The human body ages over time, and the brain is no exception. Although I want to say right away that old age is by no means a synonym for dementia.
Many elderly people have a clear mind, good memory, have a sense of humor and optimism. Although, unfortunately, there are a lot of those who become irritable, untidy by age, become embittered, lose their memory and interest in life.
Relatives usually at first attribute such changes to inevitable senile problems, and the patient eventually gets to the doctor in a state where being near him becomes completely unbearable. The doctor makes a diagnosis of “senile dementia” (senile dementia), and relatives say: “Insanity!”
What it is? When is such a diagnosis made, and is it possible to get rid of it? We will talk about all this in the article.
What condition of the patient is defined as insanity
The term "insanity" in medicine refers to the state of decay of the individual. This is one of the most severe mental disorders with a loss of contact with the environment.
Insanity is provoked by atrophic processes in the brain and is the outcome of some diseases affecting the central nervous system.
How does insanity develop, what does this condition provoke
Until now, the cause of most diseases involving brain atrophy remains unexplored . Most often, in such cases they speak of a hereditary predisposition, but it is also impossible to ignore the influence of external factors. As a rule, they include infectious and acute internal diseases.
But what mental disorders cause insanity? What are these pathologies? I must say that they include a number of mental illnesses of the elderly, united by similar signs. This is senile dementia, and Alzheimer's disease, and Peak's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
Signs of a mental disorder
And these diseases usually begin imperceptibly for others and at first quite slowly. Each patient, before senility occurs, the symptoms of a mental disorder develop on an increasing scale.
The chronic course of the disease with a constant increase in symptoms is the same for these pathologies. In addition, diseases are usually irreversible.
And one of the most striking signs is the increase in dementia from almost imperceptible manifestations to severe changes in human intelligence.
Early symptoms of impending insanity
It is very important not to let senility grow stronger in time. For this, it is worth paying attention to the characteristics of the person's character. If their exaggeration is noticeable, that is, frugality becomes stinginess, distrust becomes suspiciousness, and perseverance becomes stubbornness along with impaired ability to adequately analyze what is happening, generalize and other logical operations, then this is the first bells of an impending problem.
In such cases, it is important to urgently change the routine of life and even the circle of communication (as it turned out, routine is one of the causes of mental disorders). Otherwise, over time, quarrelsomeness, irritability, narrowing of interests will appear, memory disorders will begin to grow and delusions will arise, which usually apply to relatives and friends. And all this leads to dementia.
The clinical picture of insanity
Ironically saying, “Insanity grew stronger!” about the eccentricities of an elderly person, we usually do not think about the true meaning of this definition.
But in fact, at the stage of insanity, patients are already bedridden, they lie in the same position, become completely helpless and lead an almost plant life. Patients in this condition often do not understand the speech addressed to them, they can laugh or cry for no reason. Reactions in the form of screams or groans they show only to bodily discomfort or pain.
The general condition of a person with marasmus is characterized by severe physical exhaustion, the development of degeneration of internal organs and increased fragility of bones. Insanity also has characteristic external signs, such as:
- extreme emaciation;
- yellowish-pale wrinkled skin with pigmented spots having a brownish or dark yellow hue;
- the skin is easily injured, and diaper rash and pressure sores occur on it.
What is this condition and how is it treated
Here is such insidious insanity. That it is awful and ugly, you already understood. The possibilities to treat this condition with medication are very small. And therefore, the most important place in such a situation is taken by patient care and supervision. Indeed, as a result of disinhibition of drives and memory impairment, it becomes dangerous both for others and for oneself.
It is very important at the same time to leave the patient at home, in their native walls as long as possible, because the need to get used to the new situation makes him worsen.
As a rule, the treatment of insanity consists in the treatment of concomitant diseases. Nootropic drugs in such patients are indicated only at the initial stage. Antipsychotics are prescribed in small doses only to patients with psychotic disorders or with severe fussiness. A positive effect was noticed with the timely treatment of vascular disorders. And to combat insomnia, small doses of drugs with a hypnotic effect are used (Nitrazepam, Diazepam).
Do not succumb to insanity!
Yes, the so-called “idiocy and insanity”, photos of which can be found in large numbers in the media, are just a demonstration of the eccentricity or overt stupidity of individuals, and insanity as a medical diagnosis is a very serious condition that can be avoided if you constantly train your mind and not lose interest in life. Do not succumb to the disease, and she will surely recede!