Services
Dementia
We provide thorough assessment and management of cognitive concerns, including various forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and related conditions. Our team has sub-specialist training in neuropsychiatry to offer tailored support.
We have sub-specialist psychiatrists with extensive experience in cognitive disorders, having worked in public and private Memory and Cognitive Disorders Clinics and Neuropsychiatry Clinics. We have specialists who have completed fellowships in cognitive disorders and who are actively involved in dementia research.
What are Memory Problems and Dementia?
Occasionally losing track of time or missing a bill does not automatically indicate a problem with memory. But if recalling information becomes noticeably harder, or your ability to think and reason appears to be declining, this could be an early sign of dementia, a serious neurological condition that progressively interferes with daily life. Dementia is a broad term used to describe a group of degenerative disorders that gradually damage key brain functions, resulting in memory problems, language difficulties, reduced cognitive ability, and changes in personality and behaviour. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common and widely recognised form of dementia.
What Causes Memory Loss?
Memory problems are not a normal part of ageing and they can occur at any stage of life, including in children and young adults. Difficulties with memory may arise from a range of underlying causes, some of which are linked to dementia. Broadly, dementias can be grouped into neurodegenerative and non neurodegenerative causes.
Neurodegenerative dementias
These involve progressive damage to brain cells and typically worsen over time. Risk factors and contributors include:
- Family history of Alzheimer’s disease or other neurodegenerative dementias
- Traumatic brain injury, including repeated concussions
- Chronic inflammation
- Exposure to toxins
- Some medications that affect brain chemistry
Non neurodegenerative dementias
These conditions can impair memory and thinking and may increase the risk of developing dementia, but they are not primarily driven by progressive brain degeneration. Some may be treatable or reversible if addressed early. They include:
- Depression, ADHD, and post traumatic stress disorder
- Diabetes or prediabetes
- Alcohol dependence and substance misuse
- Untreated sleep apnoea
- Underactive thyroid
- Cancer and the effects of chemotherapy
Understanding whether memory changes are linked to neurodegenerative or non neurodegenerative causes is important, as early identification and treatment can significantly influence outcomes.
Why chose the Mind Cove for treatment of memory problems?
At The Mind Cove, we use neurofilament light chain (NfL) as part of a comprehensive evaluation that also includes lab testing, imaging and assessing the biological, psychological, and social factors that may contribute to memory problems. Based on all of this information, we can identify the root causes of memory problems and develop a personalised treatment plan to help slow down memory loss.
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