Senile senility (decay of the personality) is one of the most severe types of disorders, eventually leading to the loss of the possibility of any contact with the environment. This factor is due to mental changes that occur during the irreversible atrophic process of the brain.
Senile senility: symptoms, diagnosis and main causes of the disease
Mental disorders leading to the development of insanity are represented by a huge group of various diseases that arise in old age, but all of them are united by a number of common signs. In the brain, pathological changes are caused by internal causes (possibly a hereditary predisposition), and external influences exacerbate or provoke the role. Most often, senile senility in the initial stages is hardly noticeable to others. The course of the disease is slow, chronic, irreversible, with a constant increase in characteristic symptoms.
The main clinical symptom of insanity is the development of dementia in a person. Initially, it can be expressed in minor changes in intelligence.
Diagnosis of diseases that are caused by atrophic processes of the brain is carried out based on the results of an objective examination and patient survey data. Additional research methods include computed tomography of the brain and electroencephalography.
Senile senility can develop for various reasons, but atherosclerosis of the vessels and mental atrophic disorders of the brain are considered to be the main ones. According to statistics, this disease is most common in women than in men. Senile senility can begin to manifest itself at 70-78 years of age and take about 5-8 years.
Senile senility in the initial stages is manifested in some personality changes, such as pronounced egocentrism, grouchy-spiteful mood, avarice, memory impairment may also be noted , and even some false memories may appear, etc. Such changes over time become noticeable to the majority of people around such a sick person.
Senile senility: treatment and further prognosis of the course of the disease
The possibilities of drug exposure are extremely limited. In some cases, patients are not even able to carry out self-care, therefore, one of the main places is occupied by supervision and care for them. Due to memory disorders and disinhibition of drives, they become dangerous both for others and for themselves. It is advisable to leave the patient at home and provide him, of course, with appropriate care, because the need to get used to the hospital (new) environment can contribute to a significant deterioration of the condition.
The patient should be pushed to maximum activity during the day, this will prevent the loss of appetite, the development of pulmonary pathology and limited joints, the appearance of pressure sores. The course of the disease can be affected by the positively timely treatment of vascular disorders. Vitamin therapy is indicated.
Nootropic drugs can have a positive effect only in the first stages of this disease. When dealing with insomnia, you should observe a clear regime of the day: frequent walks, constant employment, special attitude to the regime of daytime sleep. At night, it is possible to use diazepam, nitrazepam, which have a hypnotic effect, in small doses. In small doses, antipsychotics can also be indicated, but this is only if the patient has psychotic disorders or severe fussiness.
The prognosis will depend on the speed with which the process of personality decay occurs, as well as on the presence of other concomitant diseases. It should be understood that the term "senile senility" implies the disability, incapacity and insanity of a person.