Senility (dementia)

Senility is a disease that results from the loss of neurons, as a person ages. In some people brain function can decline to the point that they are mentally disabled. Many people diagnosed as being senile actually suffer from pseudodementia, symptoms that mimic dementia but are caused by depression, deafness, brain tumours, thyroid problems, drugs and kidney and liver problems.

Causes: Alzheimer’s disease, kidney or liver failure, strokes, hypothyroidism, atherosclerosis and diabetes.

Symptoms: being forgetful, fearful, depression, agitation, loss of emotional responses, inability to absorb new information, mood swings, paranoia, anger, frustration, insensitivity to others, fear of being alone, repeating conversations, inability to make decisions, hoarding, failure to recognise people and self-neglect.

Who to consult: Dietician, GP, herbalist, homoeopath, naturopath, neurologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist.

Tags: age, brain, mental, depression, kidney, liver, agitation, emotion