Your brain's deterioration due to ageing leads to dementia by causing damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections, which makes it impossible for the brain to interact with the other parts of your body.
Another cause is obstructed blood flow to the brain due to stroke, haemorrhage, chronic hypertension, arrhythmias, lacunar infarcts and arteriosclerotic encephalopathy, which deprives it of oxygen and nutrients culminating in brain tissue damage. As a result, brain tissue perishes without nourishment and oxygen.
Depending on the damaged part of the brain, one may experience various symptoms. Some forms of dementia are incurable and get worse over time. Other types result due to illnesses that affect the functions of the brain. Different groups of medical conditions can also cause dementia-like symptoms.
Dementia and its forms can be challenging to diagnose. First, the doctor must identify the pattern of skill and function loss and ascertain what the patient is still capable of to pinpoint dementia's underlying cause.
The doctor physically examines the patient and studies their medical history. They will also inquire about symptoms from a trusted source. Besides, a battery of tests assists them in identifying the issue because no single test can help diagnose dementia.
Tests are used to examine a variety of cognitive abilities, including memory, orientation, reasoning and judgement, language proficiency, and attention.
CT or MRI: These scans can look for signs of hydrocephalus, a tumour, a haemorrhage, or a stroke.
These can reveal patterns of brain activity and impart information regarding the deposition of the amyloid or tau protein, thus differentiating in the type of dementia.
Simple blood tests can identify bodily issues like a thyroid gland not functioning correctly or a vitamin B-12 insufficiency that can impair brain function. In addition, the spinal fluid may occasionally be checked for signs of infection, inflammation, or certain degenerative illnesses.
An expert in mental health can assess whether depression or other mental illness is the cause behind the symptoms.
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