| In addition to Alzheimer's disease, the most serious and | | | | disease affects the blood pressure, but blood pressure |
| the most common of the progressive dementias, there | | | | also affects the kidneys: it is important to monitor the |
| are a number of other diseases that may cause senile | | | | blood pressure, especially in elderly patients who are |
| dementia, or in layman's terms, confusion that is | | | | deemed to have pre-hypertension. |
| beyond the normal for aging adults. While it is common | | | | It is important to remember that while some memory |
| for some minor confusion or memory problems to | | | | lapses may be normal, serious mental impairment or |
| develop in older adults, senile dementia goes beyond | | | | signs of dementia are not just the course of nature |
| what is considered to be normal. Four to five percent | | | | and a normal sign of aging. Any signs of deteriorating |
| of Americans of both genders, over the age of 65 | | | | mental status should be investigated immediately. |
| have some degree of mental and intellectual | | | | Increasing the Nutrition |
| impairment (Source: MacLean, ed. 1993). | | | | Many senior citizens live alone, on very tight budgets. |
| Besides Alzheimer's disease which is the fourth leading | | | | They are often lonely, depressed and have a physical |
| cause of death in the United States, (behind heart | | | | limitation that can prevent them from getting the food |
| disease, cancer and stroke) there are a number of | | | | that they need. When they do have food, they are |
| curable or treatable causes for senile dementia | | | | often uninterested in eating not only because of |
| including over medication, often seen in patients in long | | | | depression or illness but because of a slowing in the |
| term care facilities, malnutrition and dehydration. Other | | | | metabolism that may leave them with little appetite to |
| causes that can cause the symptoms that mimic the | | | | speak of. For these people, it may become more and |
| dementia related to Alzheimer's disease include: | | | | more difficult to find the desire to eat, just as much as |
| depression, chronic alcoholism, infections, heart disease, | | | | finding the actual food to eat. |
| kidney failure, thyroid disease, head injury and anemia. | | | | Tastes change as we age and foods that once were |
| Another cause can be stroke which affects at least | | | | favorites may hold little appeal. The sheer act of |
| two million American adults. Twice as many women | | | | cooking a meal may be exhausting physically as well |
| as men are at risk or have had a stroke. Stroke is yet | | | | as a reminder of the crushing loneliness that the |
| another common cause of confusion or mental | | | | person feels. They stop eating or in other cases may |
| impairment in the elderly. Another disease, Parkinson's | | | | opt to only eat unhealthy snack foods once or twice a |
| disease may also cause some senile dementia as well. | | | | day. |
| Parkinson's is thought to affect one person out of | | | | A protein supplement is a perfect way for the older |
| forty in the over sixty age group. It is recognized most | | | | adult to get good nutrition into their diet so that they |
| often by tremor, rigidity and a bent posture. | | | | can stay strong and healthy both mentally and |
| No matter what the reason for the dementia, there | | | | physically. The life expectancy for the average |
| are generally three steps to getting the person back to | | | | American has increased steadily in recent years, not |
| their best mental health: address the cause, increase | | | | only because of advances in medicine but in increased |
| the nutrition and increase the mental stimulation for the | | | | knowledge about the importance of good nutrition as |
| patient. | | | | well as physical and mental activity. There are many |
| Addressing the Cause | | | | different types of protein supplements, however, liquid |
| While there are a number of conditions that can be | | | | supplements might be far easier for the senior to |
| treatable, even curable, nothing can happen if the | | | | manage and can be a faster way to get the most |
| cause is not discovered. Because there is no definitive | | | | nutrition, including increased protein into their diet. |
| test for Alzheimer's disease, it is most often found in | | | | The best of the liquid supplements are: protein shakes, |
| the process of ruling out other diseases and conditions. | | | | powders and the liquid protein supplement shots. |
| Depression is one of the major causes for senile | | | | Protein shakes are ready to drink and come in the |
| dementia and should be ruled out first. There are many | | | | common flavors that the senior will be familiar with. |
| causes of depression in this age group including | | | | They boost protein intake as well as a number of |
| declining physical health, loss of family members, lack | | | | additional nutrients and can get the senior at least |
| of money and the need for more assistance than they | | | | close to a healthy calorie intake for the day. |
| are comfortable with. | | | | Protein Supplement Powders |
| Another common cause for dementia is the incidence | | | | Whey protein powder is one of the best of the four |
| of blood clots in the brain which may cause a condition | | | | types (soy, rice and egg are the other three) and |
| that is sometimes called "pseudo dementia" because | | | | comes in two types, the concentrate (30-85% protein) |
| the symptoms tend to diminish once surgery or other | | | | and the isolate (90% protein). Both are derivatives of |
| treatments are started. | | | | milk, a byproduct of the making of cheese with the |
| Improper nutrition and fluid intake, however is one of | | | | isolate having far less lactose and therefore better for |
| the most common causes of senile dementia and is | | | | those who might be mildly lactose intolerant. |
| often seen in those who are living in nursing homes or | | | | Whey protein powder has a number of benefits for |
| other long term care facilities. The longer that the | | | | the aging adult including the ability to slow both muscle |
| patient is living in the nursing home, the higher the risk | | | | and bone loss overall. It also has a number of |
| of developing nutrition and dehydration related | | | | protective anti-oxidant and anti-microbial properties that |
| impairment. Dehydration plays a role in senile dementia | | | | may improve the immune system and plays a role in |
| because it affects the electrolyte balance. Without | | | | the care of heart disease and blood pressure |
| proper nutrition, the electrolyte imbalance is likely to | | | | regulation (Source: Whey Protein Institute). |
| become even more affected and the confusion can | | | | Soy protein powder also has a number of heart |
| progress even further. In addition to symptoms of | | | | related benefits and has been shown to reduce the |
| confusion, an electrolyte imbalance can lead to more | | | | blood cholesterol that is a major risk factor in |
| serious problems including irregular heart rhythms which | | | | developing heart disease including heart attack and |
| can in turn cause heart attack. | | | | stroke. |
| High blood pressure, especially when it is not monitored | | | | Supplement Shots |
| and not controlled can also cause senile dementia and | | | | The liquid protein supplement shot might be appealing |
| puts the person at a much higher risk for stroke. | | | | to the senior citizen because they are small. Profect |
| Kidney disease, which may also be affected by high | | | | from Protica is only 2.9 fluid ounces, but has a major |
| blood pressure, can cause some dementia as the | | | | nutritional punch: it is 100 calories, 25 grams of protein, |
| kidneys start failing to sufficiently filter the blood and | | | | zero carbs, zero fats, 100% of the day's Vitamin C, |
| fluid levels in the body becomes affected. Kidney | | | | 10% of the daily supply of the Vitamin B complex. |