Those who’ve experienced an elderly loved one’s struggle with dementia know how painful it is. Dementia wreaks havoc on a person’s stability, leaving them in a torrent of confused memories and delusions. After a while, it’s hard to recognize your loved one as the same person they once were.
Struggling with dementia is awful for everyone involved. But, how do you get dementia? What causes this disease to strike?
In some ways, this is the million-dollar question. If people knew exactly what caused dementia, there could be a way to avoid it.
While people don’t know all the causes of dementia, there are a few things scientists can point to. We’ll explore some of the known causes of dementia in the guide below.
How Do You Get Dementia: Dealing with Types of Progressive Dementia
Discovering the precise causes of dementia is a challenge. This difficulty isn’t helped by the fact that several types of progressive dementia exist. These include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Vascular dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Mixed dementia
Each of these versions has varying causes. However, they each have one cause in common.
Each of these dementia types involves the deterioration of the nervous system. The thing that differentiates them is how this deterioration occurs.
For example, vascular dementia involves damage to the vessels that supply blood to your brain. Lewy body dementia, however, begins with abnormal, balloon-like protein clumps that damage the brain.
Other Causes of Dementia
Several things can increase the likelihood of a person developing dementia. For example, nutritional deficiencies could cause a person to become more at risk for the disease. Some medicinal side effects may also contribute to the condition.
Factors like excessive alcohol use and smoking also correlate with rates of dementia. The same holds for those who’ve suffered head trauma or heightened levels of air pollution.
Ways to Fight Dementia Development
We want to stress that some things can help lower the risk of dementia. Regular exercise and a healthy diet often help mitigate the risk. Aim for 150 minutes of exercise each week.
It also helps to keep your mind engaged. Reading, puzzle-solving, and memory training could delay the onset of dementia and reduce its effects.
Another helpful step in fighting dementia is to remain socially active. Try not to spend too much time alone, trapped in your thoughts.
Regular sleep can also provide an excellent defense against the condition. Likewise, getting all your vitamins helps protect your nervous system from harm.
Care Options for Dementia
Several care options exist for dementia patients. Depending on the severity of their condition, your loved one could benefit from full-time care at a facility.
Alternatively, a home healthcare worker can often help patients feel more at ease from the comfort of their house. Investigate what dementia help your loved one may need.
Learn More About Dementia
If you’re wondering, “How do you get dementia?” then continue your research today. We have several other articles that can provide similar tips.
When fighting this disease, knowledge is power. So, get all the knowledge you can, starting today!
