Insight: What causes dementia? Is it curable?

Alzheimer’s disease is the main cause of dementia worldwide.It’s followed by vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia in that order. Also there are treatable and reversible causes of dementia like Vitamin B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, thiamine deficiency, niacin deficiency, infections of the brain, autoimmune encephalitis, subdural hematoma etc…

 

Nothing much can be done to prevent and treat degenerative dementias. Also only few drugs like Donepezil, Mementine and Galantamine are found to be useful in Alzheimer’s dementia. Vascular dementia can be prevented to some extent by taking anti-platelet drugs like aspirin.

 

There are studies that show that keeping the brain active by studying new languages, reading books, working out problems, playing brain games and actively socializing delay the onset of symptoms and retard the progression of Alzheimer’s dementia.

 

Preventing head trauma, treating diabetes and hypetension, taking a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants and having a regular exercise schedule also are important strategies to reduce the risk of dementia.