what causes senile dementia? Is it hereditary?

Answer 1

Alzheimer’s disease
Definition
Alzheimer's disease (AD), one form of dementia, is a progressive, degenerative brain disease. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.

Memory impairment is a necessary feature for the diagnosis of this or any type of dementia. Change in one of the following areas must also be present: language, decision-making ability, judgment, attention, and other areas of mental function and personality.

The rate of progression is different for each person. If AD develops rapidly, it is likely to continue to progress rapidly. If it has been slow to progress, it will likely continue on a slow course.

Alternative Names
Senile dementia/Alzheimer's type (SDAT)

Causes
More than 4 million Americans currently have AD. The older you get, the greater your risk of developing AD, although it is not a part of normal aging. Family history is another common risk factor.

In addition to age and family history, risk factors for AD may include:

Longstanding high blood pressure
History of head trauma
High levels of homocysteine (a body chemical that contributes to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, depression, and possibly AD)
Female gender -- because women usually live longer than men, they are more likely to develop AD
There are two types of AD -- early onset and late onset. In early onset AD, symptoms first appear before age 60. Early onset AD is much less common, accounting for only 5-10% of cases. However, it tends to progress rapidly.

The cause of AD is not entirely known but is thought to include both genetic and environmental factors. A diagnosis of AD is made based on characteristic symptoms and by excluding other causes of dementia-.

Answer 2

Is Dementia Hereditary

Answer 3

There are a couple of categories of dementia. We used to call it hardening of the arteries or other terms. The first we now know as Alzheimer's Disease, this has organic causes and is hereditary. The second is dementia with psychological causes. This is an odd condition and is like being lost. People loose their rudders when they don't have age-mates and peers to communicate with. There is also the stress of seeing friends and family drop of one by one.

Answer 4

Senile dementia is a disease which is caused by the degeneration of the brain cells. It is a gradual deterioration which results in progressive memory loss, decreasing mental abilities and personality changes.
Dementia is a disease that is caused by another underlying disease or condition such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's Chorea, MS, HIV, Parkinson's. It also can be caused by viral or bacterial means as in syphilis related dementia, or encephalitis. Yes, some of causes of dementia are hereditary.

Answer 5

1

Answer 6

propensity to have it genetically through similar physiology yes