Archive for the ‘Geriatrics’ Category

We’ve all heard tales of people losing their memories when they get older and elderly people themselves are very conscious of the possibility that they may be losing it, so to speak.

There is no doubt that there are many medically identifiable degrees of memory loss and other forms of cognitive dysfunction that involve a state of confusion and disorientation. The more serious of those may be referred to as dementia, an umbrella term used to describe the set of symptoms being exhibited. Perhaps the most well-known form of dementia is the disease called Alzheimer’s, and while that may be accurately applied to a large number of dementia cases, it must be emphasized that not all dementia fall into that category.

Following from the foregoing, we might conclude that in present times, with the increasing numbers of people living longer than ever before, that it is inevitable that there will also be an increase in the numbers of our senior citizens who will be suffering from serious bouts of forgetfulness or even dementia, some of which will require special care and supervision.

But is it really inevitable?
Is dementia really to be the fate of many of the elderly or could forgetfulness be just a symptom of something else? Some people qualified to judge think that is the case.

Some doctors who study the range of diminishing mental capacities in the elderly, contend that many people who are labeled as having dementia are really suffering from other disorders they can be treated and reversed. It has become apparent to some medical practitioners that various symptoms that have, in the past, been attributed to factors of aging, in many instances are signs and symptoms of a vitamin B-12 deficiency.

Like other vitamins and minerals, vitamin B-12 is essential for good health in human beings and it is also known that when it is deficient in the human body, it causes symptoms that are very similar to those we describe above as being typical of the distressed mental states and confusions of dementia.

B-12, essential for good health
The critical factor is that human beings do not manufacture their own vitamin B-12, even in the extremely small amount needed to sustain good health, but instead must rely on obtaining the required amount from animal food sources. Plant foods are not a source of the needed vitamin either, they also do not manufacture B-12.

Reason for concern
It is estimated that a significant number of people over the age of 60 are deficient in vitamin B12 to some extent, meaning that they have low or marginal levels of B12 in their bodies. That may be due to an inadequate dietary intake of the appropriate foods or perhaps there is a diminished capability in the aging body’s ability to store and retain the vitamin. Whatever the reason, the concern is that if, because of their B-12 deficiency, they begin to exhibit some of the classic symptoms of dementia, they may be miss-diagnosed and not treated for the vitamin deficiency that is really contributing to their mental decline.

In conclusion
It is sad to think that this must have happened in the past and tens or hundreds of thousands of the elderly have been taken from their families and homes prematurely and robbed of possible years of useful and active life. From this time forward, we must be aware of the possibilities outlined above and ensure that those who become afflicted do not suffer an incorrect diagnosis and be similarly lost to their loved ones.

For additional information related to vitamins and human life, select from this List of Topics.

The lust for beauty and youth among both men and women is instrumental in propelling the billion dollar cosmetic industry across the world. However, some people are not satisfied by just hiding the signs of aging. The demand for a more permanent solution to the problem of wrinkles, sunken cheeks and droopy eyelids has provided a major boost to the facial filler market. This was further augmented by the introduction of botulinum toxin, type A that was primarily used to get rid of expression lines in the upper half of the face. One of the latest dermatological treatments that have created a stir across this vertical is the hyaluronic acid fillers. This filler is the latest soft tissue augmentation product available in the market today.

As per the results of a recently conducted survey by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), taking injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers to treat vertical lip lines, marionette lines and plumping of the lip is the fifth most common non-surgical procedure in the country. This filler can also be injected in the cheeks to make up for the lost subcutaneous volume that causes sunken cheeks. The popularity of the HA fillers can be attributed to the fact that they are a step closer to the ideal filler that the industry is striving to produce.

The cost of getting Hyaluronic acid filler injections is much lower than that of a surgical face lift while both offer similar results in terms of a youthful appearance. In addition to that, they do not cause any swelling or infection and have a relatively short recovery period. A session of this treatment lasts for nearly 30 to 60 minutes and does not require any prior skin testing. Thus, getting hyaluronic acid fillers is an effective solution to treat facial lines and furrows without having to pay a huge sum of money.