Dementia that can be cured

An epidemic of senile dementia swept over urban culture. The more elderly people become, the more sick among them, including mental disorders. The most common of these is senile dementia or dementia.

“After the death of my father, my 79-year-old mother stopped coping with everyday life, got confused, did not close the door, lost documents, and several times could not find her apartment in the entrance,” says 45-year-old Pavel.

There is a belief in society that if an elderly person loses memory and everyday skills, this is a variant of the norm, part of “normal aging”. And since “there is no cure for old age,” then these conditions do not need to be treated. However, Pavel did not go along with this stereotype: “We called a doctor who prescribed medicines“ for memory ”and“ from vessels ”, it became better, but still the mother could not live alone, and we hired a nurse. Mom often cried, sat in the same position, and my wife and I thought that these were experiences due to the loss of her husband.

Then Pavel invited another doctor: “He said that there are senile problems, but my mother has severe depression.” After two weeks of soothing therapy, everyday skills began to recover: “Mom suddenly showed interest in the kitchen, became more active, cooked my favorite dishes, her eyes became meaningful again.”

Two months after the start of therapy, Pavel refused the services of a nurse, with whom his mother began to quarrel, because she again took up housekeeping herself. “Of course, not all problems have been resolved,” Pavel admits, “forgetfulness has remained, my mother has become afraid to go out, and now my wife and I bring food to her. But at home, she takes care of herself, she again began to be interested in her grandchildren, to use the phone correctly.

What happened? Has the dementia gone? Yes and no. Even among doctors, few people know that anxiety and depression have a pronounced effect on thinking and memory. If depression is treated, then many cognitive functions can be restored.

Difficulties of the young

The recent trend is young people who cannot cope with intensive intellectual work, but subjectively do not connect these problems with their emotional state. Young patients at the appointment with neurologists complain not of anxiety and bad mood, but of loss of working capacity and constant fatigue. Only in the course of a long conversation do they understand that the reason is in their depressed emotional state.

Alexander, aged 35, complained that at work “everything falls apart” and he cannot even remember the tasks: “I look at the computer and see a set of letters.” His blood pressure rose, the therapist opened a sick leave. Medicines «for memory», which the doctor suggested, did not change the situation. Then Alexander was sent to a psychiatrist.

“I was afraid to go, I thought that they would recognize me as crazy and they would treat me so that I would become a “vegetable”. But the terrible fantasies did not come true: I immediately felt relieved. My sleep returned, I stopped yelling at my family, and after ten days I was discharged, and I was able to work even better than before.”

Did Alexander realize that the reason for his «dementia» lies in strong feelings? “I’m generally a worried person,” he laughs, “obligatory, I’m afraid to let someone down at work, I didn’t notice how I was overloaded.”

It would be a big mistake to face the inability to work, panic and quit. Sometimes after a week of calming therapy, people begin to think clearly and «cope» with life again.

But depression in old age has its own characteristics: it can masquerade as the development of dementia. Many elderly people become helpless when strong experiences are superimposed on their physically difficult condition, which others often do not notice, primarily because of the secrecy of the patients themselves. What is the surprise of relatives when the «irreversible» dementia recedes.

The fact is that there are several options for reversible or almost reversible dementia. Unfortunately, they are rare and rarely diagnosed. In this case, we are dealing with pseudo-dementia: a disorder of cognitive functions associated with strong experiences, which the person himself may not be aware of. It’s called depressive pseudodementia.

At any age, if “problems with the head” begin, you should consult a psychiatrist before doing an MRI. Help can be either medical or psychological, depending on the complexity of the situation.

What to look for

Why ddepressive pseudodementia often occurs in old age? In itself, old age is associated in people with suffering, illness and financial distress. Older people themselves sometimes do not disclose their experiences to loved ones because of their unwillingness to “upset” or appear helpless. In addition, they take their depression for granted, as the causes of chronically depressed mood can always be found.

Here are nine signs to look out for:

1. Previous losses: loved ones, work, financial viability.
2. Moving to another place of residence.
3. Various somatic diseases that a person is aware of as dangerous.
4. Loneliness.
5. Caring for other sick family members.
6. Tearfulness.
7. Frequently expressed (including ridiculous) fears for one’s life and property.
8. Ideas of worthlessness: «I’m tired of everyone, I interfere with everyone.»
9. Ideas of hopelessness: «There is no need to live.»

If you find two out of nine signs in a loved one, it is better to consult a doctor who deals with the elderly (geriatrics), even if the elderly themselves subjectively do not notice their problems.

Depression reduces the time and quality of life, both for the person himself and his environment, busy with worries. After all, taking care of a depressed loved one is a double burden.