失智症與台灣高齡社會的探討

A Simple Exploration on Dementia in the Aged Society of Taiwan

洪慈穗(Tzu-Sui Hung) ； 洪敏元(Min-Yuan Hung)

《華醫學報》 56期 (2022/06) Pp. 1-14

摘要

失智症是一種因大腦功能退化而引起的智能障礙疾病，在台灣65歲以上的老人每12人就有一位失智症，80歲以上的老人每5位就有一位失智症，目前已有許多研究顯示年齡老化與失智症有相當程度的關聯。阿茲海默症是失智症裡最常見的一種，會造成記憶力與認知功能缺損，也會隨時間惡化，其危險因子有年齡、家族病史與基因遺傳、心臟或血管受損以及頭部創傷等。目前雖有治療藥物，但只能減輕症狀，無法根治。雖然失智症尚無法被治癒，但藥物和非藥物治療可緩解認知與行為症狀。建議加強頭腦與身體的活動，每日保持適量的運動，體重也應保持在正常範圍內。積極處理身體的大小疾病，例如糖尿病、高血壓、高膽固醇。保持頭腦清晰，培養新的嗜好，以及保持社交的活躍度或有助益。

關鍵字

失智 ； 阿茲海默 ； 高齡社會 ； 認知功能缺損

並列摘要

Dementia is an intellectual disability disease attributing to brain functions decline. In Taiwan, one in 12 elderly people aged 65 and older have dementia, currently there are many studies on the relationship between ageing and dementia. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type for the diagnosis of dementia, which is a neurodegenerative disorder, and the most common type in an aging and aged society. It is an abnormal aging phenomenon, and usually leads to memory loss and cognitive declines. There are many risk factors including age, family history, genetic and environmental problems, cardiovascular diseases and head injury. Although there are medications for AD, it can only temporarily improve the symptoms, without being able to provide a thorough cure. There is no known cure for dementia and AD, however adopting both medication and non-medication treatments may improve cognitive symptoms. To strengthen mind and body, engaging with daily physical activity, maintaining healthy body weights, managing health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and staying mentally alert by reading and learning new hobbies, as well as involving socially are suggested.

並列關鍵字

dementia ； Alzheimer's disease (AD) ； aged society ； cognitive impairment