Neurological Conditions - Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia – a brain disease that causes a gradual decline in memory and other mental abilities such as reasoning skills. It is not a normal part of aging and accounts for 60-80% of dementia diagnoses.

Some early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia to be aware of are:

Memory loss that disrupts daily life – Everyone can have moments where they are forgetful but dementia causes memory lapses and impairments that are significant enough to interfere with daily life.
Difficulty completing familiar tasks – For example, difficulty remembering how to get to a frequently visited location, misplacing things or forgetting commonly used recipes.
Challenges in problem solving or planning – This includes difficulty concentrating or taking longer to complete tasks compared to before. This may make organizing finances (eg. paying bills), creating schedules or making shopping lists more challenging than before.
Changes in mood or personality – This may be expressed as anxiety, depression, fear, suspicion or confusion, particularly when outside of a typical routine, schedule or comfort zone. This can also lead to withdrawal from work, family or social activities.
Visual changes – Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships can result in visual problems that impact balance, reading, and driving.
 
All of the above signs can also be related to other factors or health conditions, but it is important to have a health screen to investigate.
 
In conjunction with other health care professionals, your Naturopathic Doctor can devise a specific plan to address underlying health concerns and causes, and slow the progression of dementia. Many risk factors of dementia, including lack of exercise, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and toxin exposures, can be modified. The use of a variety of nutritional supports, herbal medicine and acupuncture all show promising effects on decreasing one’s risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Speak with one of our Naturopathic Doctors to come up with the best plan for you or your family member.