Dementia is a condition characterized by a decline in mental abilities that affects daily life, with various causes and types including Alzheimer's, vascular, and frontotemporal dementia. Prevention strategies such as staying active, eating well, managing heart health, and engaging socially can help reduce risk, although there is currently no cure for dementia. Treatments focus on slowing progression and improving quality of life for patients and caregivers.

1. Dementia 101
In recent years, more older adults have been experiencing dementia. Let us first define what
dementia is so we can understand it more.
Dementia is a condition where you experience a decline in your mental abilities, impacting
your daily life. It can lead to difficulties with memory, thinking, and planning. The progression
of dementia varies from person to person, with some individuals remaining stable for years,
while others may experience a rapid decline. The important point is prevention for dementia
and what one can do to manage it. Prevention for dementia can be easily acquired if we
do some activities that will be mentioned in this article.
Causes of Dementia
Past studies have explored the causes of this disease. Are you living with Dementia?Then
you need to know the common causes and types of dementia which are:
• Alzheimer’s dementia, also referred to as Major Neurocognitive Disorder due to
Alzheimer’s disease
• Vascular Dementia
Parkinson’s Dementia

2. Frontotemporal Dementia
• Lewy Body Dementia
There are also less common causes of dementia which includes:
• Dementia due to multiple etiologies
• Dementia due to traumatic brain injury
• Dementia due to another medical condition
• Dementia due to substance/medication use
• Dementia due to HIV infection
• Huntington’s dementia
• Dementia due to Prion Disease
This was discussed by Dr Rathi Mahendran at our Living with Dementia webinar: "Am I
at risk of Dementia?”
Types of Dementia
The types of dementia can be seen below together with their brief description:
Types of dementia Brief Description
Alzheimer’s dementia
• Alzheimer’s dementia has a very gradual progression
of cognitive and functional decline.
It affects you slowly, possibly over 8 to 10 years.
• The Amnestic type involves loss of memory and
learning ability.
• The non-amnestic type involves loss of vision, spacial
awareness, and speech.
Vascular dementia • Vascular dementia often times happen due to
impacted blood vessels in the brain.
• Often caused by brain damage from strokes or heart-
related issues, and sometimes alongside Alzheimer’s
disease.
Parkinson’s dementia
• Starts with Parkinson’s disease and later leads to
Dementia

3. Frontotemporal dementia
-Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a group of brain diseases
that affect nerve cells in the frontal and temporal lobes. Unlike
Alzheimer's, it often doesn't involve amyloid plaques, and it
can be genetic, with symptoms starting between 40 and 65
years old, lasting around 5 to 10 years on average.
Lewy Body dementia
-Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a common progressive
dementia, often occurring without a family history. It involves
cell damage in the brain's cortex and midbrain, with abnormal
structures called Lewy bodies containing a protein called
alpha-synuclein, but the exact reason for their accumulation is
not yet understood.
Huntington’s disease
• Huntington’s disease is a brain disease where brain
cells break down.
• It is a rare and inherited disease that affects a
person’s functional ability.
• Those with Huntington’s disease often experience
emotional changes, loss of thinking abilities, and
uncontrolled movements.
Normal pressure
hydrocephalus -In the brain, there are chambers called ventricles that hold
fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. Sometimes, too much fluid
gathers in these chambers, causing a condition called normal
pressure hydrocephalus (NPH).
Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease
-CJD is a rare and deadly brain disorder that typically starts
after age 60, with most patients passing away within a year.
It's thought to be caused by abnormal proteins called prions,
and while most cases occur randomly, a small percentage can
be hereditary, but it's not contagious through the air or casual
contact.
Corticobasal
degeneration
-Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a brain problem where
nerve cells die and certain brain areas shrink. People with
CBD have abnormal stuff in their brain cells called tau protein.
It slowly gets worse over about 6 to 8 years.
Mild cognitive impairment
-Mild cognitive impairment is when you have some memory
and thinking problems, but they don't affect your daily life. It's
not a specific disease and can have many different causes,
like dementia.
Prevention For Dementia

4. Now the questions are how can one with dementia be treated and the prevention of
dementia. There are two ways in which dementia can be treated but these are mostly
considered preventive measures and not cures.
Firstly there is the use of medications. Medications can't completely cure dementia, but they
can be used to slow it down a bit. These drugs might make your thinking better, improve your
mood, or help you behave in a more positive way.
Secondly, there is one called Palliative care which is for seriously ill people. It's not about
curing the illness but making life better in body, mind, and spirit.
The care may include:
• Ways to help the person do things on their own and handle daily life for as long as
they can.
• Medicines can't cure dementia, but they might make thinking better, mood happier, or
behaviour calmer.
• When you're diagnosed with dementia, it can bring up emotions like anger and fear.
To help with these feelings, talk to family, friends, or a dementia counsellor. They
can give you support and guidance during this challenging time.
Dementia treatment helps keep the person safe at home with caregiver support. Check-ups
every few months to watch their medicine and how they're doing. If necessary, the family
might think about a special care place later on. Also there is an opportunity to survive,
contact NUS Mind Science Centre to know more about How To Prevent Dementia
Singapore!

5. How to prevent dementia is a common question among old age people. It can be a bit
tricky because we don't always know exactly what causes it. But for some people who have
dementia linked to strokes, there's a chance to slow down the decline by reducing the risks of
heart disease and more strokes in the future. And guess what? These strategies aren't just
for them - they can be good for anyone's overall health:.
How To Prevent Dementia Naturally - H3
• Stay Active: Moving your body with regular exercise, like walking, swimming, or
dancing, can help keep your brain and body in good shape.
• Eat Well: A healthy diet full of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins can
give your brain and body the fuel they need.
• Keep Your Heart Healthy: Since heart health is connected to brain health, try to
manage your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
• Stay Social: Being around friends and family, and staying engaged with activities
you enjoy, can help your brain stay active and sharp.
• Challenge Your Brain: Keep your mind busy with puzzles, reading, learning new
things, or even playing games.
• Get Enough Sleep: A good night's sleep helps your brain and body recover and
stay healthy.

6. • Manage Stress: Find ways to relax and reduce stress, like through
meditation, deep breathing, or hobbies you enjoy.
Remember, these steps can't guarantee you won't get dementia, but they can help
improve your overall well-being and reduce certain risks.
In conclusion, dementia is a complex condition that mainly affects older individuals. While
there is no cure, treatments aim to slow it down and improve the well-being of patients and
caregivers. Within the broader context of dementia, prevention for dementia plays a
crucial role. Particularly in cases related to strokes, understanding how to prevent dementia
is vital. Strategies such as staying active, eating well, and taking care of heart health can
contribute significantly to this prevention effort. As ongoing research provides hope for
better treatments, it further emphasises the importance of enhancing the lives of people with
dementia and supporting their caregivers.