Always forgetting where you put things, be careful you are suffering from… dementia

(Dan Tri) - Doctors say that memory loss, difficulty with language, spatial disorientation, forgetting where things are stored... are some warning signs of dementia.

10 warning signs of dementia

At the health education communication program on Alzheimer's disease and dementia, held at Military Hospital 175 ( Ministry of National Defense ) on October 4, Master, Doctor Tran Thi Hoai Thu said that dementia is a condition of decreased ability to think, learn, and remember, affecting independent living activities.

Dementia has many causes, of which Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause (60-70%).

Experts share about the current state of dementia (Photo: BV).

According to Dr. Thu, cognitive decline leading to dementia can occur at any age. There are many factors that cause cognitive decline, such as: genetics, degeneration, stroke, small vessel disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, dyslipidemia, depression, inflammation, drugs, etc.

Regarding symptoms, Dr. Thu pointed out 10 warning signs of dementia. First, memory loss. Second, difficulty with familiar tasks. Third, difficulty with language. Fourth, disorientation about space and time. Fifth, reduced ability to perceive and judge problems.

Sixth, difficulty keeping track of events. Seventh, forgetting where things are put. Eighth, changes in mood and behavior. Ninth, difficulty understanding visual and spatial information. Tenth, difficulty with work or social activities.

Regarding intervention, dementia treatment requires a multimodal approach, combining many methods (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological), with the goal of improving symptoms. In particular, detection and intervention at early stages (especially mild cognitive impairment) will bring good treatment results.

Many elderly people ask questions about the signs and consequences of dementia (Photo: BV).

Non-drug treatment plays an important role

Doctor Ly Minh Dang, Department of Neurology, Military Hospital 175 , shared that the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2050 there will be about 139 million cases of dementia globally.

In Vietnam, according to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam will officially enter the "aging population" from 2036. Studies in our country have recorded 6-14% of people aged 60 and over have dementia. At medical facilities in Ho Chi Minh City, the rate of dementia in the above group is recorded at 23.3% to 24.3%.

In addition, through community screening using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), more than 46% of people aged 60 and over showed signs of cognitive decline. Population aging combined with dementia is a challenge for social security and the health system.

Dr. Dang said that non-drug interventions play an important role in the treatment of dementia, because they are safe, have few side effects, have been proven to slow the progression of the disease, and can be applied flexibly at home, in the community, and in hospitals.

This method is recommended in treatment guidelines.

Dementia patients practice cognitive training combined with non-invasive brain stimulation at Military Hospital 175 (Photo: Hospital).

Additionally, research on the combination of noninvasive brain stimulation and cognitive training shows that it can significantly improve cognitive function in people with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

In addition to complying with treatment, patients need to combine with lifestyle changes, such as: regular exercise, proper nutrition; avoid using alcohol or any drugs without consulting a doctor.

At Military Hospital 175, when the clinician suspects a risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, the patient will be assigned a cognitive assessment test.

After the assessment, patients will be advised on drug and non-drug treatment, prescribed cognitive training combined with non-invasive brain stimulation, as well as regular assessments. Treatment will last approximately 30 sessions, with a personalized treatment plan for each patient.

“We hope that through this health education communication program, the community will better understand dementia to proactively prevent and detect it early.

At the same time, let's join hands to build a friendly and safe living environment for the elderly," said a representative of Military Hospital 175.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/hay-quen-cho-cat-do-coi-chung-ban-dang-bi-sa-sut-tri-tue-20251004145715534.htm