Symptoms and signs of senile dementia at different stages of the disease. Marasmus - what is it? Marasmus: symptoms and prevention of the disease definition of senile insanity is good

When a person in advanced or senile age completely loses his character, the ability to think clearly and respond adequately, then many relatives begin to see him as a senile or feeble-minded person. Few will answer the question of what senile insanity really is. In the people it is customary to consider insanity a common manifestation of old age. Meanwhile, it is a disease that can be prevented and treated.

Description of the disease

Insanity does not occur in a vacuum. It is preceded by gradual changes in the functioning of the brain, lasting throughout adult life person. Atrophy of some functions of the brain, the disintegration of its cells lead to various types of prussial dementia, that is, acquired dementia. Without treatment, dementia progresses rapidly and passes into the final stage - senile insanity.

Insanity is a disease, and any disease can and should be treated.

No need to focus on the word "senile", believing that insanity is inherent only in old people. This word characterizes not the old age of a person, but the old age of the brain. You can turn into a senile at any age, depending on how hard you try to become one.

Insanity is mental illness to which physiological and functional changes in the brain lead. The disease is diagnosed by psychiatrists, which people are so afraid of, but in vain. Timely contact with this doctor can save a life. If the disease is not treated, then the risk of sudden death is likely. The causes of insanity are extensive and understanding them can help a lot.

Insanity creeps up imperceptibly, nothing signals about it, no one notices weak “bells”, or simply does not attach any importance to them. Therefore, it is important to learn everything about the disease, to be vigilant and prevent its occurrence. Timely treatment and prevention can prolong years of life in perfect health of mind.

Causes

• Vascular diseases. it main reason death of neurons in the brain, which leads to the gradual onset of dementia, and then insanity. People who are diagnosed with hypertension, atherosclerosis are at risk. Pressure over 140/90 contributes to vasoconstriction to the extent that cerebral circulation. If this pressure has become the norm, then there is an increased risk of the gradual development of dementia. Obesity is also included in the same cause of high blood pressure.
• Various hernia with osteochondrosis can block the normal flow of blood to the basal artery that feeds the brain. Osteochondrosis cervical spine can cause compression of the arteries that feed the brain.
• Various infectious diseases, tumors and injuries that damage the brain, lead to the death of neurons and can trigger the development of insanity.
• Severe intoxication of the body. Even severely endured, the herpes disease can lead to intoxication of the body to the extent that it harms the brain. Various toxic effects are also medical preparations such as beta blockers, tranquilizers, antiallergics, calcium blockers, antidepressants. They must be used with caution and should not be carried away.
• Lack of oxygen. If a person sits indoors all day long and walks a little in the fresh air, then gradually his brain begins to suffer from a lack of oxygen. long oxygen starvation brain inevitably leads to hypoxia. As a result, the death of its cells occurs, and functions are impaired.
• Stress. During times of stress, the body produces large doses of the hormone cortisol. This hormone leads to damage to the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and learning. Stress is any change in the emotional background. It can be an attack of joy, and sadness, and vanity. Stress disrupts the homeostasis of the whole organism, bringing it into a "combat readiness" mode.
• Alcohol. During the intake of alcohol in the brain, a huge number of cells die. The state of intoxication, for which many drink alcohol, is a signal to the brain that its cells are dying. Regular alcohol consumption leads to regular loss of brain cells. Memory is impaired, performance is reduced, slowed down thought processes. The conclusion suggests itself.

Quitting alcohol completely does not improve the situation. A person needs to relax and relieve stress. Alcohol helps with this, scientists have proven. Light wines in small doses, consumed from time to time, dilate blood vessels, relieve stress and reduce the risk of brain damage. There are safe doses. For 70 kg of weight, 150 ml of wine is considered a safe dose. At the same time, it is important that the wine was of high quality.

Symptoms of insanity

As with dementia, the signs of marasmus are largely similar. Human behavior is changing. Close people, and the person himself, refer to the usual change in character. But such changes do not occur in better side. The character of a person is increasingly acquiring a negative connotation, preventing him from interacting with people and orienting himself in modern world.

Senile insanity can manifest itself in different ways, depending on the nature of the person.

As insanity approaches, the symptoms become more pronounced. A person becomes sloppy in clothes, he does not care how he looks and what people around him think of him.

Memory is impaired in the same way as in dementia. He remembers what happened a long time ago, and has difficulty remembering what happened two days ago. He periodically forgets to turn off the gas, then halfway through he remembers the iron that was not turned off.

Hobbies are not interesting to him, he feels apathy for everything in his life. A person forgets what shame, tact and decency are. But he always remembers who and how to teach the mind. He does this obsessively and tactlessly, ignoring that no one needs it and his moralizing has long been outdated.

Many people have Plushkin syndrome (Wikipedia). A person drags into the house everything that seems important and necessary to him. The house turns into a warehouse of unnecessary things that "will come in handy."

All the symptoms of acquired dementia in senile insanity only intensify.

stages

There are 3 stages of insanity development: initial, middle and last.

1. At first, all the signs are invisible, especially to the patients themselves. Sometimes only he himself can notice how his intellectual abilities are declining. This stage can occur in people under 40 years of age. Therefore, it is so important to turn your attention to her. close attention. This stage is reversible.
2. Then, in the second stage, he develops forgetfulness in everyday life (the same iron, stove, microwave). Depression, apathy, asociality appear. At this stage, the disease can still be cured, or its development can be slowed down.
3. The last stage is the most terrible, difficult and irreversible. A person cannot serve himself, loses his personality, memory ... "loses his head."

Treatment of senile insanity

Many people think that insanity is not treated. This is not true. Only the last stage is not treated. Therefore, it is important to understand in time what to do with insanity. Find out the cause and get rid of it. A common cause is, as already mentioned, hypertension and vascular disease. So, these diseases must be treated. Then the insanity will begin to pass. If the cause is alcoholism, treat it. To find out about the causes of insanity, you need to go through a series of tests: doctor's consultations, check blood vessels, do an MRI of the brain (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound of the heart, and be tested for toxins.

It is necessary to treat insanity in time, until it has reached its last stage.

If insanity is diagnosed and is in a severe stage, then the treatment will be only symptomatic. The therapy program is written out only by the doctor. Self-medication can only accelerate the development of insanity.

If there are only initial signs changes in the functioning of the brain, then treatment involves the normalization of brain functions and stopping the death of neurons:

• taking vitamins B12 and group B, the lack of which has a devastating effect on the brain;
• accept folic acid;
• taking high doses of antioxidants;
• the use of Gingo Biloba extract;
• daily gymnastics;
• memory training.

Prevention

In order to prevent, try to lead an active lifestyle in the fresh air.

Vessels are to blame

Old age is not at all synonymous with dementia, psychiatrists are sure. Many manage to maintain, as they say, sanity, good memory and vigor in old age.

However, one of the main problems that almost every family faces is the seemingly inadequate behavior of elderly relatives.

The fact is that representatives of the older generation suffer from mental disorders much more often than middle-aged people. What we call "falling into insanity" has a scientific explanation. Insanity is called progressive dementia with motor and autonomic disorders.

What are the causes of senile insanity?

“The body ages, and the brain ages along with it,” says psychiatrist Marina Lisnyak, candidate of medical sciences. “However, in some people, not only physiological, but also pathological aging occurs, which is accompanied by mental disorders. In psychiatry, several groups of disorders are described, which are called involutional psychoses. There is involutional depression, paranoia - delusional disorders, when it seems to a person that he is being persecuted, conspiracies are weaving. There may be a decrease in intelligence, memory - unfortunately, this is not uncommon. Often, people independently expose an elderly person to a diagnosis - "senile insanity", "insane". But the degree of sanity is determined only by the examination and the court.

People who are faced with the strange behavior of relatives complain about the same signs. Old people begin to hide money, food, suspect others, complain about hunger and bullying by children. (Of course, we do not consider egregious cases where the elderly are victims of relatives.)

- If you notice any typical signs, we are talking about a mental disorder. Hiding bread under the mattress causes the fear of impoverishment, hunger, perhaps this is just involutionary paranoia. But the final diagnosis, of course, is made only by doctors. One of the causes of such disorders is vascular pathology. Atherosclerosis of the cerebral vessels is now extremely common, and there is no tendency to reduce the number of cases. The disease comes on gradually. Neuroses, anxiety can develop, mood decreases, while the intellect and memory do not suffer yet. Now the diagnosis of "atherosclerosis" is also made in thirty-year-old patients.

- Hypertensive patients are at risk, - says Marina Anatolyevna, - Our diet also affects the increase in the number of cases - we eat more animal food and less coarse fiber. Cholesterol builds up in the body. Therefore, it is necessary to include in the diet as many rough dietary fiber, they are also in biologically active additives. But you need to do this regularly.

“It has already been proven that in old age all character traits become aggravated,” says Marina Anatolyevna. - If a person was harsh, he can become aggressive, if stingy - pathologically greedy. Additional features may appear that were not previously observed. For example, malice. Perhaps this is a defensive reaction. There is still a lot of energy, but there is no strength and means to apply it, people thus splash out despair.

Only a specialist can determine where organic changes are, and where are just whims. Although for many years of living together, relatives learn to understand the mood and characteristics of an old person. Sometimes "goofing" can be caused by quite understandable reasons. A fairly common and very justified reason for deep resentment and irritability of old people is that they were used and abandoned as unnecessary. And such situations are not uncommon. As long as health allowed, people raised their grandchildren, pulled grown-up children with all their might, and often even supported young families. As they get older, they are no longer needed. All reproaches and even aggressive attacks are perceived by young relatives as insanity. In such cases, older people can get hung up on one episode - "I sold the dacha for you (I left work, I exchanged an apartment)."

Huge stress and sometimes irreversible consequences in the elderly causes the death of relatives and friends. It is hard when peers leave life one by one, it is even harder to bury your own children and spouses.

Another reason for inappropriate behavior can be a regular overdose of drugs. Elderly people often use various drugs in large quantities. Sometimes they are incompatible with each other, often they are not needed at all. Moreover, at this age, drugs are absorbed longer and worse, so side effect may be unexpected.

All this can often provoke an obsessive fear (accident, hooligans, exposure through a socket), a desire for constant control over everything, a demand for increased attention to oneself.

Memory for many years

— It is necessary to find your circle of interests — cottage, needlework, social work, — says Marina Lisnyak. - This will help to cope with depression, worries and anxieties.

By the way, young people are mistakenly convinced that the first sign of old age is grumbling and complaints.

“Nothing like that,” Marina Anatolyevna is sure. “I know a huge number of young people who grumble and complain just as much. It's just that they have the opportunity to change something, to act, and the aged person only has to talk about his unfulfilled desires. Help him, if there is even the slightest possibility.

However, sometimes the relatives of the sick need no less help. There are many cases when old people literally exhaust even exemplary children and grandchildren with their demands and nit-picking.

“Situations are quite common when elderly people suddenly begin to accuse and reproach their relatives for non-existent reasons,” says Marina Lisnyak. - And they do it publicly, involving neighbors and acquaintances in the discussion. No need to get angry and offended, thereby you are harming yourself. Explain the situation to friends and relatives - they will understand. But neighbors need to be invited to the house more often for various reasons, communicate with them more, then they will see for themselves that everything is fine in your family.

prepared by Nadezhda Frolova

What to do?

- Get involved: in the "game", even if at first it irritates you. “I don’t even have a cracker in the house, they’ve completely exhausted me,” an eighty-year-old grandmother complained to her neighbors. The granddaughter, who lives with her, was offended to tears - how is it, because everything seems to be enough. But there really are no crackers, because granny simply has nothing to chew on, and she prefers sweets with tea. Granddaughter bought three packs of different crackers at once. For several months now, they have been presented to my grandmother for the first “lamentation”.

If an old man requires you, for example, to immediately close the windows, “because someone is climbing into them,” just close it without entering into an argument.

- Keep relatives up to date with the latest news. But writing TV is also not enough. Initiate older people, especially women, into innocent, well-known "gossip". The world of an aged person is no longer so full of events and news. Therefore, regularly with a mysterious face tell your grandmother that "this one sold the apartment and got divorced", "they robbed the neighbors' cottage." If the grandmother will groan all day over the antics of a neighbor, this will temporarily save you from offensive nit-picking.

- Make gifts for all memorable dates and holidays. Even if a person already seems to have everything and, as it seems, nothing more is needed. Patok, a bag, a wall calendar, a small receiver, something tasty - you may stumble upon dissatisfied grumbling and accusations of squandering, nevertheless you will deliver pleasant minutes to your loved one.

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From this article you will learn:

What is senile insanity

Why does the disease senile insanity occur in pensioners

What are the signs of senile insanity in women and men

How to treat senile insanity

What to do with relatives whose loved ones suffer from senile insanity

What care is provided in a nursing home for patients with senile insanity

To date, such a disease as senile insanity is very common. Everyone is familiar with the signs of this disease, because we all remember jokes on this topic. Of course, senile insanity is a disease. And it's not very funny. The disease is serious and dangerous, and its consequences can be very sad. After reviewing the text of this article, you will learn how the disease of senile insanity manifests itself, what are its causes, what treatment is the most effective.

What is senile insanity

Senility accompanied irreversible changes that affect the body at the cellular level. Gradually, the death of neurons that provide mental and mental activity occurs. For this reason, a patient with senile insanity cannot control his daily actions, learn, remember anything. The most unpleasant phenomenon that accompanies the disease - drastic personality change. As a rule, the changes are negative.

Senile insanity may be primary or secondary. A secondary disease is caused by neurological problems, for example, alcoholism, drug addiction, etc. Senile insanity affects women more often than men. Medical research shows that every year there are more and more patients with this diagnosis. Unfortunately, senile insanity can also appear in those who are still of working age.

According to researchers, senile insanity occurs due to a malfunction of the immune regulatory mechanism. This causes the production of special autoimmune complexes that negatively affect the brain. Senile insanity is transmitted genetically. The cause of dementia can be primary or secondary. The primary lesion is characterized by self-destruction of the cerebral cortex. The defeat characterizes the following diseases:

Alzheimer's disease, Pick;

Dementia with the formation of Lewy bodies.

Secondary senile insanity appears as a result of another disease:

Chronic vascular insufficiency (atherosclerosis, severe and long-term hypertension);

Severe intoxication, including alcohol;

infectious diseases;

• Neoplasms of the brain.

Sometimes senile insanity appears as a result of the following factors:

In some cases, senile insanity is the result of a combination of the above factors.

Senile insanity, the symptoms of which are obvious

Unfortunately, senile insanity is manifested by implicit signs. As a rule, most of its signs are attributed to senile changes. If you pay attention to the symptoms of the disease at an early stage, you can avoid many difficulties. We recommend that relatives of the elderly pay attention to the following signs of senile insanity:

Memory is broken. Organic lesions of the brain affect how information about events that happened in recent time is stored. If a person has senile insanity, then he forgets what happened to him yesterday, but remembers well all the details of the events of the distant past.

Behavior is changing. A person diagnosed with senile insanity is sloppy and careless with regard to clothing. As a rule, he takes care of himself only if he is reminded of this. The patient is apathetic, he is not interested in his work, hobby. He becomes too edifying, stubbornly proves his case. Sometimes he is too suggestible, indifferent to everything. The patient loses his bashfulness, can speak on erotic topics, and shows promiscuity.

A person's orientation in space is disturbed. If he is at home, then no problems arise. But if he finds himself in an unfamiliar place, he has difficulty finding his way back.

Thinking gets worse. A person cannot deal with the usual daily tasks. It is difficult for him to find the optimal effective action.

A person diagnosed with "senile insanity" at first becomes talkative, he retains his usual speech and facial expressions, gesticulation. As a rule, no one suspects the presence of an ailment. However, if you ask the patient about today's date, his age, etc., then this will confuse him.

Senile insanity, the signs of which become very pronounced over time, is hard not to notice. As a result of senile dementia, a person becomes more greedy, stingy. A person collects unnecessary things in his house. Signs of senile insanity in women are quite interesting. The initial stage is characterized by immoderate appetite, hypersexuality. If the disease progresses, the patient loses self-care skills. The patient forgets that she has children and grandchildren. Sometimes senile insanity makes a person too aggressive, vicious, whiny.

The late period of the disease requires constant inspection. The patient is unable to take care of himself. He may not notice that he provoked a fire, a flood, etc.

3 stages of senile insanity

Senile insanity has three stages:

First (initial) stage dementia is characterized by a decrease in intellectual abilities. The patient is self-critical, he is able to engage in self-service.

Second stage. The patient loses intellectual abilities. He can't use familiar things. We are talking about the telephone, the electric stove, the locks on the doors. The patient is in a state of anxiety and depression. He has good hygiene habits.

At the third stage the worst is happening. This stage is characterized by the insanity of the patient. Relatives fail to convey to a sick person that he needs to take care of himself, perform the usual and necessary actions. The patient forgets to use cutlery. He can pee anywhere, leave water and gas on.

The last stages of the disease are not the most pleasant sight. The person lies in the fetal position. The patient is disturbed metabolic process, therefore, as a result of any somatic disease, a fatal outcome can occur.

How is senile insanity diagnosed?

The diagnosis is made after general inspection and conversations with the patient and his loved ones. The doctor usually pays attention to the following criteria:

Short-term and long-term memory are impaired;

Self-criticism;

Abstract thinking worsens;

The appearance of aphasia, agnosia, apraxia;

A person becomes rude, his modesty disappears;

Violated social status.

Senile insanity resembles severe depression, lack of folic acid, thiamine, vitamin B12. Dementia, by the way, can be triggered by a severe nervous shock. For this reason, the doctor conducts a study before making a diagnosis.

Senile insanity, the treatment of which is possible

Many of us believe that senile insanity cannot be cured, because drugs cannot stop the course of age-related changes. However, this is not so, senile dementia can and should be treated.

Then the question arises, how to treat senile insanity. First of all, you need to understand that not every kind of senile dementia is irreversible. Sometimes the disease goes away if the cause that caused it is eliminated. If insanity is caused by an incurable disease, there is still a way out. Thanks to modern drugs, there is an opportunity to restrain the development of negative manifestations of dementia. First of all, you need to contact a psychiatrist. He will conduct a study, interview the patient. Only after this can we conclude that atrophic processes are taking place in the brain. Electroencephalography and computed tomography of the brain can also be additionally performed. Remember that only a doctor can diagnose senile insanity.

You should contact a specialist when the first symptoms appear. If senile insanity has become severe, then at the moment an effective method of treatment has not yet been discovered. However, symptomatic treatment can improve the patient's condition.

Home environment contributes to the success of treatment. It is important to provide maximum activity for the patient, involve him in doing household chores. This will slow down the course of the disease. If the patient is worried about insomnia or hallucinations, the doctor may prescribe several psychotropic drugs for him. As a rule, the early stage requires the appointment of nootropics, and then they resort to the use of tranquilizers.

Senile insanity: what to do for relatives

So, your loved one was diagnosed with senile insanity. What to do in such a situation? We suggest not to panic and take advantage of our tips:

— Try to get involved in "games", even if they annoy you. “I don’t have a single cracker in my house!” an elderly woman complained to her neighbors. And the granddaughter was very upset, because she knew that her grandmother had everything she needed. Indeed, there were no crackers at home, but the old woman has no teeth and cannot chew them. And she likes to drink tea with sweets. Granddaughter bought several packs of crackers. And now he shows them to his grandmother, if she “wails” again.

If a person with a diagnosis of senile insanity requires that all the windows be closed, since “someone can climb into them,” then we recommend that you do not argue and just do what he asks.

— Try to share with the sick breaking news . Tell your grandmother all kinds of "gossip" about someone who got divorced, bought new apartment etc. Impressed by the next trick of the neighbor, the grandmother will become somewhat calmer, and her attention will switch from you to other people for a while.

— Give gifts for holidays, memorable dates. Even if it seems to you that the patient does not need anything, and he has everything. Buy your grandmother a handbag, something tasty, a handkerchief. Believe me, the elderly will be pleased.

So, you have learned what senile insanity is, as well as about the symptoms and treatment of this disease.

Care of patients in a nursing home with a diagnosis of senile insanity

Private nursing home accepts elderly people suffering from various problems with health. The private boarding house "Autumn of Life" offers excellent conditions for patients diagnosed with senile insanity. Here they will be provided with qualified assistance, constant supervision and care. The institution has everything necessary to ensure their safety. By the way, the boarding house is located in one of the most picturesque places in the Moscow region.

Dementia is age-related disease, which is accompanied by a decrease and further loss of intellectual abilities, household skills, etc. It is very difficult to care for such a patient. Many children and grandchildren try to use the services of a specialized institution in case of illness of a relative.

The stage of the disease determines what kind of help the patient needs. At an early stage, one simply becomes more distracted. He may forget to turn off the gas or water. But in the future, the patient loses the ability to self-service. In addition, senile insanity is often accompanied aggressive behavior patient. The nursing home employs staff who know how to care for such patients and how to act in emergency situations. They are ready to take responsibility for providing comfort and safety for patients.

Pension "Autumn of Life" offers the following services for its guests (including for patients diagnosed with senile insanity):

Separate room, necessary equipment that meets safety requirements;

Round the clock surveillance;

Round-the-clock qualified care;

Health monitoring;

Monitoring the implementation of doctor's orders;

Accommodation at an affordable cost;

Six meals a day;

Providing moral support.

Unfortunately, curing senile insanity completely at the moment is not possible. However, modern medicine has opportunities for the symptomatic treatment of dementia. Such therapy can significantly alleviate the fate of the patient. By the way, also holding psychosocial rehabilitation also considered effective.

A private nursing home guarantees patients with a diagnosis of senile insanity:

Calm and favorable atmosphere;

Staff attentiveness. The patient will be helped to eat, wash, etc.;

Safety. Due to the non-slip floor covering, the presence of handrails, the absence of unnecessary furniture, the boarding house is a safe place for a patient with a diagnosis of senile insanity;

Moral support, respect.

To book a place for your elderly relative in a boarding house " Autumn of life» call the number 8-495-003-19-56 or use online callback form.

Senile insanity - preventive measures

1) Take Vitamin B12. Its deficiency is the most common cause of brain dysfunction. According to research, 20% of people over 60 and 40% of people over 80 are likely to develop "pseudomasmus". This condition is due to the fact that the body is poorly produced gastric juice. Because of this, the food is poorly digested, the body is low in vitamin B 12 and other B vitamins.

2) Take vitamin B6 and folic acid. Due to the lack of folic acid, depressive states and senile insanity appear.

3) Eat tomatoes and watermelons. An elderly person who has a sufficient amount of lycopene in the blood retains the ability to self-care longer.

4) Ginkgo extract. This substance helps to stimulate blood circulation, improve memory, mental abilities.

5) Garlic. Thanks to the substances in its composition, it helps to restore mental functions, including memory.

6) Gymnastics. If you regularly engage in physical activity, you can slow down the course of such a disease as senile insanity.

To prevent senile insanity, follow our advice:

Take care to eat wholesome foods that strengthen your cardiovascular system;

Eliminate bad habits, especially smoking and drinking alcohol;

Try to walk more and be in the fresh air;

Take care to ensure constant mental activity. Learn, engage in intellectual games, etc.

Senile insanity is a complex disease that requires patience. Of course, the relatives of such a patient have a hard time. You don't have to exhaust yourself. Take advantage of the services offered by a private boarding house. Both the sick person and you yourself will feel relief. Before the diagnosis of senile insanity, was your grandmother completely different? Now her behavior brings you nothing but suffering? Seek help from experts. In the boarding house, the patient will be looked after by highly qualified staff. And it will become easier for you, and old man will get the opportunity to spend his old age in decent conditions, without annoying anyone.

In our boarding houses we are ready to offer only the best:

Round-the-clock care for the elderly by professional nurses (all staff are citizens of the Russian Federation).

5 meals a day full and diet.

1-2-3-seater placement (for recumbent specialized comfortable beds).

Daily leisure (games, books, crossword puzzles, walks).

Individual work of psychologists: art therapy, music lessons, modeling.

Weekly examination by specialized doctors.

Comfortable and safe conditions(comfortable country houses, beautiful nature, clean air).

At any time of the day or night, the elderly will always come to the rescue, no matter what problem worries them. In this house, all relatives and friends. An atmosphere of love and friendship reigns here.

Senile dementia is dementia that comes with age, characterized by the degradation of thinking, memory, behavior. Dementia in the elderly leads to a persistent decline in cognitive performance and the ability to care for oneself. Exist different kinds dementia, they will be discussed in the article.

Senile dementia: what is this disease

Presenile dementia is a whole group of dementia states progressing in the presenile years associated with atrophy of brain cells.

The most common forms of the disease are:

• Alzheimer's and Pick's diseases;
• Parkinson;
• chorea of ​​Huntington.

Senile dementia in psychiatrists refers to the progressive degenerative fading of neurons, most often seen after the age of 80. Violated mental functions, memory, lost: willpower, accumulated knowledge, routine skills.

This group includes senile insanity and age-related loss of cognitive functions. Unlike congenital dementia, incurable oligophrenia, senile dementia is ranked among the acquired mental degradations of mature individuals.

Stages of development and life expectancy

The stages of dementia proceed slowly, the deterioration of the condition develops gradually.

Are noted:

• initial stage;
• moderate;
• final.

The early stage is very similar to the personality shifts of natural aging. Rare episodes of forgetfulness are noted, mental abilities are reduced. Some character traits: pedantry, stinginess, are aggravated, self-criticism is still preserved.

Moderate dementia of the brain is characterized by increasing intellectual impairment. Personality is destroyed, individual characteristics are leveled, behavior becomes the same type.

Memory lapses deepen, habitual skills are lost. The patient becomes sloppy, indifferent to his appearance and favorite activities. Elementary hygiene habits are still preserved. But the patient is able to injure himself by accident. Relatives should not leave a person unattended.

The prognosis of life expectancy depends on the severity of the course of the final stage of dementia. How many years do people live after being diagnosed with presenile dementia? From 6 to 14 years and more. With senile - up to 10, 15 years.

AT last years the patient has a deep amnesia, speech disorders. He forgets his name, skills, achievements. Home treatment is full care and ongoing maintenance, including nutrition and hygiene.

It's important to know! An elderly patient needs the constant presence of a nurse or relatives. He can light a fire, flood an apartment, break expensive dishes, cut himself with fragments. Take care of your loved ones!

What to do with relatives

When a patient with such a diagnosis appears in the family, relatives should treat him with increased attention. While only minor symptoms and signs are noted, a person combs his hair on his own, but forgets where the comb is, you need to tell him. If the patient is shown, reminded of how the usual action is done, he is still able to repeat the movement and take care of himself on his own.

Relatives must understand that when the patient can no longer take care of himself, the condition worsens. What to do when urinary incontinence starts? We need to hire a nurse, someone to take care of the sick. The patient will need diapers for adults, a diaper on the bed if a severe stage of the pathology has come.

As a last resort, the person is placed in a specialized medical institution. In case of severe dementia in the elderly, here they will be fed, washed, combed, and provided with full care.

Attention! A patient with advanced dementia may become aggressive, pugnacious, intolerant of criticism. No need to be offended by the person. He is not responsible for himself at this time. Relatives must be patient and loving. Forgive and understand.

Types of senile insanity

Senile insanity is not a mandatory sign of aging. Active longevity today captures the masses. At the age of 70-80, people live an interesting, eventful life, go in for sports, communicate in social networks, joke, laugh, look at life positively.

However, often the character, memory deteriorates in elderly people, anger and irritability appear. Some relatives, noticing loved one apathy, forgetfulness, untidiness, they attribute this to natural aging and do not go to doctors.

As a result, brain atrophy occurs too quickly, the behavior of a degraded individual turns the life of the whole family into a real hell.

Vascular dementia

Vascular or vascular dementia occurs from a violation of blood circulation in the brain. If some cells do not get enough nutrition and oxygen, they begin to wither and eventually die.

Until a certain age, the body retains the ability to regenerate and restore neurons. But, if exhaustion already sets in, cell atrophy is inevitable. Then symptoms become noticeable, thinking, memory, speech, behavior are disturbed. The individual loses independence, becomes dependent on outside help.

Vascular dementia syndrome can appear unexpectedly, as a result of blockage of the blood vessel of the head by a blood clot or a large air plug. If the vessel breaks, many neurons die from the blood pouring into the brain. Also, slow dementia occurs from blockage of small vessels of the brain. This pathology can only be detected by MRI.

Heart failure, a decrease in blood flow from blockage of blood vessels with bad cholesterol plaques also become an impetus for the onset of neuronal atrophy.

Due to the differences in the causes of vascular dementia, there is no single way to treat this pathology. However, prevention and treatment affect the healing and cleansing of blood vessels. The disturbed blood flow in large arteries and capillaries is restored. Doctors strive to normalize the pressure, to a value of 120/80. So that neurons do not experience oxygen starvation.

Frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal or frontotemporal dementia is a disease when the temporal and frontal lobes of the brain is even more pronounced than in Alzheimer's and Pick's disease. The death of gray matter cells is summed up with the accumulation of Pick bodies in them. In some cells, neurofibrillary fibers from tau protein are found.

Pathology is characterized by rapidly developing apathy, weakening of physical and psychological activity. Speech disorders progress, the grasping and sucking reflex disappears. A little later, disinhibition of behavior and euphoria begins. Treat, as in Alzheimer's syndrome, symptomatically, but not very effectively.

Alcoholic dementia

Severe disorders of the central nervous system, disruption of normal activity are always the result of addiction, endless drinking. An eternally drunk person loses adequate thinking, perception, counting, speech, attention, memory.

The patient must be shown to a psychiatrist - narcologist. The doctor will assess the degree of degradation of mental abilities with the help of tests and questionnaires, prescribe treatment.

Dementia in Schizophrenia

Schizophrenic dementia of the brain is characterized to a greater extent by emotional disturbances. Acquired knowledge and skills initially practically do not suffer, intelligence is preserved. However, patients cannot use knowledge.

Schizophrenia is a chronic disease. Therefore, if it is possible to stop the course of the disease itself, then the symptoms of dementia disappear. In other cases, an extremely unfavorable prognosis is possible.

Along with the growing apathy, slovenliness, speech and social disorders, delirium and hallucinations occur. But for life, the prognosis is positive, with successful treatment, restoration of working capacity is also possible.

Dementia of the Alzheimer's type

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease are synonyms. Pathology of this type is characterized by a primary degenerative phenomenon in the activity of brain cells. Without early and adequate treatment, this dementia completely destroys the personality and brings death closer.

The first signs of Alzheimer's dementia are a slight weakening of memory, indifference to your favorite business. There is no known cure for this type of dementia. But many scientists are working on its development. Israeli doctors noted positive changes in new works.

However, drugs are known that slow down the deposition of pathological plaques and the development of winding fibers in the gray matter. An active life position significantly lengthens the life expectancy of patients. Constant exercise for the body and brain creates new neural circuits, makes the brain work and resist atrophy.

The last stage of dementia leads to personality degradation, memory loss, and complete helplessness. It occurs at the most respectable age, 10-15 years after the discovery of pathology. A person at this time needs care and attention.

Dementia after a stroke

Sudden destruction of blood vessels in the brain - a stroke, leads to partial paralysis of the lower or upper limbs weakening them, paralysis of one side of the body may occur. Subject has a sideways smile and is unable to move his tongue normally. After a stroke, walking is impaired. The man shuffles his feet, holds himself unsteadily, as if drunk.

A person has increased drowsiness, apathy, memories of recent events disappear. Atrophy in stroke different areas brain. Depending on what function this portion of gray matter is responsible for, a loss of skills, thinking, and awareness of the surrounding reality is manifested.

In almost all patients, the regularity of urination is disturbed. Emotional disorders, an incomprehensible, helpless state, lead the patient to depression and pessimistic behavior.

Proper treatment and restoration of good blood supply brings the patient closer to a slow but sure recovery of cognitive functions, memory and mood of the patient. Patients live after the detection of vascular dementia up to 5 years or more.

Multi-infarct dementia

The loss of cognitive functions that appeared after many consecutive strokes was called multi-infarct dementia. Its manifestation depends on the extent of the affected area of ​​gray matter. It is noticed that dementia is more often manifested after damage to the left hemisphere.

After numerous ruptures of blood vessels, degradation increases in steps. Strokes are more common with high blood pressure diabetes, atherosclerosis. Several burst vessels can lead to death and complete paralysis. Normal blood circulation should be restored first of all, if the person does not die.

digital dementia

The pathology of the new generation is called digital dementia. Pupils and students, constantly relying on their gadgets, calculators, have forgotten how to count in our time.

AT South Korea, where electronic devices ubiquitous, loss of intellect and mental disintegration of personality has been noted in a large part of the population.

Treat such dementia with mathematical exercises, verbal account, solving puzzles and puzzles. In old age, digital dementia occurs in those who do not bother to solve problems, equations, do not teach lessons with children and grandchildren.

epileptic dementia

Epilepsy - chronic illness. It proceeds with periodic convulsive attacks and loss of consciousness. Depending on the length and depth of the attacks, there is a gradual atrophy of neurons and degradation of the personality.

Patients with high intelligence rarely suffer from dementia. Congenital epilepsy is incurable, post-traumatic is treated. In any case, anticonvulsants lengthen the time between seizures and make them easier. Signs of dementia disappear, memory and all skills return.

Dementia in Parkinson's disease

Trembling paralysis is a disease associated with the death of neurons and the connections between them in the subcortical region of the brain. The cause of parkinsonism is vascular disease, the use of neuroleptic drugs, anti-asthma drugs, traumatic brain injuries, and infections. Family tremors similar to this type have also been noted.

In half the cases, parkinsonism does not provoke dementia. But sometimes this happens, and often there is a craving for suicide. Because a constant tremor is perceived by others as inadequacy. The person is very worried about this. Memory impairments start later.

Parkinsonism is treated with Cyclodol, Parkopan, Midantan and other means. The symptoms of dementia disappear with the healing of the tremor.

Lacunar dementia

Amnestic or lacunar vascular dementia occurs after a limited stroke. It is usually located in different parts brain. The severity of dementia depends on what function the affected area of ​​neurons controls.

Vascular treatment often results in complete recovery motor functions and intellect. Recovery is very slow.

Causes of the disease

Senile sclerosis, indifference to one's appearance, loss of skills and speech occur in old age, not only from respectable years. Progressive dementia is more common after age 80. The reason may be the unlimited use of alcohol or strong coffee.

Alcohol is a known dementia provocateur. Coffee increases blood pressure, which leads to stroke, the development of vascular dementia.

Congenital and post-traumatic epilepsy, if you do not take anticonvulsants and do not adhere to the regimen, drink strong alcohol leading to dementia and death.

Causes of digital dementia - excessive passion for the calculator. Thinking is useful.

Acquired dementia more often affects people who, after graduating from high school, do not read books, do not solve crossword puzzles, do not attend theaters, do not force their gray cells to work.

A small percentage of diseases are genetic reasons and infectious. It is noticed that the herpes virus is able to kill neurons.

Organic dementia is of the primary type. It arises from the mass death of neurons, the cause of which is vascular disease, Alzheimer's, Pick. Age-related dementia in almost 90% of cases occurs for this reason.

The remaining 10% are related to secondary dementia. The reasons in this case are:

• a cancerous tumor in the head;
• brain infection (meningitis);
• metabolic disorders;
• thyroid disease;
• brain injury.

Symptoms of dementia

The symptoms of dementia in the elderly refer to the general changes that result from the destruction of the brain, under the influence of a number of diseases. More often these symptoms occur after 65 years, but experts do not consider dementia the norm for old age.

Age-related dementia is manifested by memory impairment, loss of routine skills, indifference to those items that used to be expensive. Inability to navigate the terrain, unwillingness to learn new things. The patient can no longer adequately analyze what is happening, compare, confuse bitter and sweet. The old man begins to think Small child. No wonder there is an expression: falls into childhood.

Symptoms of dementia in older people are often accompanied by depression. A person feels lonely, useless in such a helpless state. Vulnerability, hypersensitivity and resentment are easily replaced by aggressiveness and crying.

Symptoms of dementia in old age are sometimes accompanied by hallucinations and delusions, complete degradation of the personality, and shifts in the psyche. For example, sleep disturbance, appetite is accompanied by a persistent desire to put a mug in one place. Such a patient categorically does not want to be rearranged.

Diagnosis of acquired dementia

To know how to treat senile dementia, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination. In the early stage of pathology, the patient himself does not always notice changes in his behavior. Loving and attentive relatives, noticing that a person has become slow, confuses words and events, is closed, unreasonably rude, will take him to the doctor.

Disability in dementia and treatment are prescribed by a neurologist, therapist, ophthalmologist. In the laboratory, blood is examined:

• for sugar;
• lipids;
• electrolytes;
• creatinine;
• liver tests;
• thyroid hormones;
• the content of trace elements;
• syphilis;

The following hardware tests are carried out:

• dopplerography of blood vessels;
• gene test;

Dementia treatment

Neurologists and psychiatrists know how to treat senile dementia. Secondary dementia caused by metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, schizophrenia, epilepsy, head trauma, curable. When the symptoms of the disease that causes dementia pass, the signs of dementia also disappear.

Primary dementia is incurable. But all drugs, nutrition, diet and exercise prolong a person's life, improve the quality of life.

Preparations

Cure for dementia:

• Donepezil;
• Galantomin;
• Rivastigmine;
• Memantine.

These drugs are taken daily. Periodic courses are prescribed neuroprotectors:

• Semax;
• citicoline;
• Cerebrolysin;
• Glycine;
• Cortexin.

• tranquilizers;
• antidepressants;
• sleeping pills.

Folk methods

Researchers at the Institute of Regenerative Medicine found that a compound found in grapes prevents age-related memory impairment. Restveratrol is good for the cardiovascular system. It has a positive effect on the hippocampus, an area of ​​the brain associated with mood and learning, and helps with Alzheimer's disease. This medicine is an antioxidant that reduces the risk of neck and head cancer.

Therefore, grapes and some red wine are good for those suffering from dementia. With such a diagnosis, they live a very long time if they use folk remedies to maintain life and restore cognitive functions.

Symptoms and treatment of senile insanity are well known to folk healers.

They advise taking:

• tincture of elecampane. Insist a large spoonful of roots on 500 ml of vodka for a whole month. Take a soup spoon three times a day half an hour before meals, shaking beforehand;
• blueberries. A glass of freshly squeezed juice or compote per day restores blood microcirculation in the head, restores vision and memory;
• honey and onion mixture. Mix the puree of the grated onion in equal amounts with honey. Twice a day, a tablespoon of the remedy reduces forgetfulness;
• ginger tea with mint and lemon balm. Thirty grams of ginger cubes and a few mint leaves boil with boiling water. Drink tea several times a day. Normalizes brain function and strengthens the immune system.

Nutrition, diet

Symptoms, treatment and how long people live with senile dementia largely depend on proper nutrition and diets.

Food should be chosen according to your needs. For example, with high blood pressure, you should not drink strong coffee and even strong black tea, so as not to provoke another stroke.

Epileptics are contraindicated alcoholic drinks and strong coffee, then the attacks become less frequent and shorter.

If the vessels of the head are clogged with cholesterol plaques, it is necessary to exclude fatty and fried foods from the diet. Eat less flour and confectionery products.

Signs of dementia in women depend on the hormonal levels. The menu should include food that normalizes the necessary trace elements. Then the memory and bones will be stronger, the heart will beat rhythmically.

Fruits and vegetables, lean meats, cereals, olive oil are good for all older people. Ginseng tincture and juices will give strength, strengthen muscles.

Exercises

How to avoid senile dementia without exercise? Feasible training is necessary not only for the body, but also for your gray cells. Doctors have noticed that dancing classes, the need to memorize complex movements, have a positive effect on a person’s memory and brain function.

It has long been known that a difficult sport improves the quality of intelligence.

How to prevent dementia or slow its progress while lying on the couch? No way! An active life position, a keen interest in new information, learning unfamiliar languages, solving math problems, maintaining a personal blog, and chatting in Odnoklassniki will make life more fun.

New connections formed in the brain, thanks to exercise, make gray matter cells work. Thus, a person is able to overcome dementia and prolong his active longevity.

Expanding one's horizons by walking in unfamiliar parks, reading interesting adventure books is useful for improving the quality and length of life of an elderly person.

Prevention

Prevention of senile dementia is to observe healthy lifestyle life and optimism, diverse, lively interests.

If you spend your whole life on drinking and fighting, with inevitable head injuries, it is difficult to assume that in old age a person will have a bright mind and high intelligence. Many drunkards do not even live to old age.

Those who are keenly interested in the latest in fashion, study healing herbs, philosophical teachings, are engaged in yoga, science, until late in life they remain able to take care of themselves. A person who goes in for sports, collects paintings, attends fashion exhibitions, does not suffer from senile insanity.

Question answer

Is dementia hereditary?

Numerous studies show that dementia is inherited only in very rare cases. It is about 15% of the patients.

Difference between dementia and Alzheimer's disease

Dementia can result from Alzheimer's disease or another disease such as Pick's. Dementia is not individual disease, but what neuronal atrophy that has arisen for one reason or another can lead to.

Difference between dementia and Pick's disease

Personality degradation in a patient with Pick's disease follows a slightly different scenario than with Alzheimer's syndrome. Neurons in both cases are affected differently.

Dementia is a consequence of atrophy of the frontal and temporal parts of the brain in Pick's disease. But dementia is not a separate pathology that should be compared with another.

The body ages, and the brain ages with it, although old age is not at all synonymous with dementia. Many people in our country, even in old age, retain cheerfulness, a clear mind, sanity and a good memory. One of my patients, aged 78, taught at the university and was loved by her students for her sense of humor and optimistic attitude towards life. However, more often in old age, people's character deteriorates, irritability, outbursts of anger are observed, and memory deteriorates. Many relatives, noticing forgetfulness, untidiness, loss of interest in life in a loved one, decide that this is aging, natural changes in the body, therefore, a person with marasmus gets a consultation with a doctor only when disorders in his behavior make the life of his relatives unbearable.

What is senile insanity

Senile insanity (dementia, dementia) is a disintegration of the personality, a mental disorder, which over time leads to the loss of the possibility of any contact with others, to the loss of basic behavioral skills in all spheres of life. This disease causes mental changes that occur in the brain, treatment is often ineffective, it is an irreversible process of atrophy.

Only a psychiatrist can make a diagnosis of "senile mariasis", and timely treatment can delay the inevitable onset for many years. unpleasant consequences illness.

The severity of senile insanity

• Dementia disease (dementia), as a rule, occurs in the elderly, at least 5% of patients over 65 suffer from it. They can no longer acquire new skills, while previously acquired knowledge is lost. Although senile insanity is by definition a severe disorder, in medicine, depending on the manifestations of the symptoms of the disease, there are three degrees of severity of dementia.
• mild dementia- the first manifestations of the disease, which lead to a decrease in the patient's social activity, unwillingness to communicate with relatives, colleagues and friends, loss of the patient's professional skills. He loses interest in the outside world, refuses his favorite hobbies and leisure activities. With mild symptoms of senile insanity, the patient can still serve himself, he normally orients himself within the house.
• moderate dementia- in everyday life, this stage of the disease is called senile insanity, the patient becomes a heavy burden for people close to him. A person forgets how to use the stove, the telephone, the TV remote control, he will not be able to open the door lock himself, he can no longer be left alone for a long time. The patient needs constant prompting from relatives, but he still retains self-care and personal hygiene skills. It is necessary to treat insanity even at this stage of the disease.
• Severe dementia (senile dementia)- characterized by the constant and complete dependence of the patient on the help of strangers, on his own a person cannot cope even with the simplest actions, he cannot dress, eat, and maintain hygiene.

The first symptoms of the onset of senile insanity

What symptoms in the behavior of an elderly person are considered sufficient grounds to see a doctor about the likelihood of getting senile insanity?

• Memory- a person remembers information about everyday events worse than before, while information about events from his past remains intact. A person with dementia forgets what happened yesterday, but remembers events from his youth very well.
• Behavior- the first symptom of the onset of senile insanity are signs of negligence, slovenliness. A person gradually loses interest in hobbies that were interesting to him before, especially efforts are required for occupation, he refuses the types of daily activities that are difficult for him, everyday difficulties begin to appear. A person is still able to take care of himself, but he needs constant reminders of this.
• Orientation- a person has become poorly oriented in time, but at the same time he understands well where he is. Problems with orientation can arise in an unfamiliar place.
• Thinking— slight difficulties appear when trying to solve simple everyday tasks, the selection of the necessary variant of action takes place more slowly than before.
• Communication- close people begin to notice that a person in old age gradually begins to burden communication, he loses independence in the performance of his usual duties.

Causes of senile insanity

The main cause of the disease is the death of brain neurons, which can be caused by toxic deposits in the brain or malnutrition of the brain. blood vessels. This is primary dementia, and about 90% of all cases of senile insanity belong to it. Sometimes deterioration in brain function occurs due to another disease, the course of which makes it difficult normal work nervous system. This is secondary dementia and accounts for about 10% of cases.

Treatment of senile insanity

For some reason, the population has established a strong opinion that senile insanity is incurable, age-related changes in the body of an old person cannot be corrected by any medicine. Such ideas are fundamentally wrong, the treatment of senile dementia is possible and often simply necessary.

Not all types of senile insanity are irreversible, often the disease recedes after the elimination of its cause. Even if dementia has come as a result of an incurable disease, modern modern anti-dementia drugs can slow down the pace of development. negative symptoms senile insanity. Consult a psychiatrist, only after objective research and questioning the patient, he will be able to diagnose the presence of atrophic processes in the brain. An electroencephalogram can also be performed computed tomography brain. Only a qualified specialist can prescribe treatment for a diagnosis of "senile insanity".

The main thing is to consult a doctor at the first symptoms of senile insanity, but if we are talking about a severe form of senile dementia, then effective method there is no cure yet, but symptomatic treatment insanity can seriously alleviate the fate of the patient.

For successful treatment It is better for the patient to be at home. Provide the patient with maximum activity, involve him in simple household chores, this will slow down the course of the disease. For insomnia or hallucinations, the doctor may prescribe psychotropic drugs to early stages nootopes are prescribed for the treatment of senile insanity, later tranquilizers are added.

Treatment will help the patient to maintain contact with others for several years longer, to take care of himself. With the help of timely treatment, the time of live communication between the family and a loved one is extended, and part of the care burden is removed from close relatives.

How to deal with senile insanity

Take vitamin B12. An insufficient amount of this vitamin is one of the most common causes brain dysfunction in old age. Studies have shown that 20% of people over sixty and 40% of people over eighty can develop "pseudomasmus" due to health reasons. This is a state in which the body produces less gastric juice, food is digested poorly, the body does not receive enough vitamin B12 and other B vitamins.

Take vitamin B6 and folic acid. Folic acid deficiency in the body leads to depression, brain dysfunction and senile insanity.

Eat tomatoes and watermelons. Elderly people with high level the antioxidant lycopene in the blood, which is found in tomato juice, tomatoes and watermelons, are able to take care of themselves longer.

Ginkgo extract. This drug plant origin stimulates blood circulation in the smallest vessels of the brain, dramatically improves the memory and mental abilities of the elderly.

Garlic. Substances included in its composition act as growth stimulants on branches nerve cells, restore mental functions, including memory.

Gymnastics. Even a little regular physical activity slows down the onset of symptoms of senile insanity.

Disease prevention

• eat a balanced diet, a healthy diet prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure;
• get rid of bad habits especially from smoking and regular alcohol abuse;
• maintain physical activity, walk in the fresh air;
• maintain a constant mental activity, education. Mind games compensate for the loss of neurons;

A person who has not started a family, according to medical statistics, is twice as likely to get senile insanity.

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