What is dementia?
Dementia is a condition in which degenerative change, particularly the accumulation of beta-amyloid, causes the brain tissue to atrophy. The term also refers to symptoms in which the brain is damaged or destroyed by the after-effects of acquired trauma or disease, producing an overall decline in cognitive and higher mental functions such as intelligence, learning and language. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, there were about 650,000 dementia patients in Korea in 2019, and the number is rising sharply every year.
Types of dementia
Dementia is divided into mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), and about 40% of mild cognitive impairment is known to progress to Alzheimer's disease. In Alzheimer's disease, loss of brain tissue in the hippocampus and the mesial temporal lobe progresses to cognitive decline.
Diagnosis of dementia
Dementia can be diagnosed using clinical symptoms and MMSE and GDS scores.
For dementia in particular, MRI can show structural changes in the brain, allowing
an accurate diagnosis.
St. Peter's Hospital uses the MRI Neuroquant program to assess even the degree of
brain atrophy with precision. It is a program that automatically analyzes the
condition of the brain during a brain MRI, with no separate scan required. It
calculates the volume of the hippocampus, ventricles and medial temporal lobe
and compares the degree of brain atrophy with normal levels, so it can be used
for diagnosing and treating dementia and for tracking changes over time.
It can also diagnose the various structures of the brain in detail and measure atrophy and change, helping to analyze the causes of symptoms such as dizziness and nerve palsy.
Treatment of dementia
Dementia treatment proceeds with ① drug therapy ② rehabilitative therapy ③ stem cell therapy. Of course, there is still no complete cure for dementia.
However, with the development of new long-acting drugs and advances in stem cell therapy, it is becoming a treatable disease.
In treating dementia it is important to respond consistently and continuously. The goal and direction of treatment is to maintain the quality of life of the patient and family.
