Home > Understanding Dementia and its Impact

Understanding Dementia and its Impact

It can be hard to watch a loved one go through dementia. When we see someone dear in our hearts affected, we seek to provide the best care possible for them. That being said, sometimes care can be out of reach and costly. That’s why you can count on the CEC Health Center when looking for a neurologist in Westbury that accepts Medicaid. The best care doesn’t have to be expensive. Here, we are a team dedicated to providing excellent care and compassion to our communities with limited income. 

What is Dementia?neurologist in westbury that accepts medicaid

Dementia is described as a decline in cognitive function. Dementia happens when neurons (or brain cells) degenerate. Any other disturbances that affect how brain cells function can cause dementia. Dementia can affect various functions, including:

  • Memory
  • Thinking
  • Language
  • Judgment
  • Behavior

If you’re looking for a neurologist in Westbury that accepts Medicaid, the CEC Health Center can help provide exceptional and affordable treatment.

What Are the Signs/Symptoms of Dementia?

When dementia is in its early stages, it can cause a variety of symptoms.

  • Resistant to change- Someone with early dementia may be resistant and have difficulty conforming to changes in schedules or environment. 
  • Changes in short-term memory- Having an excellent memory of an experience or event that took place 10+ years ago but can’t remember what happened earlier today. 
  • Difficulty with word recollection- Struggling to remember words.
  • Repetition- Asking the same question, repeating the same task, or telling the same story over and over again.
  • Lack of direction- No longer recognizes routes they’ve taken for years.
  • Difficulty following stories- Struggling to follow the events of events, details, or descriptions of a story. 
  • Mood changes- Someone with dementia may experience changes in mood such as depression, anger, frustration, and loss of interest in hobbies they previously enjoyed.
  • Confusion- They may no longer recognize people, places, or events as if they haven’t met someone or been somewhere. They may also be confused about how to perform tasks they’ve been doing for years.

It’s sad to watch someone you love decline and lose the ability to do the things they used to. The CEC Health Center is a neurologist in Westbury that accepts Medicaid, and we can help.

What Causes Dementia?

There are many different causes of dementia:

  • Neurodegenerative diseases- Neurons stop functioning as they’re supposed to and die. Brain cells dying disrupt messages being sent to your brain. The disruption of messages in the brain can cause:
    • Alzheimer’s
    • Parkinson’s with dementia
    • Vascular dementia
    • Chronic alcohol use disorder
  • Frontotemporal lobar degeneration- A few conditions fall under this term. These types of conditions cause damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These conditions include:
    • Frontotemporal dementia
    • Pick’s disease
    • Supranuclear palsy
    • Corticobasal degeneration

Other causes of dementia include:

  • Structural brain disorders
  • Metabolic disorders, like hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 deficiency, and kidney and liver disorders, to name a few.
  • Tumors or infections of the brain
  • Side effects of some medications.

Not all forms of dementia are permanent. Some may be reversible if caught early enough and treated. That’s why calling a doctor is important if you notice or experience early signs of dementia. Here at the CEC Health Center, a neurologist in Westbury that accepts Medicaid, we are here for you. 

What Types of Dementia are there?

It’s easy to believe there is only one type of dementia. But actually, there are a few different types:

  • Alzheimer’s- This is the most common and is 60%-80% of dementia cases.
  • Vascular dementia- Caused by reduced blood flow in the brain. 
  • Lewy body dementia- Protein deposits in nerve cells stop the brain’s ability to send chemical signals. 
  • Parkinson’s- It’s possible to develop dementia with Parkinson’s disease.
  • Frontotemporal dementia- A term to describe a few conditions affected by various brain parts. 

What Treatment is Available?

There are two main types of treatment. There are medications and non-drug therapies. It is important to note that every medication treats not all types of dementia. Additionally, treatment is not a cure.

Medication

  • Cholinesterase inhibitors- Releases a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical helps treat symptoms of dementia and can also delay worsening symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. 
  • Memantine- Delays cognitive and behavioral symptoms for people with moderate or severe Alzheimer’s disease.

Non-drug therapies

Some symptoms can be managed by adjusting to life for them.

  • Get rid of any clutter or noise that may be distracting or take away focus. 
  • Break down everyday activities into more manageable tasks.
  • Occupational therapy.

Visit Our Neurologist In Westbury That Accepts Medicaid

Here at the CEC Health Center, we care about our patients. We are a neurologist in Westbury that accepts Medicaid. Great care doesn’t have to come with a great cost. We have a dedicated staff treating our community, especially those with limited income because they deserve care too. With over 40 years of experience serving our community, we are confident in our dedicated and individualized treatment for you or your loved one. Please don’t wait. Schedule an appointment with us today.

MENU