Cold sores…a bane to peoples’ social lives and now another reason to be dreaded. The virus that causes cold sores (also known as fever blisters) is also being linked with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. The herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1), which causes cold sores, may make the body more vulnerable [...] Read more »
Where are my reading glasses? Oh no- I have to introduce that person walking over to me and I can’t remember her name. What did I just come in to this room for? Do these occurrences sound familiar? How can you tell if your worsening memory is just normal age-related lapses, forgetfulness due to stress [...] Read more »
I have worked for 2 years in a nursery home and I treated a lot of patients who were diagnosed with Dementia. When working there I noticed that friends and family find great difficulties in interacting with their beloved one. Most visits to Grannie and grandfather feel obligated and result in a fast cup of [...] Read more »
Sundowners syndrome affects the elderly and those in the early or advanced stages of dementia. It is a state of confusion and disorientation that typically occurs in the late afternoon and early evening, hence the name, and is considered to be a form of mood or sleep disorder. What causes Sundowners syndrome? The exact cause [...] Read more »
Some degree of memory loss is a normal part of the aging process. Everyone forgets things at some time or another, whether it is where you left your car keys or purse, or the name of that person who waved at you in the supermarket. But when memory loss begins to impact on normal life, [...] Read more »
Dementia with lewy bodies is a type of dementia that has many similarities to Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. The disease is characterised by the presence of “lewy bodies”, clumps of abnormal proteins that accumulate in the brain and are only seen after death if an autopsy is carried out. Lewy Body dementia has a number [...] Read more »
There are several different forms of dementia, but while Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, vascular dementia comes in a close second. Like most forms of dementia, both are very serious brain conditions that cause serious cognitive decline, but what is the difference between vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease? Causes [...] Read more »
Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia and is caused by a slow narrowing of the arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the brain. Over time, the plaque build up leads to a series of mini strokes so small that the patient is probably unaware they are even happening, but they are [...] Read more »
Broadly speaking, dementia is caused by the death of brain cells due to injury or disease, but there are many different types of dementia, all of which affect the brain in different ways, so what causes dementia and what are the different types of dementia? What causes dementia? Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most [...] Read more »
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common types of dementia. Although Alzheimer’s is commonly associated with old age, the disease is thought to be caused by the death of brain cells and an imbalance of neurotransmitters rather than the effect of old age. It is a progressive disease and over time the patient will [...] Read more »