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Disorders that cause dementia include conditions that impair the vascular (blood vessels) or neurologic (nerve) structures of the brain. A minority of causes of dementia are treatable. These include normal pressure hydrocephalus, brain tumors, and dementia due to metabolic causes and infections. Unfortunately, most of the disorders associated with dementia are progressive, irreversible, degenerative conditions.
The two major degenerative causes of dementia are Alzheimer's disease, which is a progressive loss of nerve cells without a known cause or cure and vascular dementia, which is loss of brain function due to a series of small strokes. Vascular dementia may or may not play a role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease: the conditions often occur together and neither can be diagnosed definitively except until autopsy. In those with the genetic and environmental susceptibility to develop Alzheimer's disease, the concomitant presence of small infarcts (lacunar strokes) speeds up the onset of Alzheimer's disease to an earlier age than if it were to occur alone (i.e., without small infarcts).
Dementia may be diagnosed when there is impairment of two or more brain functions, including language, memory, visual-spatial perception, emotional behavior or personality, and cognitive skills (such as calculation, abstract thinking, or judgment). Dementia usually appears first as forgetfulness. Other symptoms may be apparent only on neurologic examination or cognitive testing. Loss of functioning progresses slowly from decreased problem solving and language skills to difficulty with ordinary daily activities to severe memory loss and complete disorientation with withdrawal from social interaction.
* Excerpts compiled from A.D.A.M., Inc. |
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DEMENTIA Memory and Aging Research Center UCLA We are dedicated to advancing state-of-the-art research, education and clinical care of memory disorders. Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center article describes a newly discovered memory loss type that represents a midway point between those which occur in normal aging processes and in Alzheimer's. William and Sylvia Silberstein Aging and Dementia Research Center New York University provides research on memory problems attributed to normal aging, and the diagnosis, causes and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. HEARING Articles about various aspects of hearing loss, such as unilateral hearing loss, types and degrees of hearing loss, mild hearing loss, and sudden deafness. Ali's Hearing Loss Support Page Stories, updates, FAQs, and research on hearing loss and cochlear implants. Concise factsheet explaining the causes, symptoms and treatment of hearing loss. Medicinenet.com: Hearing Loss and Older Adults A physician produced listing of health information about hearing loss and communications disorders. A metaguide to internet resources about communication disorders, designed for professionals and students in the fields of speech-language pathology, audiology, speech science, persons with communication disabilities or differences and their support persons. Searchable index directory for audiology, hearing loss, hearing aids, and the ear. Database of websites in audiology for patients, students, and healthcare providers. SMELL AND TASTE Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS) Association established to advance the understanding of chemosensory mechanisms by bringing to one forum the variety of different scientific disciplines currently being used to approach the chemical senses Chemosensory Perception Lab at UCSD- chemical senses research The Chemosensory Perception Lab in the Department of Surgery at University of California, San Diego performs research on how people perceive chemicals and how chemicals exert short-term effects on people. Duke University - Taste and Smell Lab Located in the Department of Psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina USA. Research spans the range from clinical to molecular investigations of the senses of taste and smell. Human olfactory receptor repertoire Olfactory receptor sequences that represent essentially the complete repertoire of functional human odorant receptors. A scientific institute for multidisciplinary research on taste, smell and chemosensory irritation. Located at the University of California, San Diego. NIDCD Health Information on Smell and Taste Disorders A basic introduction to smell and taste disorders. Current understanding of the physiological basis for olfaction (sense of smell) and the possible molecular interactions that specify odorant signaling. Olfaction: From Genome Mining to Molecular Recognition Statistics Lecture on olfaction by Doron Lancet at UCSB The Human Olfactory Receptor Data Exploratorium; information on the OR proteins, their structure, function and evolution. A set of analysis tools is provided. Representations of Olfactory Information in the Brain Research article on olfaction (sense of smell). Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center (RMTSC). The Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine. Scientific American: Making Sense of Taste Analysis of how cells on the tongue register the sensations of sweet, salty, sour and bitter, and how the brain interprets these signals as various tastes. Database devoted to olfactory receptors. The Merck Manual takes an extensive look at discussion on diagnosis and treatment. Provides an overview about how smell and taste work, the main causes of disorders of these senses, and the diagnoses and treatments of them. A discussion as to how smell and taste works, the four basic tastes, what causes the disorders, diagnosing and a discussion on whether they can be treated. A Professor at Cardiff University, Wales, this site lists information on his research and teaching interests. It includes information on brain activity related to smell, which may be of interest to anosmics. Taste & Smell Disorders Clinic, Texas Assessment and treatment of taste and smell disorders. Taste and Smell Loss: Risk for Disease? A reduced, distorted, or lost sense of taste or smell represent serious risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other illnesses that require adherence to specific dietary regimens. Sensory, biological, and chemical aspects of how tastes, smells, and pheromones are received and perceived. Includes a comprehensive index of scientific abstracts. The Sense of Scents, the Sense of Self Smell and its interaction with the brain, and in particular the relationship between smell and memory. Answers questions about the sense of taste. The Smell and Taste Disorders Clinic, Syracuse Health Science Center of the State University of New York in Syracuse. Explanation of smell and taste disorders with treatment options. The Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, Ltd. Focused on working to better the understanding of and proactively utilize the body's senses. (Chicago, IL) Located in Washington, D.C. Information about the clinic, diagnosis, treatment, FAQs, research and contact details. Our Taste and Smell Clinic uses a multidisciplinary approach to determine the etiology of a patient's taste and smell disorder. University of Connecticut Health Center. TOUCH AND SENSATION Overview of this condition. From Medline Plus. VISION Medical information, treatment, and symptoms. Includes cataracts, color blindness, and eye allergy. All About Vision - Guide to Eye Conditions Information and articles on many different disorders. Definition, patients at risk, symptoms, clinical significant values, how to test, and how to correct. Eye care, diseases, and conditions. Includes an eye dictionary, current news articles, and a newsletter. Support group for people who have the eye condition called coloboma. Their parents, family and friends are invited to join too. Explanations of and treatments for common and rare eye disorders. Consumer health resource center providing information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of Iritis. eMedicine Health - Ocular Hypertension Consumer health resource center providing information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of ocular hypertension. Provides a view of what various eye diseases, look like through the eyes of the afflicted. Dedicated to the education of the eye care consumer, written and prepared exclusively by board-certified ophthalmologists. Database of ocular diseases, their causes, treatments and surgical options. Deals with common eye diseases/conditions/problems. Visitors can also ask questions. Provides information, symptoms, causes and treatment ideas for eye diseases and disorders. Medical information, articles, news, treatment, prevention and ask the expert. Information from Harvard Medical School. Krukenberg's Spindle and Pigment Dispersion Syndrome Specific information about diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. Support, advice, and tips for those who have lost an eye or about to loose an eye through a medical procedure. NetHealthBook.com - Eye Diseases and Eye-related Topics Briefly covers symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatment of several eye conditions. PHPV Support Group's Quarterly Newsletter Offering support to those dealing with persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous. Provides information about the various eye disorders, a discussion board for people to share their experiences and a question and answer section for people to share. St. Lukes Eye Diseases and Disorders A graphic, descriptive encyclopedia of eye conditions and their available treatments. University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center Comprehensive directory describing the most common ocular ailments. Symptoms and treatment information is provided for each condition. A guide to visual symptoms and their possible causes. This is a support group for persons experiencing ongoing snow or static in their visual fields. |
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DEMENTIA Latest information on dementia, drug trials, research, support and education. Subcortical Arteriosclerotic Encephalopathy information sheet compiled by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Butler Hospital Memory Disorders Program Designed to assist individuals with memory loss and dementia and their families by providing high quality, comprehensive evaluation and treatment, while also researching and developing new treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, and training medical residents, psychology interns, and fellows - from Brown Medical School. Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR) Information on Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurodegenerative diseases for patients, families, physicians and researchers. From a dictionary of terms pertaining to memory processes. Overview and fact sheet on dementia from the Merck Medical Manual. Concise fact sheet explaining the causes, symptoms and treatment of this disorder, available for down loading in Adobe Acrobat. Dementia Advocacy and Support Network International Provides information about DASN, a non-profit organization. Includes news headlines and extensive resources for the diseases. Offers individualized courses for specific settings e.g. day care, residential. Primary operations in the UK. Dementia: Diagnosis and Treatment Diagnosis, management and support for individuals and families affected by dementia Information about dementia, its diagnosis, causes and treatment options. Dementia information: resources, definition, and symptoms. Mayo Clinic: Behavior and Dementia A description of the condition and its causes and methods of coping. Memory Center - University of Chicago Information on dementia from the highly esteemed Memory Center at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Description of dementia types. Causes of dementia or dementia-like symptoms. Multi-infarct or Vascular Dementia Good overview of dementia from strokes or other vascular causes. Maintained by the National Institute of Health Introduction to dementia, ask a doctor forum. Care and support for younger people (under 65 years of age) with dementia (early onset dementia) and Alzheimer's Disease, and their families. The NYU Silberstein Aging & Dementia Research Center (ADRC) Center dedicated to understanding brain aging and dementia through research, education and treatment. Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute: Dementia Diagnostic Clinics A list of Wisconsin-specific care and diagnostic centers. HEARING Interstate Hearing Aid Service Audiology, Hearing Aid Sales & Service in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, & NY. Services provided free-of-charge to deaf, hearing-impaired children to the age of five. (Los Angeles, CA) Josie and Deb's Audio Center of Boise Idaho A multi-line hearing aid dispenser located in Boise Idaho that sells and repairs hearing aids. Product lines offered include Starkey, Qualitone, Magnatone, Audina, NuEar, and Seimens. Helping people overcome hearing loss using products frok Oticon, such as the Digifocus II, employing digital hearing aid technology. Our audiologists work out of Santa Rosa, CA located in the heart of Sonoma County. Provides hearing aid services in Quebec, Canada. Full-service audiology clinic serving Orange and Riverside counties in California. Audiology and speech language pathologist services for Miami, Florida area. Audiology practices located in Southern California, in Irvine and in Lake Forest. Providing a comprehensive hearing evaluation. royal association for deaf people information, advice and services for deaf adults and children including links to international deaf organisations. Family Owned Audiology/Hearing Aid Center in Boca Raton Shady Grove Audiology & Neuro-Otology Center Audiology & Neuro-Otology Services for Rockville, Maryland Hearing clinic, Speech clinic and Tinnitus clinic, Vancouver Canada for the hearing loss. Hearing aids, Tinnitus therapy and Speech therapy services. South Miami Audiology Consultants South Miami Audiology Consultants provide hearing and hearing aid assistance for all ages, specializing in children and geriatrics. Southwest Services for the Deaf Provides mental health services, information, and resources for the Deaf community in the southwest United States. Provides Audiological and hearing aid services throughout Illinois. Provides audio test and supplies hearing aid. Includes personal profile and relates links. Located in Ayer Keroh, Malaysia. Dr. Sol Marghzar, clinical audiologist discusses the treatment of tinnitus and hyperacusis. Information about Tinnitus Retraining Thereapy. Several office locations in California. Provides ENT Services and information for the Saginaw, Frankenmuth & Tawas City Michigan areas. Washington Better Hearing Center Pennsylvania hearing clinic that provides hearing aids and hearing related services. VISION Information, diagrams and animations about surgery for the correction of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Questions answered about refractive surgery and complications. EyeKnowWhy - I Know Why Refractive Surgeons Wear Glasses A consumer health site dedicated to educating consumers to the risks of refractive surgery procedures such as RK, PRK, and LASIK. Information on refractive surgery from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Laser Eye Surgery: Is It Worth Looking Into? An article from the July-August 1998 issue of the FDA Consumer Magazine examining the benefits and risks of laser eye surgery. Information site about laser treatments, including laser eye surgery. Includes searchable directory of laser surgeons. Information site by Dr Stephen J Doyle on laser eye surgery - LASIK, PRK and LASEK. Provides information on refractive surgery procedures with directory listing of surgeons and clinics who offer laser eye surgery. Developer of Conductive Keratoplasty for farsightedness with database of doctors performing the procedure. Refractive surgery information including benefits, risks and alternatives to Lasik, PRK, Intacs, LTK and emerging procedures. Grassroots organization which exists to help people who have had unsuccessful Lasik, PRK, RK or other refractive surgeries that resulted in debilitating complications. The British Orthokeratology Society BOKS was set up to promote and educate the profession and the public in orthokeratology techniques. Provides information about orthokeratology. Orthokeratology is the non-surgical, method of correcting short sight using contact lenses. The Refractive Surgery Patient Resource Center Information on refractive surgery, the different procedures available, patient experiences, new technology, risks and benefits, and a bulletin board for discussion of related topics. Laser eye surgeries explained and illustrated with a nationwide directory of eye doctors performing laser refractive surgery. Mimics a number of considitions which may exist before and/or after a vision correction procedure or surgery.
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The
term "dementia" refers to a group of symptoms involving progressive
impairment of all aspects of brain function. 
