Dementia Research Paper

The cortex, including the hippocampus, is the main area of the brain affected with the decline from dementia. Dementias are caused, basically, by brain cell death. Progressive brain cell death, that happens over time, is what is behind most dementias. Dementia can be caused by a head injury, a stroke, a brain tumor, or other causes. Dementia can also be caused by traumatic brain injury, especially if those injuries were repetitive. It is possible for dementia to be caused by prior diseases (Cruetzfeldt-Jakob disease), HIV infection, or more rarely some reversible factors including medication interactions, depression, vitamin deficiencies and thyroid abnormalities. The FDA has approved two types of medications to treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease and …show more content…
These medications are cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne), and memantine (Namenda), These medications can help treat, but cannot cure any symptoms associated with dementia. Some doctors like to prescribe both types of medications together, and some doctors also prescribe high doses of vitamin E for the cognitive changes associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors are used in the early to moderate stages of Alzheimer's and dementia because the prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine. This keeps communication among nerve cells going by keeping acetylcholine levels high. Cholinesterase inhibitors can also delay worsening of symptoms for 6-12 months in about 50% of the patients who take them. Cholinesterase inhibitors are generally well tolerated by the older population. The side effects, if they do occur, include vomiting, loss of appetite, and increased frequency of bowel movements. Memantine (Namenda) is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe stages of Alzheimer's Disease. Donezepil (Aricept) is the only cholinesterase inhibitor approved to treat all stages of