DEMENTIA
Dementia is not a specific disease. Dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.
Types of dementia
Primary dementia: This could be familial(inherited), or acquired later in life.
Childhood:
- Autism.
- Other learning disabilities: Dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, dysphasia, visual & auditory disorders.
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Secondary to congenital defects such as Down syndrome, Turner disease, etc.
- Secondary to acquired conditions such as infections, injuries, medications, heavy metal exposure.
Adulthood
- Alzheimer’s disease.
- Huntington’s dementia.
- Lewy body dementia
- Pick’s disease.
Secondary Dementia: This is secondary to acquired conditions, and it can happen early in childhood, or later in adult life.
Childhood:
- Secondary to congenital defects such as Down syndrome, Turner disease, etc.
- Secondary to acquired conditions such as: Infections( meningitis, encephalitis, measles, etc), Injuries(trauma, boxing, CO poisoning), Metabolic disorders(hypothyroidism, vitamin deficiencies, etc.), Drugs(therapeutic, intoxicating including overdoses, and recreational), Heavy metal exposure(lead, mercury, copper in Wilson’s disease).
Adulthood
- Vascular: stroke(infarction, haemorrhages), small vessel disease(multi-infarct dementia).
- Infections: Meningitis, encephalitis, abscesses, etc.
- Cancer: Primary tumours, metastases, and para-neoplastic syndromes.
- Metabolic: Hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, Vitamin deficiencies, etc.
- Drugs: Therapeutic, overdoses, and recreational.
- Habitual: Alcohol, smoking, etc.
- Degenerative conditions: Multiple sclerosis, progressive supranuclear palsy, multi-system atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus.
- Injuries and trauma including, concussions, post-traumatic amnesia, some sports, such as boxing, wrestling, and rugby.
- Can following brain surgery.
- Depression; if untreated !.