PSEUDO-DEMENTIA OR REVERSIBLE DEMENTIA

Dementia is defined as a serious illness affecting someone’s brain and memory in which they gradually stop being able to think or behave in a normal way. People are diagnosed for dementia when two or more brain functions, such as memory, language skills, perception or cognitive skills, including reasoning and judgment are significantly impaired without loss of consciousness. Most forms of dementia usually affect only older people who are past their sixties and are a result from the death of nerve cells and/or the loss of communication among these cells

Alarmingly, of late, bouts of forgetfulness and its manifestations (loss of emotional and behavioral control, developing personality changes, reduced problem solving abilities)on the normal lives, termed as pseudo-dementia is affecting many in the younger age groups, who are in their 30’s and 40’s. This state of forgetfulness is induced due to reasons like stress, depression, mental fatigue, alcohol consumption, smoking, poor diet, multiple strokes, drugs, neglect of minor injuries, diabetes, vascular diseases and deficiency of Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin).

Some of the causes of Pseudo-dementia and preventive measures acknowledged by reputed medical professionals and confirmed by various medical studies are tabulated below:

CAUSES	PREVENTION
Stressful lifestyle or depression makes the brain overworked and hence it stops registering new information resulting in a state of dementia.	Engaging in intellectually stimulating activities, such as social interactions, chess, crossword puzzles and playing a musical instrument, can significantly lower the risk of developing dementia.
Vascular dementia develops when the blood supply to the brain is lowered. It is strongly correlated with risk factors for stroke, including high blood pressure, diabetes and elevated cholesterol levels.	Vascular dementia may be prevented in many cases by changing lifestyle factors, such as, poorly controlled diabetes, excessive weight and high blood pressure. Regular exercise (stimulates production of chemicals called growth factors that help neurons survive and adapt to new situations), healthy food, especially diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids, and maintaining a control over their glucose levels can prevent vascular dementia.
Deficiency of Vitamin B12 can reduce working capacity of the brain and results in progressive memory loss that has an impact on day to day activities.	Good amount of vitamin B12 in the blood delays the onset of dementia and slows the progression since it helps strengthen brain neurons. Consumption of vitamin B12 rich foods such as milk/milk products, fish, meat and eggs is essential.
Consumption of cholesterol and saturated fat rich foods causes inflammation in the brain, as well as the impairment of structural proteins that affect the functions of nerve cells. These causes memory loss and the failure of functions in other key organs such as the eye and the ear.	Restricting the intake of diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Consumption of fruits and fruit juices rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties is recommended.
Low-carbohydrate and no-carbohydrate diets have the strongest potential for negative impact on thinking and cognition. The body breaks carbohydrates into glucose, which it uses to fuel brain activity.	Consumption of low calorie, high-carbohydrate diet is recommended. (Proteins break down into glycogen, which can also be used for fuel by the brain, but not as efficiently as glucose from carbohydrates.)