Dementia Information - What are the Root Causes of Degenerative Symptoms?

If you have ever watched a loved one go through the stages of mental function loss, you know that it can be a heartbreaking and challenging time, to say the least. When this happens, it is only natural to go beyond the doctors and try to find as much dementia information as you can. If you want to prevent yourself from experiencing this loss of faculty, you may be wondering what factors lead to the degeneration. Unfortunately, it can be a fruitless pursuit to try and prevent it from happening. While there are certainly behaviors that could be at the root of some forms, there are others of which we know little about their origins.

The first dementia information anyone needs is an understanding of what it is. It is not a disease, as many people believe. Rather, it comes as a set of symptoms in response to disease. Sometimes there is no disease, as it were, at the root. What are the symptoms? They vary from individual to individual, but some of the most common include a change in mood, changes in behavior, and even shifts in personality. Eventually, memory loss and the degeneration of the ability to think and reason may set in. It is treatable in some cases where the degeneration has an obvious cause, such as that brought about by drug abuse. Other forms of the condition are usually not treatable.

Alzheimer's disease is responsible for the greater percentage of cases. Most sources on dementia information name the disease as being the root cause of many of the symptoms associated with the condition. Parkinson's is another disease which is commonly at the cause of the symptoms, as both of the diseases attack the nerve cells located in the brain. There is no cure for either condition and treatments to retard their progress have been largely unsuccessful so far. Nevertheless, it is important to make sure that no false diagnoses have been made. Many conditions and diseases involving dementia can look similar, so seek a second opinion if you aren't satisfied.

Other causes that many dementia information outlets point to include stroke, reactions to drug and alcohol, deficiencies in certain minerals and vitamins, infections, and injury. Diseases other than Alzheimer's and Parkinson's can also be at the source, even if they are primarily affecting organs other than the brain. If you or a loved one is suffering from mental degeneration, find a good doctor and make sure you have tried all the possible steps to rid yourself of the condition before accepting a terminal diagnosis.