One of the most notable forms of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, but there many other types of brain damage from dementia. Altogether, there exist close to 100 types brain disease that doctors diagnose as dementia. All kinds of dementia cause progressive and debilitating cognitive and mental impairments. To date, there are few approved dementia treatments, and none that provide an actual cure for dementia.
Doctors have classified dementia treatment into three groups: primary prevention, secondary prevention, and tertiary prevention.
Primary prevention
Primary prevention involves dementia treatment during the early stages. These include addressing genetic risk factors, vascular factors, lifestyle factors, and medications.
Part of primary prevention in dementia treatment may also include eating healthy and vitamin B12 deficiency, which causes memory loss, confusion, and damage to the nervous system.
Genetic testing at this point can tell you if you are prone to Alzheimer’s disease dementia, and is a critical part of dementia treatment.
Alcoholism is another risk factor for dementia. Alcoholics are encouraged to quit drinking in order to prevent permanent brain damage from dementia. Treatment measures include cessation, counseling, and detoxing the body.
Secondary prevention
Secondary prevention involves dementia treatment once dementia symptoms are apparent, and help to delay or minimize brain deterioration, even in the case of Alzheimer’s disease.
Certain dementia treatments at this stage include medications approved for Alzheimer’s disease, such as Aricept, Exelon, Namenda, and Galantamine.
Natural substances that provide cognitive and neurological health benefits include antioxidants, herbs, and vitamins, particularly vitamin B12. These are all excellent dementia treatments for age-related symptoms.
Tertiary prevention
Tertiary prevention involves dementia treatment to prevent further complications and to offer comfort to people suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s disease dementia symptoms. This may include assistance in matters of hygiene, medical care for bedsores, vitamin B12 supplementation to avoid vitamin B12 deficiency, physical therapy, and assistance with mobility.
Vitamin B12 dementia treatment
Vitamin B12 supplementation is an instrumental part of dementia treatment in any of the above-mentioned stages. The elderly are often unable to digest vitamin B12 naturally from foods, due to a lack of digestive enzymes. For that reason, old age is a primary risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency and many symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia, including memory loss, mood disorders, and confused thinking. Dementia treatment in the form of regimented vitamin B12 injections is advisable, even if you aren’t at risk for Alzheimer’s disease or any other kind of dementia.
Often, the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency go unnoticed in Alzheimer’s disease dementia, due to common symptoms of cognitive decline. Therefore, dementia treatment should automatically include vitamin B12 supplementation, in the form of vitamin B12 shots, sublingual vitamin B12 drops, or nonedible over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin B12 supplements.