Elder Care in Holt MI
Frontotemporal dementia is a group of progressive dementias that significantly impact a person's behavior, speech, and personality. The types of dementia that are in this group include:
- Frontotemporal lobar degeneration
- Pick's Disease
- Semantic Dementia
- Corticobasal Degeneration
- Progressive aphasia
With this form of dementia, memory is not affected until the disease progresses. It mainly affects the frontal and temporal lobes. Approximately 250,000 Americans are affected with Frontotemporal Dementia, making it the second most common type of dementia, right after early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Causes
The causes of Frontotemporal Dementia are still relatively unknown, but many researchers believe that it is caused by a genetic mutation. The Tau gene produces proteins that will abnormally accumulate in the brain and can form Pick bodies. The Pick bodies and proteins can disrupt the brain's function similarly to that of Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. This is what causes Frontotemporal Dementia.
Symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Changes in personality. Since the right and front of the brain are affected, the elder's ability to use judgement, make decisions, and complete simple tasks will be hindered. They may begin to act inappropriately in public places. The senior may also lose interest in activities they used to enjoy or will begin to become overactive.
- Inability to communicate. Similarly to other forms of dementia, an elder with this disease will have trouble understanding language and communicating. They will have trouble finding the right words when in a conversation.
Treatment
There is currently no cure to dementia, but there aren't rest meant options available that will lessen the elder's symptoms. These treatment options include:
- Medication. There is a wide variety of medications available that will help the senior manage their condition. There is no evidence that one is more effective than the other, so talk to their doctor to find out which one he recommends.
- Stay healthy. Making healthy choices on a daily basis could prevent the elder's condition from getting worse. This means the elder should eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of water, exercise, and get plenty of rest at night.
Taking care of someone with dementia can be a frustrating and stressful experience for most people, especially as the condition gets worse. To ensure that your loved one gets the care they need, an elder care provider can be hired to care for the elder while you step away from your caregiving responsibilities for a short amount of time.
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If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Holt, MI, please contact the caring staff at Seniors Helping Seniors of Lansing. Call today: 517-332-9953.