Former Vice President Joe Biden is not the same Joe Biden who served as former President Barack Obama’s right-hand man. Today’s Joe Biden is a shell of the man he used to be.
He is the subject of mean-spirited internet memes and insensitive nicknames such as “Dementia Joe” and “Creepy Joe.”
There is even a website, joebidenhasdementia.com, that documents every instance of Biden’s apparent mental decline.
Despite his momentary mental lapses, Biden insists he does not have dementia. But his critics aren’t so sure.
What is Dementia?
Dementia describes a group of neurological symptoms affecting memory, thought process, language, problem-solving, mobility and activities of daily living.
What causes dementia?
Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia. Other common causes of dementia include head trauma, Parkinson’s disease, strokes, HIV/AIDS, medications, and vascular disorders that affect blood supply to the brain. There are more than 50 conditions that can cause dementia.
Causes of dementia that can easily be reversed include hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 deficiency, Lyme disease, and neurosyphilis. Hearing loss may also be associated with dementia.
What is Senile Dementia?
Senile dementia is the long-term loss of cognitive, physical and intellectual ability caused by degeneration of brain cells. The condition is associated with old age and is incurable. Approximately 10% of people over the age of 65 have senile dementia.
People with senile dementia will exhibit a decrease in cognitive and physical abilities, including inability to concentrate, recall information, problem-solve, speak, or feed and dress themselves without assistance.
Signs & Symptoms
Early signs of senile dementia include memory loss, forgetfulness, insomnia, confusion, disorientation (not knowing day or date), word salad (random words or phrases that don’t make sense), fatigue, poor physical coordination (falling down often), withdrawing socially, poor short-term memory.
Late stage signs of senile dementia include gradual weight loss caused by forgetting to eat or lack of appetite, unable to remember family members, wandering and getting lost, loss of all cognitive ability, loss of communication, poor short-term and long-term memory, poor personal hygiene, unable to bathe or dress self, loss of mobility, incontinence (involuntary defecation or urination), violent outbursts, visual and auditory hallucinations.
Treatment
There is no cure for senile dementia. Medications are prescribed to manage the symptoms. The medications are Aricept (donepezil), Excelon (rivastigmine) and Reminyl (galantamine).
This has been your Medical Minute.
More Info on the Web
13 Types of Dementia, Symptoms, Causes | Medicinenet.com
10 Early Symptoms of Dementia | Healthline
Dementia – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatments | alz.org
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