The initial stage of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. This is a neurodegenerative disease associated with the formation of beta-amyloid plaques

Acquired disease, which is characterized by a decrease in intellectual and mental activity, is dementia. This syndrome is also called dementia. Dementia is very common in older people. Today, experts recommend supporting brain function with the help of certain medications. Also, a lot important role proper nutrition plays a role. After all, some foods can activate brain functions. Therefore, the treatment of dementia requires an integrated approach.

Main causes of dementia

Dementia is a serious disorder nervous activity, which is caused by physiological damage to the brain. The main manifestation of dementia is a decrease in mental activity. It follows that the cause of dementia can be any disease that can provoke degeneration and death of brain cells. It should be noted that there are some types of dementia that develop independently and are the leading processes of changes in the state of the brain. In this case, the patient suffers from the following diseases:

• Pick's disease;
• Alzheimer's disease;
• Brain lesions with Lewy bodies;
• Cerebrovascular disease.

Such problems are very common in older people. In all other cases, dementia is secondary disease, which means it has some underlying cause. Very often, secondary dementia develops against the background of problems with blood vessels. The brain is affected due to vascular atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Dementia can be triggered by infectious diseases, head injuries, frequent intoxication of the body, lesions nerve tissue. Alcoholism often leads to secondary dementia. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages primarily affects the brain. Brain cells die very quickly and are excreted from the body along with urine. Over time, the alcoholic simply loses his human appearance, becomes indifferent to society, and the intellectual activity of the brain completely disappears.

Impaired mental activity is observed in the presence of brain tumors. Slightly less often, dementia develops against the background of such infectious disease like AIDS. Also, rare causes of dementia include encephalitis, neurosyphilis,. In addition, the development of this pathology is influenced by the following factors:

• Complication after hemodialysis;
• Severe liver or kidney failure;
• Thyroid diseases;
• Cushing's syndrome;
• Dysfunction of the parathyroid glands;
• Severe autoimmune diseases;
• Metabolic disorders due to poor nutrition.

Symptoms and manifestations of dementia

Recognizing the symptoms of dementia is not difficult. The main ones are cognitive impairment. These symptoms are the most pronounced. Behavioral changes and emotional disturbances in the patient are no less evident. Dementia does not develop rapidly. Changes in brain function occur gradually. Therefore, symptoms may not be noticeable at an early stage.

Relatives may notice pathological changes in the patient's behavior when changing familiar surroundings, circle of friends. Dementia often manifests itself as aggressive behavior. In terms of cognitive function, the following symptoms are characteristic of dementia:

• Memory loss. Both short-term and long-term memory are affected. The patient may experience false memories. In mild forms of dementia, as a rule, the memory disorder dates back to a long time ago.
• Distracted attention. In this case, there is a loss of the ability to quickly switch attention from one subject to another. Also, symptoms may be such as lack of reaction to several objects at the same time, inability to concentrate on anything for a long time.
• Disorders higher functions. The symptoms of this type of disorder are varied. Speech disorders (aphasia), inability to perform targeted actions, loss of certain skills (apraxia), disturbances of perception (agnosia).
• Orientation disorder. Occurs on initial stage development of dementia.
• Personality change. A person becomes restless, fussy, greedy. Egoism intensifies, responsiveness and a sense of empathy disappear. Some patients begin to drag home various unnecessary rubbish. Sometimes patients, on the contrary, become lethargic, passive, apathetic to everything around them. Excessive criticism persists.
• Emotional background disorders. The patient suffers from depressive states combined with aggression, tearfulness, anxiety. Either observed complete absence all sorts of emotions. Mood can change instantly. The diet may be disrupted. Sometimes people with dementia have difficulty swallowing, which causes loss of appetite.

These symptoms are typical for any type of dementia. In the case of vascular dementia, other signs are added to everything else. Thus, the patient may complain of headaches, cardiac arrhythmia, and heart pain. Often such patients experience strokes and heart attacks. Therefore, as soon as you notice some behavioral changes in your relative or close one, you need to consult a doctor promptly. Besides conservative treatment, a specialist must prescribe dietary food, which will saturate the brain.

Essential foods for dementia

Statistics show that Indians rarely suffer from a disease such as Alzheimer's disease. It all depends on the quality of food. The fact is that the daily diet of residents of this Asian country includes products such as curry and turmeric. These seasonings can prevent the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain. Some scientists have tested another spice, cinnamon. The experiment was carried out on rodents. They were fed this food product for 4 months. After this time, a significant slowdown in amyloid accumulation in the cerebral cortex was observed.

Many people know that the process of aging and degeneration of neurons is affected by oxidative stress (oxidation process). This occurs under the active influence of free radicals. Therefore, proper nutrition for dementia should be aimed at neutralizing these free radicals in the body. Natural antioxidant products are included in the daily diet. Antioxidants include the following elements: vitamins E, C, A, lycopene, beta-carotene, coenzyme Q10.

These components can be found in the following foods:

• Sesame;
• Pistachios;
• Citrus;
• Vegetables;
• Greenery;
• Seafood;
• Boiled chicken eggs;
• Strawberry.

Scientists have also found that the level of free radicals increases significantly with age. Accordingly, in people with dementia, levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene in the brain rapidly decrease. Cholesterol levels also play a big role. Atherosclerosis often leads to vascular dementia. With high cholesterol levels, plaques begin to form, which lead to blockage of blood vessels. The brain begins to experience oxygen starvation. Blood circulation deteriorates not only in the brain, but throughout the body. You can regulate your cholesterol levels through nutrition.

The diet for dementia should be rich in foods that lower the amount of cholesterol in the body:

• Dry red wine;
• Avocado;
• Almond;
• Blueberry;
• Lentils;
• Legumes;
• Barley;
• Vegetable oil (sunflower, corn, flaxseed).

Some experts say that a diet that includes consuming large quantity seafood. The Mediterranean diet deserves special attention. This diet includes plenty of vegetables, nuts and seeds. Your daily diet must include fruits. This is especially true for the consumption of oranges. This citrus is rich in vitamins C and E.

A Mediterranean diet includes eating a variety of herbs and greens. The patient should try to add more to salads and other dishes. olive oil. A prerequisite for the treatment of dementia is the consumption of large amounts of fish and other seafood (squid, shrimp, seaweed). But meat consumption needs to be reduced.

In addition, they will help support the functioning of not only the brain, but also the entire body. following products power supply:

• Dairy products;
• Dietary meats;
• Sauerkraut;
• Broccoli;
• Swede;
• Turmeric;
• Cinnamon;
• Curry;
• Sage;
• Saffron;
• Melissa.

Caffeine promotes the destruction of cholesterol plaques in the blood vessels of the brain. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with dementia drink a cup of natural ground coffee once a day. Be sure to drink during the day sufficient quantity purified water. Freshly squeezed cranberry juice will benefit your body. Healing properties The sage decoction is different.

Dangerous foods for dementia

To prevent the development of dementia, you should avoid eating certain foods. Foods that increase cholesterol levels in the body are completely excluded from the diet. Thus, the following foods are prohibited:

• Animal fats (margarine, lard, lard);
• Bird skin;
• Egg yolk;
• By-products;
• Sour cream;
• Milk;
• Rich meat broth;
• Mayonnaise.

Metabolism is disrupted due to excessive consumption confectionery. Therefore, when eating, you should exclude the consumption of baked goods, baked goods, chocolate, ice cream, and cakes. In case of dementia, consumption is unacceptable white bread and sugar. When preparing dishes, you should use minimal amount salt. Food should only be cooked steamed, or boiled and baked. Welcome fractional meals. Overeating and late dinner before bed are considered unacceptable.

Fried and fatty foods are very harmful. This is especially true for older people. During this period of life in the human body, metabolic processes slow down, changes hormonal background. Vegetarians often suffer from dementia. This is due to the fact that a large number plant food is saturated with estrogen, which leads to hormonal imbalance in old age.

Subject to proper nutrition If you have dementia, it is strictly forbidden to use any alcoholic drinks. When of this disease, alcohol is a real poison for the brain. This bad habit provokes the development of alcoholism. Therefore, it is impossible for a person to avoid developing dementia. But what about drinking red wine? Nutrition for dementia allows for one glass of high-quality red wine per day. Only in this quantity there will be no harm observed.

Dementia is a pathology that develops against the background of organic brain damage and is manifested by impaired intellectual activity and personality disorder. According to statistics, older people are more susceptible to the disease, although dementia cannot be ruled out in older adults. early age. The pathology is characterized by progression and a gradual increase in severity; the patient does not immediately lose acquired skills, knowledge and abilities. At the Yusupov Hospital, a personal nutritionist will develop an individual menu according to the recommendations of the attending physician.

Dementia is divided into atrophic (degenerative), vascular and mixed; it appears due to the death of brain cells or their atrophy with subsequent loss of functional activity. Therefore, the main goals of any treatment program are to prevent further destruction of brain tissue, strengthen neural connections, return of lost functions, normalization of blood supply and metabolism in brain tissue. This can be achieved not only through medicines and rehabilitation measures, but also proper nutrition for dementia, so compliance proper diet very important.

Proper and healthy nutrition for dementia

Balanced and complete diet plays an important role in the treatment of dementia, since brain cells have an increased metabolism, so even a slight deficiency of any elements can lead to serious consequences. For this reason, it is worth taking foods seriously, as they can not only help improve the condition of patients with dementia, but also help prevent the onset of pathology.

According to statistics, residents of eastern countries, in particular India, rarely suffer from diseases that cause mental impairment, since they give great importance quality of food and its composition. For example, daily use of seasonings contained in oriental dishes (curry, turmeric, cinnamon and others), according to research, can prevent the formation and accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain, which cause damage to neurons and lead to the formation of Alzheimer's disease, accompanied by dementia. Based on these observations, it is worth concluding that for therapeutic and preventive purposes it is necessary to formulate a diet in such a way as to reduce the degree of manifestations and the likelihood of the formation of diseases leading to dementia.

The cause of atrophic dementia is often the accumulation of large amounts of free radicals in brain cells, which enhance the aging process and destruction of neurons. Therefore, nutrition for dementia should include foods that neutralize these harmful substances in the body and preventing their formation - natural antioxidants. The most effective components are vitamin E, C, A, lycopene, carotene, coenzyme, which are found in nuts (sesame, pistachios), citrus fruits, vegetables, herbs, and seafood.

Atrophic processes can be caused by insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals. Patients with dementia especially need vitamins C and E, since their levels rapidly decrease in old age, which causes hormonal imbalance, metabolic disorders and vascular disorders, worsening the general condition of patients. Therefore, it is recommended to include citrus fruits in your daily diet.

Vascular dementia often develops against the background of atherosclerosis, which is formed due to higher level cholesterol, which leads to the appearance of plaques and blockage of blood vessels. As a result, the brain experiences oxygen starvation, which ends in the destruction of neurons. For this reason, it is worth controlling your cholesterol levels, in particular avoiding foods with them. increased content and eat those that lead to a decrease in its level.

Foods that lower cholesterol:

• dry red wine;
• almond;
• beans;
• blueberry;
• avocado;
• vegetable oils;
• barley, etc.

Also, if you have dementia, you need to drink enough water, and your diet should include dishes that improve functional activity brain, which contain:

• fish;
• seafood;
• nuts;
• seeds;
• dairy products;
• dietary meat;
• seasonings (cinnamon, sage, saffron, lemon balm, etc.);
• vegetables;
• sauerkraut;
• fruits

What's harmful about dementia?

In addition to using healthy products nutrition, one should exclude those that worsen the patient’s general condition, enhance the process of neuronal destruction, and negatively affect hormonal and metabolic processes, cerebral blood supply. In case of dementia, it is necessary to completely eliminate foods that increase cholesterol levels: egg yolks, animal fats, offal, sour cream, cheese, mayonnaise.

Excessive consumption of confectionery products is also harmful for dementia, so it is worth limiting or completely eliminating the use of white bread and sugar, pastries, chocolate, cakes, and ice cream. It is also worth reducing the amount of salt in food, eating less fried and fatty foods. It is especially important to give up alcohol, as it only enhances the processes of destruction in the brain.

Individual program for the treatment of dementia at the Yusupov Hospital

It is worth noting that dietary restrictions are directly related to the cause of dementia, which can only be determined by an experienced specialist. Psychologists and neurologists at the Yusupov Hospital, thanks to many years of experience and professionalism, can detect the disease in the early stages, possible reasons its formation, as well as draw up the most effective individual treatment program, including giving recommendations on diet, healthy and harmful products nutrition. More detailed information You can find out by making an appointment with a doctor by phone.

Bibliography

• ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases)
• Yusupov Hospital
• Gavrilova S. I. Mental disorders with primary degenerative (atrophic) processes of the brain. // Guide to Psychiatry / Ed. A. S. Tiganova. M., 1999. T. 2.
• Medvedev A.V. Vascular diseases brain // Guide to psychiatry / Ed. A. S. Tiganova. M., 1999. T. 2.
• Korsakova N.K., Moskovichiute L.I. Clinical neuropsychology. M., 2003 (Chapter 5 “Neuropsychological syndromes in aging”).

The relationship between nutrition and dementia

Eating disorders occur in 81.4% of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Scientists from Kumamoto University (Japan) reported this in their study “The relationship between eating disorders and the severity of dementia in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.” At the same time, in older people without a diagnosis, similar eating disorders occurred in 26.7% of cases. Scientists have come to the conclusion that even early stage Alzheimer's patients experience several types of disorders.

Of course, each form of dementia has its own characteristics. But in general, the disease is characterized by the gradual disintegration of higher mental functions- such as intelligence and memory, and then simple executive functions such as eating are affected. Memini talked about this with a psychotherapist at the SM-Clinic, a member Russian society psychiatrists and the Russian Psychiatric Association by Viktor Zaitsev. “Patients forget to eat, their appetite may be sharply reduced, and they have problems swallowing,” Zaitsev lists the signs of eating disorders in dementia. “In some cases, on the contrary, the food instinct is disinhibited, and patients become “gluttonous” and may eat unprepared or unsuitable foods.” According to the doctor, the tendency to malnutrition due to memory impairment is more common. The more advanced the disease, the more severely the functions are impaired. eating behavior. At the same time, nutritional problems do not occur in isolation, but in common system disintegration of performing abilities. These processes may be accompanied by a decrease in overall vitality and “often accompanied by a depressive state.”

Scientists from the international research school SISSA (Italy) suggested that the main cause of abnormal eating behavior is damage in the hypothalamus, an area of ​​the brain that is responsible for hunger, thirst, energy, sleep and mood. The international Alzheimer's Association explains that damage nerve cells, caused by frontotemporal dementia, can lead to bizarre eating patterns or preferences, but there may be other causes. For example, the person may not recognize the food you put on their plate, may not want to eat because of a change in medication dosage, may experience pain when eating because of improperly fitted dentures, or may not have enough physical activity.

Decreased or increased appetite

Changes in appetite were observed in almost half of patients with initial stage diseases (49.5%), scientists from Kumamoto University (Japan) calculated. At the same time, two contradictory symptoms were observed: an increase in appetite in one half of the study participants and loss of appetite in the other. Although the pattern of decreased appetite is unclear, the authors note, the condition may reflect various neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with Alzheimer's. Loss of appetite is well known as a major symptom of depression, and about 68% of patients with dementia have depressive symptoms. An increase in appetite may occur due to memory impairment: a person simply forgets the last time he ate.

Attempts to enhance the taste

Food preferences changed the most on , and later this trend decreased. A team of Japanese scientists explains this by saying that “burnout” occurs. As the disease progresses, apathy often increases in patients. And changing food preferences still requires a certain level of functional ability.

Changes in eating habits are often accompanied by the patient's desire to get more taste sensations. This manifests itself in a craving for sweeter foods and sauces. At the same time, science has not yet come to a clear conclusion whether taste function is really impaired in such patients. Although the Alzheimer's Association advises against adding pure sugar to patients' food, they remind them that more late stages Alzheimer's disease, adding sugar to food can solve the problem of lack of appetite.

Banana Lady

Often leads to fixation on one type of food or swallowing inedible objects, explains SISSA. A classic example is the “Banana Lady,” a patient with dementia described to science in 2006. She ate only bananas and drank liters of milk every day. She constantly asked her husband to make sure there was milk and bananas in the house. After her death, a brain test confirmed the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia. Changes in eating behavior are so common in this disease that they are taken into account in the diagnosis. Scientists have described other extravagant examples of behavior - among them, for example, stealing food from other people's plates. This behavior not only creates discomfort, but is also dangerous for the health of patients, SISSA warns. People with this form of eating disorder tend to gain or lose weight because they eat very limitedly. The craving of some patients for eating inedible objects is also dangerous. SISSA associates this with “semantic impairments in recognizing an object and its function.”

How to help

For a person with dementia or Alzheimer's disease poor nutrition may increase symptoms of the disease, the Alzheimer's Association warns. Difficulties may also arise with drinking. People with dementia should be offered small cups of water or other liquids and foods with high content waters such as fruits, soups and nutritional shakes.

The organization advises families and carers of people with dementia to ensure balanced diet and offer vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein. It's best to limit distractions during meals, such as turning off the TV and avoiding patterned tablecloths and plates in favor of contrasting ones.

It is also recommended to remove items from the table that are not related to a specific meal - for example, vases. A person with dementia may not be able to tell if a dish is too hot, so check the temperature of food and drinks before serving. It is best to serve one dish at a time, as too many foods can be confusing for a person with dementia. He also needs to be reminded to chew and swallow his food thoroughly. You need to allow at least an hour for meals. The Association warns that according to research, people eat better when they are with someone: firstly, patients have the opportunity to communicate, and secondly, they have before their eyes an example of how others eat.

Features of nutrition in dementia For normal resistance to adverse effects external environment and internal problems the body needs balanced diet. Of course, not every person, even those who do not suffer from cognitive disorders, adheres to the norms healthy eating. However, in this case we're talking about about conscious choice and personal responsibility for it. A dementia patient has no choice due to his inability to understand the problem. Therefore, it is up to his relatives to take care of the patient’s nutrition (as well as everything else). Organization of nutrition Nutrition of the patient becomes a problem due to various reasons. The automatisms of coordination in the use of cutlery that have been developed over the years are lost. The usual ones change taste preferences. There are problems with chewing and swallowing. Due to the changes occurring with the patient, what comes to the fore is not the preparation of an exquisite delicacy (it will become increasingly difficult to guess what the patient will like), but the organization of nutrition, which will allow your loved one to regularly receive the necessary nutrients. Below are some tips for organizing meals. Sit at the table in a calm environment, with the radio and TV turned off. Eliminate other sources of noise that may distract the patient. If he is excited or, on the contrary, depressed and refuses to eat, you should not try to force him. It’s better to wait until his mood changes. Do not serve food or drinks too hot. In advanced stages of dementia, patients are unaware of the danger of injury and may burn themselves. Also, to reduce the risk of injury, it is better to prepare food that can be eaten without a knife and fork. As the disease progresses, the patient loses the ability to use cutlery and may injure himself with piercing or cutting objects. The ideal option is food that you can eat with your hands. When serving food and drinks to the patient, remind him of their name. This will help to better retain them in memory and facilitate communication in the future. Weakened appetite and weight loss Problems with eating and loss of appetite often lead to weight loss and worsening general condition sick. Among the causes of decreased appetite, the most common are: Emotional disorders. One of typical reasons loss of appetite – depression. Depression can accompany the patient from the moment of an unfavorable diagnosis, triggered by a feeling of helplessness in the face of impending changes, and only increase in the future. Since today there are many medications and other means that can effectively combat depression, you should consult a doctor when the first signs appear. After recovery from depression, appetite is restored. Sedentary lifestyle. Due to the lack of familiar physical activity Older people may experience hunger less often or less intensely. The decrease in a person’s independence associated with severe cognitive disorders and the limitation of his movements and actions only aggravate the problem. It will help to awaken your appetite more active image life: doing available housework, walking, exercise. The manifestation of diseases associated with the loss of the ability to recognize the offered dishes and drinks. Try to remind the patient of their names, tell how he loved them before. For the same reason, changes in preferences in the choice of food are possible (for example, the appearance of a previously unusual craving for sweets or spices) and in the time of its consumption. Be prepared to respond to these changes and feed the patient whenever he feels hungry. Problems with chewing food. Older people have problems with the condition of their teeth, gums, and dentures. Oral diseases can make eating very difficult. Unfortunately, at the advanced stage of the disease, a person is not able to explain what is bothering him. Therefore, if you refuse to eat, you can contact your dentist. Problems with swallowing food. Swallowing is difficult physiological process, including a whole complex of reflexes. With atrophy of some parts of the brain against the background of dementia syndrome, disturbances may occur leading to swallowing problems (dysphagia). Dysfunction occurs in the muscles that regulate the passage of food into the esophagus. Some disorders cause pain when swallowing. There may be problems associated with narrowing of the esophagus. If you notice that the patient has to make an effort when swallowing, consult a doctor. Constipation. This is a common problem for people with dementia. The consequences of constipation include a feeling of nausea or bloating, which negatively affects your appetite. The disease can be combated by increasing physical activity, including high-fiber foods in the diet and plenty of fluid intake. If constipation gets worse, seek help from your physician. The reasons listed above can lead to weight loss. This is especially noticeable when the patient remains highly active (regular walks, housework). In this case, care should be taken to include more high-calorie foods in the diet. Perhaps, with loss of appetite, the patient will eat more if the daily diet is divided into smaller portions and the number of meals is increased. If your loved one begins to noticeably lose weight, contact your local doctor or nutritionist.