Page 6 - Boca ViewPointe - July '20

Page 6, Viewpointe July 2020

Ask The Therapist

By Elaine S. Rubinson, to perform some simple daily activities, the indication is that Occurs at a younger age than Alzheimer’s disease, generally
L.M.H.C. there is damage to nerve cells in different locations of the brain. between the ages of 50 and 70. It is characterized by the
However, memory loss does not always mean dementia. To a breakdown of nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the
Dementia Has certain extent, memory loss is a normal part of aging. brain, the areas generally associated with personality, behavior
The discussion of this month’s article will be the many
and language. Symptoms include inappropriate behavior,

A Variety Of causes of dementia and the different diagnosis. Next month, I language, concentration and movement difficulties. The cause
Causes will discuss various ways to treat, control and perhaps prevent isn’t known, although in some cases this dementia is related to
some forms of dementia.
certain genetic mutations.
Dementia, as stated is a result of brain cell damage and can Thus far, I have listed the common causes of dementia. In
Dear Elaine: affect people differently, depending on the area of the brain addition, there are other disorders that are linked to dementia.
My 76 year old wife affected. It can be classified in a variety of ways. Some dementias These include;
has been exhibiting certain are caused by a reaction to medication or an infection and is Huntington’s Disease which is an inherited disease whereby
symptoms that are very disturbing. She seems to be fumbling reversible with treatment. Others worsen over time, are not certain nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord waste away. Signs
for words, has difficulty remembering recent events and can’t reversible and considered Progressive. and symptoms usually appear during age 30 or 40 when people
seem to focus on what’s going on. For instance, yesterday she Progressive Dementia begin to experience personality changes or anxiety. Cognitive
went blocks out of her way while driving home. The other day, One form of progressive dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. In skills, walking and movement severely decline.
she became angry with a long-time friend, with whom she has people age 56 or older, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common Traumatic brain Injury from repetitive head trauma such as
never argued. This has been going on for about a year, but seems cause. Symptoms usually develop after age 60, but some people experienced by boxers, football players and soldiers. Depending
to be getting worse. Is this Alzheimer’s disease and what can I may have early-onset forms of the disease, often as a result of a on the location of the brain damaged, symptoms may not appear
do about it? Distraught Husband defective gene. Certain genetic factors also may make it more until many years after the injury.
Dear Husband: likely that people will develop Alzheimer’s. The disease usually Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease is a rare brain disorder usually
Your concern is very real. As with recurrent symptoms such progresses slowly over 8 to 10 years. Cognitive abilities slowly occurring without risk factors and usually due to an abnormal
as you describe, it is imperative to consult a Physician who can decline. Eventually the affected areas of the brain stops working form of protein found in the brain. It may be inherited or caused
provide the necessary tests to make an accurate diagnosis. What properly, including parts of the brain that control memory, by a diseased brain or nervous system tissue. Signs and symptoms
you are describing is some form of Dementia, not necessarily language, judgment and spatial abilities. usually appear around age 60. The decline of coordination,
Alzheimer’s disease. Vascular dementia memory, thinking and vision worsen over time and is usually
Dementia isn’t a specific disease, rather a cluster of symptoms Vascular dementia is the second most common type, fatal.
affecting memory, thinking, physical and social abilities severely occurring as a result of brain damage due to reduced or blocked So, Husband, the above discussion speaks to conditions that
enough to interfere with daily functioning. When there is blood flow in blood vessels leading to your brain. This blockage may or may not be reversed because they may be genetic, or as
memory loss, impaired judgment, language difficulty, inability may be caused by stroke, infection of a heart valve (endocarditis) a result of severe brain damage or illness. However, there are
or other vascular conditions. other causes of dementia which may be reversed or treated. I will
Lewy body dementia discuss these next month. In the meantime, because your wife
Attention Lewy body dementia affects approximately 10 percent of is exhibiting symptoms found in any one of the aforementioned
Boca Pointe Residents! people with dementia, making it one of the most common types disorders, your need is to see a Physician for a series of tests to
of dementia. There are traces of abnormal clumps of protein
make the proper diagnosis and to learn what activities your wife
Flatten All Your Boxes! found in the brain and the symptoms are similar to Alzheimer’s may enjoy within the boundaries of safety. Until next month....
disease. Its unique features include fluctuations between
Our recycling trucks do not pick up your cardboard boxes confusion and clear thinking, visual hallucinations, and tremor Elaine S Rubinson L.M.H.C. is a Florida Supreme Court
if they are not flattened. Instead, they go to trash and are burned and rigidity (parkinsonism). People with Lewy body dementia Certified Family and Elder Law Mediator. She is also a
with regular refuse....lost revenue for residents of Boca Pointe.  often have a condition called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep Licensed Psychotherapist with a practice in Boca Raton. If
behavior disorder that involves acting out dreams. you have a question, please contact her at elainerubinson@
Frontemporal dementia mediationinsight.com. 

Boca Pointe Community Association, Inc.

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