Cognitive disorders include Alzheimer’s disease and vascular, frontotemporal, and mixed dementia. These types of diseases have specific risk factors, causes and recognizable symptoms. Although mental and cognitive disorders do not have cures, they can be treated and individuals can delay progression through their daily activities.
Risk Factors
Brain disorder risk factors include age, family history, and genetic conditions. Risk factors you can control include diet and exercise, alcohol or tobacco use and nutritional deficiencies. However, medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes and sleep apnea may also contribute to these disorders.
Causes
Brain or nerve cell and connection damage may cause cognitive diseases. Traumatic brain injuries and underlying disease, such as Huntington’s, Creutzfeldt-Jakob and Parkinson’s diseases, may also cause cognitive decline.
Although some mental disorders are inherited, most are caused by underlying health issues, such as high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, HIV and heart disease. Lifestyle choices, such as drug and alcohol use may result in preventable disorders.
Temporary cognitive decline may be caused by viruses or parasites introduced to the body. Infections and immune diseases as well as vitamin deficiencies may also cause reversible decline. Metabolic and endocrine problems may also contribute to temporary deterioration. Finally, medications or poisons may result in brief cognitive challenges.
Symptoms
Disease symptoms may include memory loss and personality changes, such as agitation, confusion and anxiety. Disease onset may cause individuals to have difficulty communicating, completing complex tasks, organizing and problem solving.
Testing for cognitive diseases may include CT, MRI or PET scans as well as blood tests to check the endocrine system, nutritional or vitamin deficiencies and inflammation. Finally, spinal fluid may be examined to identify underlying infections or viruses, which may suggest temporary deficiencies rather than underlying mental disorders.
Treatments
Patients with these disorders are tested frequently to determine their decline rates. Cognitive diseases are treated using medication and counseling. Occupational, speech and lifestyle therapies may also be introduced. These individuals are encouraged to simplify their lives and environments, use night lights and adhere to routines to prevent confusion and injury.
Personal Preventative Actions
Keeping the mind active through games, reading and puzzles prevents or delays disease progression. In addition, adopting a healthy lifestyle with a well-balanced diet and the elimination of smoking and drinking prevents cognitive decline. Individuals with positive attitudes who receive regular physical exercise and adequate sleep also prevent or slow their disease progression. Social activities and volunteer work may improve cognition.
Complications
Cognitive decline may cause individuals to experience poor nutrition and overall physical health. They may be unable to care for themselves and may contract viruses and pneumonia more frequently. Death is the final complication of mental disorders.
If cognitive disorders are part of your family history, you may still have control over whether you or your loved ones contract these diseases and how rapidly they progress. Education is key. Learn the risk factors, causes and symptoms of these diseases. Be proactive in researching and adopting medical treatment and personal prevention strategies early in the disease process. Finally, learn about disease complications you or your loved ones may encounter.
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