September 2021 Newsletter: Dementia – Written By Dr. Jerry J. Masarira, Naturopath D. CBIS.
Dementia is one of the most prevalent brain problems of the 21century. There are many brain disorders that are named dementia when there are not. This year 2021 there are over 50 million in the world living with dementia. This number is projected to double every 20 years. The risk of getting dementia increases as one gets older.
What is dementia? Etymologically, the term dementia, is Latin derived, when “de” (is to depart) and “mens” (means, mind). This is when the mind is departing from its normal functions.
This is not a disease but a neurological and psychiatric syndrome that covers a broad spectrum of diseases and conditions.
Dementia has symptoms that indicate a decline in mental ability. The symptoms must be longer that six months and not have been present since birth. Dementia or senility are not caused by aging as such, but by some brain diseases. There is a gradual loss of cognitive abilities.
For one to be classified as having dementia, must have two of the following five core mental functions significantly affected:
Communication and language.
Visual perception.
Reasoning and judgement.
Ability to focus and pay attention.
Memory.
The myths about dementia that need to be understood are as follows:
1. Demetia is a natural part of aging.
2. That only old people get dementia.
3. That Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are the same. (Dementia is a broad, umbrella term covering various types of diseases and conditions. Alzheimer’s disease is A TYPE, of Dementia)
4. That people with Dementia do not know what they want and do not understand what is going on around them.
5. That memory loss is equivalent to Dementia.
6. Or, if there is no memory loss there is no Dementia.
7. A person diagnosed with Dementia is mentally incompetent. (Not necessarily)
8. Dementia causes aggression and violence.
9. People with Dementia become like children.
In 1901 a 50 year old woman was the first identified case of Alzheimer’s disease. It was named after her treating physician, the German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer. He made a public report of her condition in 1906 after his patient passed.
There are different classes of Dementia:
Cortical and subcortical Dementia.
(cortical is when the brain’s gray matter, cortex, is affected)
(Subcortical affects the brain’s white matter, or beneath the cortex)
2. Primary and secondary Dementia.
(Seconday means dementia is the result of another illness, disease, trauma or injury)
(Example of primary cause is, Alzheimers)
The purpose of identifying secondary and primary causes is important for treatment and prognosis.
3. Reversible and Irreversible Dementia.
(Reversible, responds to treatments’ and irreversible does not respond to treatment and is progressive)
We have a website for you to communicate for consultations and also training you as a medical missionary. There are other services you may find useful. On the website We recorded over 100 audio weekly lessons and old monthly news-letters you might have missed from the past. Feel free to read and listen. Pass the website link to as many people as you want across the globe.
If you have any questions, please contact me at:
Dr. Jerry J. Masarira, Naturopath D. CBIS.
Enpro Consultant and Certified Brain Injury Specialist.
Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
Alt. drmasarirajj@aol.com
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