Dementia is a debilitating collection of symptoms. These symptoms cause a decline in memory, focus, and reasoning. Combined, these symptoms have a negative day-to-day impact on the sufferer’s ability to maintain a normal life.
Alzheimer’s is a specific type of dementia. For instance, Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that initially affects memory. While the disease progresses, it will destroy vital nerve connections within the brain.
That said, for treatment, researchers are learning how to combat the symptoms and manage mental impairment. In doing so—they are treating it, whether or not they can diagnose it.
Causes of Dementia
Causes of dementia vary. Some causes, such as HIV, impact memory and day-to-day mental functions. Other contributing factors include the following.
- Stroke
- Depression
- Drug addiction
- Parkinson’s disease
- Vascular disorders
Looking For a Treatment
The best treatment is one that targets the disease, such as Parkinson’s, that causes cognitive impairment. However, when the specific cause is unknown, the following six treatments are the newest, most effective methods for targeting the symptoms of brain deterioration.
Memantine & NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Memantine specifically targets vascular-related causes, such as those resulting from strokes. They typically reserve it for severe cases of impairment.
Strangely, different dementia types result from having too much glutamate—too much neuro-transmitting capability. To combat this, NMDA receptor antagonists block some of the glutamate. In doing so, the levels are reset, allowing for improved electrical cellular communication.
Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive therapy is a class of behavioral therapies intended to prevent the onset of symptoms that are related to the disease. Therefore, the best mental treatment involves art therapy or making a new friend. Here are some other types of therapy:
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Pet therapy
Each of these simple forms of therapy actually has a physical impact on the makeup of the brain. Therefore, a brain-mass increase can happen. Each type of therapy helps, as one might expect, with mental illness.
Importance of Omega 3
An effective way to slow the onset of mental decline is to ensure a diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help with keeping your brain healthy. These acids exist in fish. Although, eating fish every day or even every other day is not a recommended treatment. Eating it once per week does not deliver enough Omega 3.
To get a good amount of this acid, we recommend people to supplement their diets with generous amounts of nuts, vegetables, and berries. For instance, you can use these to supplement your diet:
- Walnuts
- Chia seeds
- Edamame
- Spinach
- Cabbage
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
Regarding any food or supplement that contains Omega-3 fatty acids, researchers and nutritionists advise to use those with the least amount of Omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids promote inflammation and can be bad for your health.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet
The reason for this advice is that researchers are just now making the connection between inflammation and dementia. Research is still being reviewed, but it shows inflammation and mental decline go hand in hand. Researchers now find that an anti-inflammatory diet will reverse memory loss and confusion and can cause a healthy life.
In fact, the research has advanced to where doctors are now attempting to define a certain dosage. Until they can do this, anti-inflammatory foods should make up a large part of anyone concerned about mental decline. These foods include:
- Tomato skins
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Avocado
- Turmeric
- Cherries
Regarding tomato skins, it is best to eat cherry tomatoes as the skin-to-flesh ratio is much higher, providing higher amounts of lycopene. Therefore, you can get the most out of your diet.
Ongoing Research
There is continuous research being done for cures for both Alzheimer’s and dementia. It is hard to keep up with all that is being discovered regarding this disease. Keep up to date with your doctor for all the latest news on treatment.