Substance use disorders are an increasing concern among the elderly. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that over one million adults aged 65 and older have experienced addiction.
Substance misuse includes both alcohol and illicit drugs. Managing the health of older adults becomes even more challenging when combined with issues like dementia.
Experts caution that without adequate training and resources for caregivers, this issue may worsen as the baby boomer generation continues to age.
What Is Dementia?
Dementia, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is not a specific disease but a broad term for cognitive impairment. While often associated with aging, dementia can also occur in younger individuals.
Types of Dementia
- Lewy Body Dementia
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Huntington’s Disease
- Vascular Dementia
- Down Syndrome-related Dementia
- Korsakoff Syndrome
Dementia arises from damage to brain cells, disrupting communication between them. This interference can significantly impact a person’s emotions, thinking, and behavior.
Brain cell damage can result from various conditions. In this discussion, we will examine the connection between substance abuse, addiction, and dementia.
Signs and Symptoms of Dementia
Dementia presents with various symptoms, but an accurate diagnosis requires evaluation by a trained medical professional. Common symptoms include:
- Diminished problem-solving skills
- Short-term memory loss
- Reduced coordination and physical strength
- Difficulty concentrating and maintaining focus
- Forgetting relationships, names, and faces
- Mood and personality changes
- Trouble learning new information
- Paranoia toward caregivers, friends, and family
- Challenges in completing basic self-care tasks
Substance Abuse and Dementia
While substance abuse is believed to increase the risk of dementia, much remains to be understood about the connection.
Drug or alcohol misuse can negatively affect cognitive function, but the evidence is limited on whether substance abuse alone directly causes dementia.
However, research suggests that these behaviors may create pathways in the brain that contribute to cognitive impairment, potentially leading to dementia.
Dementia and Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol addiction has a more direct link to dementia, particularly in the elderly. Moderate to high levels of alcohol consumption can significantly raise the risk of developing dementia.
Excessive alcohol use depletes vital nutrients, such as vitamin B, and may lead to neurotoxicity, resulting in alcohol-induced dementia.
Dementia and Marijuana Abuse
Long-term marijuana use can impair learning, hinder information retention, and make memory retrieval more challenging. Frequent marijuana use is associated with a progressive decline in cognitive abilities.
Dementia and Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drugs like Xanax and Valium, often used to manage anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions under medical supervision, have been linked to an increased risk of dementia with long-term use.
Similarly, prolonged use of painkillers and other prescription opioids has also been associated with a heightened risk of developing dementia.
Addiction and Dementia
Expert clinicians are trained to identify addiction, even when co-occurring with other mental health conditions. To diagnose a substance use disorder, physicians look for specific symptoms, including:
- Using substances in larger amounts or for longer durations than intended
- Failed attempts to stop substance use
- Increased tolerance, requiring greater quantities for the same effect
- Neglect of personal or professional responsibilities due to substance use
- Significant time spent obtaining, using, or recovering from substances
- Abandonment of social activities in favor of substance use
- Frequent conflicts in personal and social relationships caused by substance use
- Development of physical and mental health issues linked to substance use
- Persistent cravings despite efforts to reduce use
- Engaging in impulsive or dangerous behaviors while using substances
When addiction symptoms occur alongside the cognitive decline of dementia, the risks of dual diagnosis become particularly concerning.
Can Dementia Be Caused by Substance Abuse?
While concrete evidence linking substance abuse directly to dementia remains elusive, it is clear that drug and alcohol misuse can significantly increase the risk of developing this debilitating disease.
Abuse of marijuana, alcohol, and prescription drugs raises the likelihood of dementia. In fact, studies suggest that nearly 40% of early-onset dementia cases are directly associated with alcohol use.
Help is Available
Recovery from addiction is challenging for anyone, and even more so for those with dementia. The effects of dementia on memory, cognition, and perception, combined with substance abuse, can amplify its impact. If you or a loved one is facing these challenges, support is available.
Contact Sunrise Recovery in Clarksville Indiana
Call +1 (877) 978 – 6747 or send us a message today to learn more about your treatment options.
