How fit is your brain?
Mental health has become a great concern for almost everyone around the globe. And hundreds of research are conducted every day to determine factors that can improve the human brain's overall fitness and treat mental conditions such as dementia and anxiety.

There are thousands of articles and videos on the internet explaining different ways of maintaining a healthy brain. This article will discuss different stages, causes, and types of dementia.

Dementia refers to a mental disorder characterized by progressive loss of cognitive abilities such as loss of memory. Incurable diseases such as Alzheimer's are the major causes of the condition.

Although no research has invented a cure for dementia causing diseases, some studies suggest that cannabis products such as CBD oil and supportive therapies can reverse, slow, stop, or prevent infections that cause dementia.

The treatment of dementia depends on several factors, which we will discuss in detail in this article. The factors include the severity (the dementia stage), causes, and the type of dementia.

Note that the views and opinions expressed within this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any referenced company. Read more interesting stories at The Right News Network.

• Dementia stage
Dementia is usually diagnosed in three stages; mild (early-stage), moderate (middle-stage), and severe (late-stage).

Mild (early stage) – An individual with mild dementia can live an independent life and manage a social life. They, however, experience memory lapses, difficulties in planning, organizing, and concentrating. The mild stage can last up to four years.

Moderate (middle stage) – This is a more delicate stage than mild dementia. Individuals in this stage have trouble concentrating and communicating thoughts. They also have more severe memory issues. In addition to that, patients exhibit behavior and mood changes. The condition can last up to ten years.

Severe (late-stage) – This is the advanced stage. Individuals in this stage have severe communication issues. They may also have trouble performing physical functions such as walking. They can no longer manage social life and requires extensive care. The stage can last up to three years.

Health professionals determine different stages by examining cognitive decline or the patient's thinking capacity and how well an individual can perform various physical activities. There are three gages used for rating dementia. The scales include the Functional Assessment Staging Test, the Global Deterioration Scale for Assessment of Primary Degenerative Dementia, and the Clinical Dementia Rating.

• Dementia Causes

Here are common causes of dementia

- Degenerative Neurological Diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's diseases are the main causes of dementia in many cases. Also, some types of multiple sclerosis can lead to dementia.

- The other cause regards the circulatory system - vascular conditions that may hinder blood circulation in the brain.

- Traumatic Brain Injuries and brain tumors are also major causes of dementia.

- Age – the condition may worsen as the individual age

- Down syndrome is a common cause of dementia in children and teenagers.

Some of these causes are reversible

• Type of dementia

There are five common types of dementia, which include;

1. Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease is a common type of dementia. It holds more than 70% of dementia cases.

Some studies suggest that Alzheimer's disease results from a mutation of at least three genes. Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE) is one of the notable genes involved in Alzheimer's disease.

It involves plaques (clumps from beta-amyloid protein) and tangles (tau protein fibrous) in the brain. These plaques and tangles destroy neurons and fibers in the brain, resulting in Alzheimer's disease.

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Alzheimer's disease symptoms include memory loss, confusion, difficulties in planning, visual impairment, delusions, agitation, and aggression.

Alzheimer's disease is an inheritable condition.

2. Vascular Dementia
This type of dementia results from dysfunctions or damages in the circulatory system. It involves disruption of blood circulation in the brain that may result from injury (due to high blood pressure) or blockage of blood vessels (due to high cholesterol) that supply blood to the brain. It may also occur due to heart diseases and stroke. The damage utters with the blood supply, therefore depriving your brain of sufficient oxygen and nutrients.

Diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking are among the primary causes of heart diseases that may lead to vascular dementia.

Other conditions that increase vascular dementia risks include aging, obesity, atherosclerosis, Atrial fibrillation, among others.

The vascular dementia symptoms vary with the brain's part where there is no sufficient blood supply. Some symptoms include confusion, concentration, depression, agitation, and visual and hearing impairment.

Vascular dementia is preventable by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

3. Lewy body dementia
This type of dementia is caused by the formation of protein (alpha-synuclein) clumps in the brain. No research has established the cause of these clumps yet.
The symptoms vary depending on the part of the brain that the depositions occur. They include mood and behavior changes, REM sleep disorder, hallucinations, trouble concentrating, and Parkinsonism.

4. Frontotemporal dementia
Frontotemporal dementia is a type of dementia that results from the degeneration or breakdown of nerve cells in the brain's frontal and temporal lobes. It affects an individual's cognitive behaviors and physical functions such as movement.

5. Mixed dementia
It refers to a condition where an individual suffers from at least two types of dementia.

Final thoughts
Most research has concluded that lifestyle is the primary factor that regulates mental health. While most dementia cases are irreversible, healthy living helps in slowing and preventing its progression. Health professionals recommend regular exercise and a healthy diet that is rich in brain nutrients. Non-psychoactive substances such as CBD oil from cannabis are also recommendable while preventing dementia.