimer’s more manageable and even slow its progression. Two drugs are now available that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s by removing the protein plaques that form on the neurons. Several drugs help diminish the cognitive symptoms associated with the Disease.
Age, genetics and family history are the primary risk factors for Alzheimer’s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Genetic research has made great leaps in recent years and may lead to promising treatments. For now, the focus is on early diagnosis and intervention, which can help delay symptoms. Along with exploring medications, other strategies for managing symptoms and improving quality of life include:
- Physical activity
- Music and art-based therapies
- Memory and orientation exercises
- Managing coexisting conditions, including cardiovascular conditions
- Maintaining social and cognitive engagement
- Getting enough sleep
Can My Primary Care Doctor Help Me Prevent Or Manage Dementia?
Your primary care doctor is usually the medical provider who knows you best. We’ll likely be the physician you turn to first if you notice changes in your cognitive condition. That’s why primary care doctors are on the front lines of diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association and other advocacy groups are working to
increase awareness and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in the primary care setting to help reach patients early and open the doors to early intervention.
At Norvinia Health, Dr. Ojha specializes in complex care and helping patients manage chronic conditions, including vascular disease and dementia. This can mean supporting patients with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis who need monitoring, medication and management of coexisting conditions. It can also mean working with patients to prevent vascular dementia with lifestyle changes. On a positive note, many of the lifestyle goals we set for brain health are the same ones that support our overall wellness.