Dementia results from a variety of diseases and injuries that affect the brain. In the past decade, more than 55 million people have been diagnosed with dementia worldwide, and every year, there are nearly 10 million new cases. The World Health Organisation has recorded an increase in the number of Alzheimer's cases, a common brain disorder causing damage to human brain cells.

Dementia in recent times has become very common as damage to brain cells have increased. Starting with Alzheimer's there is decline in mental function that interferes with daily life functions. Dementia can cause memory loss , difficulty in communicating, changes in mood and behaviour and problems with thinking and reasoning.



Till date, there is no cure for dementia but there are multiple treatments that can help one manage the disease and to improve the quality of life. Medication and therapy help the person from worsening their brain function. While there is no guarantee on preventing dementia, there are things we can do to reduce the risk and catch the early signs.

The National Health Service of the UK explains that Dementia is not a single disease but is caused by different brain diseases. It is associated with the abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain that damage the nerve cells.



Early signs of dementia

The National Library for Science explained that dementia is progressive even with medication and it varies from patient to patient depending on the chemical reaction made in the body.

Dr Johannes Uys, from Broadgate General Practice, highlighted early warning signs that may appear before memory loss and indicate the onset of dementia to Surrey Live.

An unsteady gait: A person with dementia may have irregular steps which can increase risk of falling. According to Science Direct, this may be due to sensory loss.

Clumsiness: Dementia can also lead to changes in vision and depth perception which could be seen as clumsiness, falls, and other accidents.


Difficulty with coordination and tremors or stiffness in the limbs are other early signs of dementia.

Dementia's early signs also include Thiamine deficiency, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Vitamin E deficiency, Folic acid deficiency (antioxidants), Thyroid disorders. While these signs might be just normal due to bodily and brain functions, it gets severe in the case of dementia.



Forgetfulness and memory issues aren't the only symptoms pointing directly towards dementia, but the early signs that you need to note are:

1. Fatigue
2. Lack of concentration
3. Confusion in multitasking
4. Nutritional deficiencies

When these signs are very evident along with memory loss and other physical variations and movements in the body, it is important to visit the doctor. Though dementia is common in people above 65, because of the chemical reactions in the body, dementia is now even affecting people at the age of 30, 40 and 50 too.

Things you can avoid to reduce the risk

Dementia can affect anyone, there is no guaranteed way to prevent it. To probably reduce the risk rate of being affected by the brain cells, one should follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, manage stress and be socially active. The research conducted by Mayo Clinic in the US found that people are at low risk of dementia when they follow a healthy lifestyle. It also found that people who drink a lot of alcohol cause their brain to change and the study found that there is an increased risk of dementia due to alcohol use disorder.