WHAT IS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE? Studies indicate that forty percent of the population might be at risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause memory loss, dementia like symptoms, does cause shrinkage in the brain, and can cause mean and challenging behavior. Several years ago I started reading up on all the B vitamins. I learned vitamin B12 deficiency is wide spread especially among the elderly. It is easy to understand why. If you don't eat foods that are rich in vitamin B12 you won't get enough into your body. I also learned that as you age your brain shrinks. Baby boomers and dementia caregivers should pay attention to this information. The Framingham Offspring Study found that Vitamin B12 Deficiency is a big problem. As many as forty percent of the population might be at risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency. With that in mind, I believe every person over the age of 60, and especially Alzheimer's caregivers, should consider B12 shots, and should focus on the need to get ample amounts of B vitamins into their body.
We need our Vitamin to operate efficiently in our caregiving efforts. There are studies that show that vitamin B deficiency can cause moodiness and depression like symptoms. Is your dementia patient moody, challenging, hard to deal with at times? Do you feel tired and worn out? My mom, Dotty, received a vitamin B12 shot every month for 6 years. While there is no conclusion evidence, I believe it helped improved her energy level and behavior. I also believe it could explain in part why she continued to read, speak, and function at a level higher than would have been expected by her test scores on memory test like the MMSE. Dotty scored a 14 (moderate to severe dementia) in December 2009. Nevertheless, she was still reading, singing and using her hands to color in 2012, just months before she died and went to Heaven. In my (our) all out battle to delay the effects of Alzheimer's on the brain, I believe vitamin B was a critical part of our overall routine to accomplish that mission.
I am not a doctor, however, I believe every dementia patient should receive a B12 shot monthly. Alzheimer's patients just don't eat enough, or don't always eat the right foods, to insure they are getting enough B12 into there body. Why not consider asking your doctor for vitamin B12 shots to raise the level of B12 in your body, and in the body of the person you are caring for. Will it change the caregiving dynamic? Will it help improve behavior and slow the loss of brains cells of a person living with dementia? I suggest you discuss this with your doctor. You might also want to discuss this is support groups and share on Facebook. "The Alzheimer's Reading Room and Bob DeMarco are true treasures to Alzheimer's patients and their loved ones, especially their caregivers. As a scientist I visit the site every day for the always current research updates." Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. Professor of Neurology and holder of the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Endowed Chair in Neurology at Harvard University.
Bob DeMarco is the Founder of the Alzheimer's Reading Room (ARR). Bob is a recognized writer, speaker, and influencer in the Alzheimer's and Dementia Community worldwide. Original content the Alzheimer's Reading RoomPlease fill out the form to get senior care information:LocationFull nameEmailPhone ×We value your privacy. By clicking you agree to the terms and conditions of our privacy policy. You also consent that we can reach out to you using an auto-dialing-capable phone system. Your consent is not required to use our service. 10 Foods to Cut Your Risk for Alzheimer's Disease Why Early Detection Matters Sign Up for Our Healthy Living NewsletterThanks for signing up!Sign up for more FREE Everyday Health newsletters.SubmitWe respect your privacy.Although patients and doctors keep hoping for an effective dementia treatment that will reverse the effects of the condition, the reality is that there is no cure for true dementia — only certain treatments that can help slow the progression of dementia symptoms or help the patient find ways to cope.
Dementia is, by definition, progressive and not reversible. However, there are some other health conditions that can cause similar symptoms of dementia. In these situations, treatment can return the patient to his previous level of cognitive function.“If you have dementia that can be reversed with treatment, it is not dementia,” says James Ferrendelli, MD, professor of neurology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. “Dementia is by definition a loss of previously acquired cognitive or intellectual function.”“Many people have impaired cognition [thinking and reasoning skills] for a variety of other reasons,” explains Dr. Ferrendelli. These other causes can be treated and will alleviate the dementia symptoms.Treatable, Potentially Curable Conditions That Mimic DementiaDementia symptoms caused by these medical conditions are treatable, and possibly reversible:Vitamin deficiencies (especially vitamin B12)DepressionMedication side effectsBrain tumorsOther conditions, such as normal pressure hydrocephalusThyroid problemsPeriods of very low blood sugar“When people talk about treatable dementias, they are actually talking about other illnesses that impair cognition,” explains Ferrendelli.This is why people who have dementia symptoms should seek an expert opinion.
In the course of the initial medical exam, the doctor will ask about other possible causes. Make sure you bring a complete list of medications to the office visit and be ready to discuss other concerns, such as your mood, sleeping habits, diet, and other lifestyle choices. They may not seem relevant to you — but they could be part of your doctor’s effort to find out whether you have a treatable dementia — meaning, a health condition that can be treated so that the dementia symptoms go away.These treatable causes of dementia can be treated in the following ways:vitamin B12 shots or pills will correct a vitamin B12 deficiencyantidepressants can help with depressiondoses of medications that are causing side effects can be adjustedsome tumors can be removedmedication or lifestyle changes may with help low blood sugar or thyroid abnormalitiesTreatment for True Dementia: Helpful, But Not a CureIf your neurologist determines that you do not have a reversible cause of dementia symptoms, there is still some hope for dementia treatment.
In this case, treatment will not make the dementia symptoms go away — but it can help slow the progression of those symptoms or help you find ways to cope with dementia.Causes of dementia that are considered incurable are:Alzheimer’s diseaseCreutzfeldt-Jakob diseaseParkinson’s diseaseDementia due to many small strokesAIDS-related dementia“The sooner that you can diagnose that you have dementia, the more effective many available treatments will be. We have nothing that will cure Alzheimer’s disease, but we have something to treat Alzheimer’s disease that may slow its progress or improve cognition,” explains Ferrendelli. Of course, he adds, researchers are continuing to seek out medications that are more effective in dementia care.Medications that can help control dementia symptoms in the early and middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease include:Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride) — a cholinesterase inhibitor, which protects a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine, and may help protect learning and memory.