Dementia (also called senility)

Dementia is a word for a group of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain. It is not a specific disease. 

People with dementia may not be able to think well enough to do normal activities, such as getting dressed or eating. They may lose their ability to solve problems or control their emotions. Their personalities may change. They may become agitated or see things that are not there.

Memory loss is a common symptom of dementia. However, memory loss by itself does not mean you have dementia. People with dementia have serious problems with two or more brain functions, such as memory and language.

Many different diseases can cause dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and stroke. Drugs are available to treat some of these diseases. While these drugs cannot cure dementia or repair brain damage, they may improve symptoms or slow down the disease.

Many people say that the best way to prevent dementia is to exercise your mind regularly, with games such as Sudoku or other puzzles. I have written puzzle books, which contain tips on how to solve these puzzles. After you learn the technique, you can go through the puzzles as a form of daily exercise.

You can view free copies of these puzzles here. For our seniors, you should invest time and a few dollar to keep dementia away.