Signs of senility symptoms and degenerative brain diseases.

What is Senility?

Senility is defined as the weakness or mental infirmity of old age, and is associated with the deterioration of the body and mind in the elderly. It is commonly referred to as dementia.

Different areas of the brain control different skills and abilities. When mental functions such as memory, language, orientation, or judgment deteriorate, this may be a direct result of the way dementia has affected the brain.

What Causes Senility?

There are various diseases associated with senility; although, not all of them are directly associated with advanced age and can occur in children and babies. These degenerative brain diseases include:

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Vascular Dementia
• Huntington's Chorea
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob
• Lewy Body Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of senility, where people experience signs of senility or memory problems such as difficulty remembering past events (especially the more recent ones) as well as learning new things.
Other causes of senility include:

• Drug Addiction
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Strokes
• Poor Nutrition
• Thyroid Dysfunction (e.g. Hashimoto’s Disease)
• Alcoholism

Other less common conditions which may accompany senility include:

• Urinary Tract Infections
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Wilson’s Disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Brain Tumors
• AIDS Dementia

Diagnosing Senility

Properly diagnosing degenerative brain diseases like senility requires a professional screening and/or evaluation by a healthcare practitioner. However, senility is often associated with the aforementioned diseases and conditions. Signs of senility are typically recognizable by the sufferer or close family and friends.

Signs & Symptoms of Senility

Senility is caused by the degeneration of the brain cells. As a result, senility symptoms can include:

• Progressive Memory Loss
• Anorexia
• Poor Judgment
• Impaired Concentration
• Confusion

Often, noticeable personality changes are signs of senility.

Help for Senility

Generally, because it is a degenerative condition, individuals suffering from senility become progressively worse with time.

While some conditions cannot be cured, early recognition can allow you to create a management plan that will ensure the greatest quality of life for the greatest amount of time, while lessening common senility symptoms. A thorough examination and accurate diagnosis is necessary to create a successful management plan.

Medications can be prescribed to slow the progress of senility and other degenerative brain diseases, but success is often coupled with unwanted side effects, particularly in the elderly patient. Medication can also be used in conjunction with psychiatric or behavioral therapies.

Additionally, proper nutrition, exercise, and positive lifestyle choices are important in sustaining mental clarity. As we grow older, it is important to participate in stimulating activities, thus keeping our minds active, this is especially true for the elderly.

And, never forget the importance of social interaction, good friends, and family relationships!