Causes of Dementia:

What Causes Dementia?

The most recent research of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia has focused on two causes: protein deposits (amyloids) that lodge in the brain and ‘auto-inflammation,’ in which the body’s own immune system develops chronic inflammation, causing brain cells to die. Scientists have also attributed dementia symptoms to a combination of factors that include genetics, environmental and/or personal stress, or a poor diet.

Disorders that cause dementia symptoms include:

Progressive Degenerative Diseases:

These affect brain cells and neural pathways and include Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, among others.

Vascular Disorders:

Having a stroke (or multiple strokes) disrupts normal oxygen and nutrient flow to the brain, leading to Vascular or Multi-Infarct Dementia (MID). Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) can often improve vascular related dementia.

Traumatic Brain Injury:

This can occur from a single event like a motor accident or happen over time, such as with repeated trauma from boxing or other contact sports. Depending on the location of the trauma, brain injury can result in loss of cognitive skills and memory. Infection or Illness: HIV and other diseases that affect the central nervous system can produce dementia symptoms, as can drug and alcohol abuse and certain cancers.