What is the Cause of Senile Dementia?

What Causes Senile Dementia?

In order to manage senile dementia we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow senile dementia to develop?"

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Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind senile dementia consists of three steps:

Step 1: List the Possible Causative Factors

Identify all disease conditions, lifestyle choices and environmental risk factors that can lead to senile dementia. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

Drug Side-Effects
Atherosclerosis
Vascular Dementia
Hypertension
Alcohol Consequences
Depression
Alzheimer's Disease
Stroke Risk

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

Identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

frequent confusion/disorientation

7-9 years at 120-180 blood sugar

peripheral vision loss

not keeping mind active

recurring depression

occasional COX-2 inhibitor use

recent onset hypertension

serious past head injury

short-term memory failure

long-term hypertension

major unexplained weight loss

premenstrual weight gain

... and more than 90 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of senile dementia:

Cause	Probability	Status
Hypertension	94%	Confirm
Drug Side-Effects	20%	Unlikely
Atherosclerosis	19%	Unlikely
Stroke Risk	1%	Ruled out
Alzheimer's Disease	0%	Ruled out
Depression	0%	Ruled out
Vascular Dementia	0%	Ruled out
Alcohol Consequences	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate unusual mental conditions/symptoms, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Is Senile Dementia (non-Alzheimer's type) affecting you?

Possible responses:

→ No / don't know
→ There is good reason to believe I have it
→ Doctors think I might have it
→ I have been diagnosed with it

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate either suspected senile dementia or senile dementia, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

(Prescription) Drug Side-Effects

Drug poisoning can cause senile dementia.

Alcohol-related Problems

Alcoholism is a possible cause of senile dementia.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease is the most common cause of dementia, being responsible for 60-80% of cases. All people with Alzheimer's disease have problems with memory loss, disorientation and thinking ability.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a risk factor for reduced circulation in the brain, sometimes called ischemic vascular dementia (IVD).

Consequences of Poor Diet

Poor nutrition is one possible cause of senile dementia.

Depression

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Hypertension is a risk factor for reduced circulation in the brain, sometimes called ischemic vascular dementia (IVD).

Parkinson's Disease

Memory impairment and cognitive dysfunction are rarely encountered in early stage Parkinson's disease. However, about 30% of Parkinson's disease victims eventually develop Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.

Stroke

Multi-infarct dementia is caused by a series of minor strokes. It usually results from damage to the small blood vessels in the brain causing deprivation of blood supply to the brain cells thus affecting its function. Patients' abilities will decline in a step-like pattern.

Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's Disease.

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