Many of the risk factors associated with dementia are well-managed using naturopathic medicine.
Dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, but there are other causes.
Dementia is caused by damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. The symptoms a person experiences depend on the area of the brain affected.
Some diseases, medication side-effects and vitamin or mineral deficiencies have dementia-like symptoms. In these situations, dementia symptoms may improve with treatment.
Dementia affects a persons ability to function, and as a result affects their self-care (e.g., ability to bath, dress, etc.), independence (e.g., ability to drive) and personal safety.
Seek professional healthcare if you or a loved one is experiencing loss of memory or has other dementia symptoms.
Symptoms of Dementia
Possible symptoms of dementia include:
- Memory loss (usually noticed by others first)
- Challenges communicating (e.g., “finding” words)
- Challenges with spatial abilities (e.g., getting lost while driving)
- Challenges in reasoning and problem-solving
- Challenges performing complex tasks
- Challenges planning and organizing
- Confusion and disorientation
- Poor coordination and control of movements
- Personality changes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Inappropriate behaviours
- Paranoia
- Hallucination
Prevention of Dementia at Toronto Centre for Naturopathic Medicine
At Toronto Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, the goals of dementia prevention are to implement a lifestyle plan that is consistent with lowering dementia risk, correct underlying health concerns which are associated with increased dementia risk (e.g., obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, insomnia) and identify and correct nutrient deficiencies that may cause dementia symptoms.
There are no long-term conventional treatments for dementia.
For this reason, you may choose to try natural treatment as to minimize your dementia risk.
Naturopathic treatment of any chronic health concern must be recognized as a process that involves:
- Identifying specific treatment goals
- Development by your naturopathic doctor, of a thorough understanding of all factors affecting your health, including physical, psychological, emotional and lifestyle factors
- Development of a comprehensive treatment plan
- Implementation and maintenance of that plan through periodic monitoring and adjustment
At Toronto Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, a typical approach to preventing dementia may be to:
- Identify and address underlying factors in your lifestyle (e.g., stress, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, disrupted sleep) that are associated with development of all disease
- Address or prevent dementia-related health conditions (e.g., obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol, insomnia)
Where appropriate, a number of therapeutic options are available, to be used alone, or more often in a complementary fashion, including:
- Nutritional counseling
- Nutritional supplements
- Metabolic detoxification protocols
- Herbal (phyto) medicines
- Acupuncture
- Homeopathy
- Bowen Therapy
- Hydrotherapy
- Exercise prescription
- Relaxation (meditation) training
- Lifestyle medicine and counseling
Treatments provided by naturopathic doctors are covered by most extended healthcare plans.