Causes-Of

Dementia can be described as:

“the loss of mental functions—such as thinking, memory, and reasoning—that is severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily functioning.”

Not A Disease
Dementia has not been recognized as an actual disease, “but rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. Symptoms can also include changes in personality, mood, and behavior.”  In severe cases dementia can “impair the ability to carry out everyday activities such as driving; household chores; and even personal care such as bathing, dressing, and feeding.”  

Alzheimer’s & Vascular Dimentia
“Alzheimer’s disease causes 50 percent to 70 percent of all dementia.  “Vascular dementia is estimated to cause from 5–30% of all dementia.  It occurs from decrease in blood flow to the brain, most commonly due to a series of small strokes (multi-infarct dementia).”  These two forms often take place collectively, “and vascular dementia may speed the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.”   Although neither can be identified until an autopsy has been done. 

However, researchers are finding that some of what was previously considered Alzheimer’s disease is really one of two other degenerative diseases:  Lewy body disease and Pick’s disease.”  

Pick’s disease has been classified under the term Fronto-Temporal Dementia.  Specifically, Pick’s occurs when cells in the frontal and temporal areas of the brain get bigger and contain “round, silver ‘Pick’s bodies.”   Frontol-Temporal Dementia can also occur when the cells in this area of the brain shrink or die. “Researchers estimate that approximately 2% of all dementia cases are Frontotemporal Dementia.” 

Treatable Causes of Dementia
Dementia can be caused by treatable problems which include alcohol and drug use as well as psychiatric disorders.  “Reversible dementias have a number of causes, including alcohol abuse, infections such as AIDS or neurosyphilis, brain tumors, and reactions to certain medications.”   Alcohol and drug abuse can easily lead to symptoms of dementia.  

“Alcohol abuse increases the chances of head injuries, vitamin B1 deficiency, infections, and liver disease, all of which can cause dementia symptoms.  Abuse of illegal drugs can also cause damage to the brain that result in dementia.”  

Age
Most cases of dementia occur in the elderly as “about 5 percent to 8 percent of all people over the age of 65 have some form of dementia, and this number doubles every five years above that age.   It is estimated that as many as half of people 85 or older suffer from dementia.”  

Lifestyle Choices = Best Prevention
While you cannot control most causes of dementia you can, at least minimize your risk through lifestyle choices.  Eating properly and moderate alcohol consumption as well as “lifestyle measures, such as weight control and exercise, may help forestall the development of vascular dementia; however, most types of irreversible dementia are not preventable.”  

Sources Include

http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-dementia

http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-dementia

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/dementia_overview/article_em.htm

http://www.cchs.net/health/health-info/docs/2300/2340.asp?index=9170

http://www.cchs.net/health/health-info/docs/2300/2340.asp?index=9170

http://neurology.health-cares.net/dementia-causes.php

http://neurology.health-cares.net/dementia-causes.php

http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/dementias-frontotemp.htm

http://www.alzheimer.ca/english/disease/dementias-frontotemp.htm

http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/symptoms_remedies/dementia/79-1.html

http://www.about-dementia.com/articles/about-dementia/dementia-causes/index.php

http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/symptoms_remedies/dementia/79-1.html

To determine the causes of deafness, one must establish the types of hearing loss.  There are two main categories of hearing loss:

• Conductive
• Neural (or nerve deafness)

Conductive Hearing Loss
“Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound vibrations don’t go from the air around a person to the moving bones of the inner ear as well as they should.”  This can be caused by earwax buildup, fluid retention such as an ear infection, or calcium buildup.

“Generally, conductive hearing loss doesn’t cause a total inability to hear, but it does cause a loss of loudness and a loss of clarity. In other words, sounds are heard, but they are weak, muffled, and distorted.”

"d-e-a-f" spelled in sign language

Neural Hearing Loss
“Neural hearing loss (Nerve deafness) occurs when the auditory nerve, which goes from the inner ear to the brain, fails to carry the sound information to the brain.  Neural hearing loss can cause a loss of loudness or a loss of clarity in sounds.”  Some people may also experience a mix of both conductive and neural hearing loss.

Ranges of Hearing Loss
“Deafness can range from mild to profound and the causes of deafness can include a multitude of events including injury, disease, and genetic defects.”  Hereditary and Genetic disorders, parental exposure to disease, noise, trauma, and disease are some causes that may lead to permanent hearing loss.  Some causes of temporary deafness include wax, foreign object, excess mucus, ear infections, and certain types of drugs such as aminoglycosides and chloroquine.

Age & Noise are the Leading Causes of Deafness
Although age is the most common reason for deafness, some individuals are born with partial and total hearing loss.  Deafness at birth is known as congenital deafness, while deafness that occurs after birth is called adventitious deafness.  The most common cause of adventitious deafness is noise, which accounts for over one quarter of people affected by hearing loss.

Sources Include

http://library.thinkquest.org/15390/causes.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/15390/causes.htm

http://library.thinkquest.org/15390/causes.htm

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcArticles.nsf/pages/Deafness_-_a_range_of_causes?OpenDocument

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcArticles.nsf/pages/Deafness_-_a_range_of_causes?OpenDocument

“No simplistic answers about the causes of obesity exist.  Weight gain and loss depends on a number of factors.”  These Factors include genes and heredity, environmental causes, psychological factors, physical causes, and medications to name a few.  

Obesity Statistics
The latest obesity statistics, according to Wellness International Network Ltd are as follows: 58 Million Overweight; 40 Million Obese; 3 Million morbidly Obese, Eight out of 10 over 25’s Overweight, 78% of American’s not meeting basic activity level recommendations, 25% completely Sedentary, 76% increase in Type II diabetes in adults 30-40 yrs old since 1990.

Monitoring Calories is the Best Control
“Obesity results when there is an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure.”  Age, gender, and a person’s activity level are key factors in establishing an individual’s propensity to gain weight.

The good news is, regardless of the cause(s) — including any uncontrollable contributing factors — monitoring calorie intake and increasing activity levels is an effective way for almost anyone to reach and maintain a healthier weight.

More useful statistics from the Wellness International Network Ltd include:

Obesity Related Diseases 

• 80% of type II diabetes related to obesity
• 70% of cardiovascular disease related to obesity
• 42% breast and colon cancer diagnosed among obese individuals
• 30% of gall bladder surgery related to obesity
• 26% of obese people having high blood pressure 

Childhood Obesity Running Out of Control 

• 4% overweight 1982 | 16% overweight 1994
• 25% of all white children overweight 2001
• 33% african american and hispanic children overweight 2001
• Hospital costs associated with childhood obesity rising from $35 Million (1979) to $127 Million (1999) 

Childhood Metabolic and Heart Risks

• New study suggests one in four overweight children is already showing early signs of type II diabetes (impaired glucose intolerance)
• 60% already have one risk factor for heart disease 
• Surge in childhood diabetes 
• Between 8% – 45% of newly diagnosed cases of childhood diabetes are type II, associated with obesity
• Whereas 4% of childhood diabetes was type II in 1990, that number has risen to approximately 20%
• Depending on the age group (Type II most frequent 10-19 group) and the racial/ethnic mix of group stated
• Of children diagnosed with Type II diabetes, 85% are obese

The Take-Away
Regardless of the causes of obesity in any person or group, it should be taken seriously and the main way to combat obesity is through attention to the ratio of calories consumed versus energy spent.  

Sources Include

  http://www.obesityfocused.com/articles/about-obesity/causes-of-obesity.php

  http://www.weight.com/causes.asp

  http://weightloss.about.com/od/obesityhealth/a/blobcause.htm