Top Lessons You Need To Learn About Dementia & Benzodiazepines

Dementia is a common term referring to a group of symptoms that affects the brain capacity. The condition emanates from brain cells damage often caused by diseases, physical injuries, and strokes. The medical disorder impairs the ability to make sound judgments and conduct daily activities. While dementia remains prevalent at the ages beyond 65 years, it's not a common occurrence amongst the elderly as it occurs in people in their 40s and 50s.
Diagnosing dementia
Despite the disorder having noticeable symptoms, several health conditions are bearing similar symptoms. They include hormone deficiencies, brain tumors, depression, medication clashes and bacterial infections. Once the symptoms appear, it's vital to diagnose at an early age to ensure early treatment for those with treatable disorders. The initial signs are the personality change, gradual loss of memory, withdrawal, confusion and partial to full physical disability.
There are many causes of Dementia as there are many forms of the disorder. The most prevalent types of the illness are vascular dementia, Huntington's disorder, FTLD, Korsakoff's syndrome, Parkinson's disease and Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disorder. Unlike other chronic illness, dementia is not a hereditary disease.
Managing the condition
Visit a doctor when you notice the signs above in your relatives or a colleague to determine the ultimate cause. Several types of the disorder such as Alzheimer's disease deteriorates one's health over time. Currently, there are no preventive and curative medicines for most types of the illness. However, some drugs have tested positive for reducing the symptoms. The victims need moral support to manage the condition positively.
Does Benzodiazepines increase the risk of Dementia?
Most of the commonly used drugs for chronic illnesses comes with undesirable side effects. According to recent studies, close to 19% of the adults at the age of 50 and above uses drugs that cause anticholinergic activity. Previous surveys have shown several people using the drugs for years leading to severe withdrawal signs. The drugs contain a chemical acetylcholine that causes low blood pressure, agitation, memory problems, dry mouths and confusion.
Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs commonly known as tranquilizers, often prescribed for people suffering from insomnia, fatigue, alcoholism, anxiety and as anesthesia before surgeries. They are usually administered for few weeks as they are highly addictive when used for prolonged periods. Benzodiazepines works on the central nervous system, triggers muscle relaxation, produces sedation while lowering the level of anxiety.
A group study conducted on about 1000 French elderly people showed increased risk of up to 50% among those that used the drugs in a span of 15 years, compared to those that had not taken the medicine. An independent research conducted in Quebec, Canada identified increased risk of contracting Alzheimer's disorder for people with increased exposure to benzodiazepine. Strong links were found in people with more than six months. Also, those with a half-life of more than 20 hours showed higher risk than the short acting medications.
Despite the medical advances that have seen the development of more than 2000 brands of benzodiazepine, only 15 are currently approved for use. However, the past studies have failed to establish whether the cognitive effects are permanent and or can be reversed with counter prescriptions.
Dr. David Tal has more than twenty years of clinical experience. He strongly believes that medical treatment can improve the life of Dementia Patients. His participation at the Age Matters Clinic allows him to share his knowledge with patients and their families.