Have you seen an old character who behaves weirdly in a drama or in a movie? Maybe, you noticed that they could not remember their family member's names and faces, answer a question, or cross a crosswalk. These people who did so have dementia. What is dementia? Dementia is not a name of a disease but a condition which cognitive impairments including decreasing memory caused by various acquired proteins influence normal person seriously. According to the National Institute of Dementia, people who have dementia have increased and will be increasing to 3.32 million in 2060. While the problem of dementia in South Korea is increasing, knowing symptoms and prevention is more important.

▲ People who have dementia have increased and will be increasing to 3.32 million in 2060 in South Korea.

There is a lot of symptoms of dementia. The first symptom is the decrease of the memory functions. People who have dementia cannot remember what they have said and even their own family's names and faces. The second symptom is the decrease of the language function. They cannot speak long sentences and express something using pronouns. The third symptom is the decrease of the frontal lobe functions. The functions of the frontal lobe are controlling spontaneous thinking and moving, blocking inappropriate behavior socially, and thinking of a way to solve complex problems. So, people having dementia tend to be stubborn, often fretful do meaningless behaviors, and imitate other people's behaviors. The fourth symptom is the decrease in space perception functions. Typically, losing their way is a serious symptom. In the case of terminal patients, they cannot remember where their home's toilet is.

▲ There is a lot of symptoms of dementia that are the decrease of the memory functions, the language function, the frontal lobe functions, and the space perception functions.

There is some prevention of dementia. In the prevention of all diseases, not drinking alcohol is the basic. Without exception, not drinking alcohol decreases the probability of occurring dementia and can delay the age of occurring dementia according to Dr. Na Deokryeol in Neurology. Playing board games regularly instead of watching TV is another way of preventing dementia. This activity can help you to think a lot, and this can prevent the decrease of memory function.

▲ There is some prevention of dementia.

Due to the increasing Dementia patients in South Korea, how to treat them is an important issue. Guardians should treat them by following to their specialist's prescription. All are looking forward to the decreasing number of dementia patients in South Korea.

June 8th, 2019

by Lee Ji Eun