Diagnosis of Sundowner Syndrome
Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, or Sundowner’s Syndrome, although research is being conducted in an attempt to find a way to prevent these debilitating disorders.
Blood cholesterol has also been linked to Alzheimer’s and dementia, although these studies were conducted on mice. If you want to avoid these ailments, it may be worth it to keep cholesterol levels down.
While a person’s activities will certainly not cause or prevent dementia, studies have shown that people who participate in activities that require concentration may delay the symptoms somewhat. Studies are being conducted, however, to try to determine what factors - dietary, genetic, or environmental - may cause this terrible mental decline. Some scientists speculate that environmental pollutants do contribute, such as mercury tooth fillings, but no studies have definitively proven that any of these substances cause dementia or Alzheimer’s. Some people have chosen to remove mercury fillings, however, just in case they cause physical problems.
If someone you know exhibits symptoms of confusion or memory loss, see a doctor immediately. Obtaining a proper diagnosis in the early stages of the disease is very important. Some forms of dementia are reversible, and in rare cases, the symptoms are even caused by a reaction to a medication.
An Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis doesn’t come easy, however. It’s difficult to identify brain disorders because going into the affected areas of the brain is too invasive and dangerous, so doctors must resort to other types of testing. Bear in mind that numerous tests may have to be conducted over a period of weeks before a definitive diagnosis can be made, but after you have received a diagnosis, you can work with your loved one’s doctor to develop a treatment plan.
