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Alzheimer's Clinic
Alzheimer's Clinic
With the recent increase in the elderly population and life expectancy, interest in dementia is on the rise.
At the Dementia Clinic, Shihwa Medical Center, we identify the cause of dementia using various tests such as neurological examination, brain imaging, and cognitive evaluation. In addition, we implement drug control to improve symptoms of vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, we provide active treatment through early detection of diseases to improve the quality of life of patients and caregiver.
What is dementia?
Dementia is a condition in which the normally mature brain is damaged by acquired diseases or other causes, resulting in a decline in overall cognitive functions such as intelligence, learning and language, as well as behavioral and mental functions.
* Cognitive function: It refers to various intellectual abilities such as memory, language, temporal and spatial recognition, judgment and abstract thinking, which are closely related to specific brain regions.
Main symptoms of dementia
- 1Same questions asked over and over again, and not very good at doing familiar things.
- 2Inappropriate words during speech or poor communication.
- 3Loss of sense of time and place, poor judgment.
- 4Not knowing what the numbers mean.
- 5Not knowing where to put things and looking for the wrong place.
- 6Momentary changes in mood and behavior.
- 7Rapid changes in personality and repeated display of emotions such as excitement, doubt, and fear.
Classification of dementia
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Alzheimer's disease As healthy brain cells die, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is reduced, resulting in the loss of memory, language skills, and judgment and personality changes. Eventually, the patient loses the ability to take care of him/herself. This is Alzheimer's disease. The risk of developing Alzheimer's disease increases with age. This means that 1 in 10 people over 65 will get the disease, but 4 out of 10 people over 85 will get it. However, if there is a family history, it can also occur in younger people.
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Vascular dementia Vascular dementia refers to dementia caused by accumulation of brain damages caused by cerebrovascular diseases. Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, smoking, and obesity. Cognitive symptoms common in vascular dementia include reduced attention, reduced self-regulation, and poor planning. However, other symptoms may also occur depending on the location of the cerebrovascular disease.
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Dementia with Lewy bodies Dementia with Lewy bodies is dementia related to the Lewy bodies, which are generated due to an abnormality in a protein called alpha-synuclein and shows symptoms of Parkinson's disease such as fluctuating cognitive function, repetitive visions, tremors and stiff movements of the hands.
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Alcoholic dementia Excessive drinking for a long period of time causes alcoholic dementia. In some cases, it is caused by the toxicity of alcohol itself, and in other cases, by vitamin B1 deficiency due to alcohol consumption.
Diagnosis and examination of dementia
| Medical history examination | A medical history examination is the process of finding out in detail when symptoms began, what symptoms were most common, and what changes have taken place so far. Once the symptoms are identified, questions can be asked on whether there are any diseases that may be the cause of dementia. High blood pressure, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, rapid changes in body weight, past physical conditions, brain damage, and addiction to alcohol or other drugs can provide important clues to an accurate diagnosis. |
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| Neurocognitive function test | Neuropsychological test is a detailed objective evaluation of cognitive functions such as memory in a question-and-answer or questionnaire format. |
| Brain imaging test | Brain imaging tests used for diagnosis and treatment evaluation of dementia include CT and MRI, in which brain structures are checked, and PET, in which brain functions are tested. |
| Laboratory medicine examination | Laboratory medicine tests include blood tests, chest X-rays, urine tests, and electrocardiograms. A basic blood test is used to evaluate important bodily functions, as well as syphilis reaction, thyroid function, and vitamin deficiency. |
| Laboratory medicine examination | Cerebrospinal fluid is the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, and provides important information to determine whether there is currently an infection or which type of dementia is present. |
Dementia treatment
The status quo of dementia treatment is more about managing symptoms so that they don't get worse than addressing the root cause. Since dementia is a disease that progresses for a long time, an integrative approach in which effective treatment methods are implemented along with preemptive prevention is needed.
Dementia prevention
For dementia, prevention is of utmost importance.
With small efforts and lifestyle changes in daily life, you and your family can stay away from the risk of dementia.
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- Exercise
- Walk at least 3 times a week. Regular exercise can improve brain blood flow, promote brain cell activity, and prevent brain atrophy and cognitive decline.
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- Diet
- Avoid eating high-fat foods such as meat and eat fresh foods such as blue fish, nuts, seaweed, mixed grains, blueberries, and spinach.
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- Communication
- Continued social activity prevents depression and slows the decline in cognitive function.
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- No smoking, no alcohol
- Excessive drinking or habitual drinking can cause alcoholic dementia, and smoking is a factor in cognitive impairment, so you should stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
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- Health checkup
- It is important for early detection and treatment of stroke risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and diabetes.
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- Early detection of dementia
- For early detection of dementia, dementia screening tests (target: anyone over the age of 60) are freely available at public health centers. If dementia is detected and well-managed at an early stage, it may lead to a healthy state for a longer period of time, thus improving the quality of life of the patient.