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What is causing dementia?


Does anyone know?


I asked a retired nurse one time what was the cause of dementia she said the environment.

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Strokes that damage the brain. The damage can spread, and the dementia becomes worse.

Alcohol, which also damages the brain. And drugs.

Heredity.

General anesthetic in the elderly. My dad was very sharp until an abdominal operation, after which he cognitively slid rapidly downhill.

And now, possibly (and there is research indicating this), having Covid 19.

These are a few of the causes.
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Beatty Jun 7, 2024
😞 I feel a little dumber each time that d@mn#d Covid punched me down. Like a boxer hit in the head.
But I am up again! Ready to fight on!🥊🥊
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Here is good information. Scroll down to Causes and Risks:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dementia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352013

I had 2 Aunts that helped raise me from 0 to 20, along with my Mom. They were 3 years apart in age. Neither married or had kids. They lived together their whole lives. They even worked in the same company and retired 2 years apart. They ate the same diet, had the same friends, same habits (no bad habits). Went on the same vacations, etc. Closer than most twins since they lived together for 100 years.

One Aunt developed dementia in her mid 80s and passed away at almost 101. Her sister is 90% still cognitively intact and is living in their home at 105 yrs. old. This Aunt doesn't take vitamins (but eats a Mediterranean diet) and never exercised other than gardening and house cleaning.

People think they can control dementia but really all they can do is live well/healthy so that they don't bring it on earlier. If you're going to get it, it cannot be prevented or reversed. I know plenty of bright, healthy people who developed dementia (part of the problem is we are living so long that it is inevitable). I know an amazing woman who got ALZ at 58.

IMO people should live as well as they can, with as little stress as possible. Get exercise, have a rich social and spiritual life, keep your mind challenged. But none of this is a guarantee.
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KNance72 Jun 8, 2024
The Mediterranean diet is wonderful !
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I have My Own theories , heavy Metals , Pharmaceuticals , Processed foods , meat , hormones , sugar , Inflammation , stuff They spray In the air for the ozone Hole . Stress , Lack Of Community , Lack Of a family support system .
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Christine44 Jun 8, 2024
I agree with everything you said. Regarding "lack of community & lack of a family support system," I believe this is crucial. To this I'd tack on our "transportation system" or "ease of travel," or something like that. When I grew up as a kid, in the 50s, my grandfather became senile, it seems. He had 7 kids, and only 1 moved out of state. The rest stayed in the same area (a large metropolis in the Midwest). When his wife/grandma died, he just "moved around" to stay with each of his kids for a few months. He never complained, neither did any of his kids. Some were more well off than others & he had his own room. In my house we had 7 kids, 3 bedrooms, one of which was rented out to a boarder, and all he got was a corner area in the basement with a cot. Nowadays, everyone is "mobile," moving all around for jobs, careers, etc. The demise of the family here plays a big role in what has happened to our aged population.
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Alcohol

My brother got Warnickes Korsakoffs at age 50.
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That is the million dollar question, now isn't it?
If we knew for certain what the causes are for the hundreds of different dementias that exist, there would already be at least a few possible cures out there.
But sadly all we have are a few medications that at best only slow the progression.
And I personally don't see the purpose of delaying the progression of such a horrific disease, when they all will end in death from either the dementia itself or complications from it.
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Reply to funkygrandma59
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Trauma to the brain. (concussions over the course of your life)
Chemicals
Stroke
Drugs
Dementia resulting from other medical conditions Parkinson's for example.
Different types of Dementia so there are different causes.
To say "the environment" as the sole cause is limiting.
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AlvaDeer Jun 8, 2024
alcohol also. For an alcoholic encephalopathy almost a given after years of drinking.
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My own theory is in time everyone gets dementia. The brain ages just like any other part of an old person's body and it stops working properly. I think there are very few people in their 90s that don't have it. My parents both now have mild cases, they are 95.

We are living longer so dementia has become more common than it was years ago.
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Well, it’s anyone’s guess. If you figure it out, please tell us!
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lifetime use of a lot of anti cholinergic drugs (prescription and OTC) Google lists of anti cholinergic drugs

Benadryl is a big one.
Many OTC sleep aids are anti cholinergic and should be avoided.
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Age, really.
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