Marasmus - what is this? Marasmus: symptoms

The human body grows old over time, and the brain is no exception. Although I want to say right away that old age is by no means synonymous with dementia.

Many elderly people have a clear mind, good memory, have a sense of humor and optimism. Although, unfortunately, there are a lot of those who become irritable, untidy, becoming embittered, becoming old and losing their memory and interest in life.

Relatives usually at first write off such changes for inevitable senile problems, and the patient eventually gets to the doctor in a state where being next to him becomes completely unbearable. The doctor diagnoses "senile dementia" (senile dementia), and relatives say: "Marasmus!"

What it is? When such a diagnosis is made, and can you get rid of it? We'll talk about all this in the article.

What condition of the patient is defined as marasmus

The term "marasmus" in medicine denotes the state of disintegration of the individual. This is one of the most severe mental disorders with a loss of ability to contact the environment.

Marasmus is provoked by atrophic processes in the brain and is the outcome of some diseases affecting the central nervous system.

How marasmus develops, what is this condition provoking?

Until now, the cause of most diseases, accompanied by brain atrophy, remains unexplored. Most often in such cases they speak of a hereditary predisposition, but one can not ignore the influence of external factors. As a rule, they are referred to as infectious and acute internal diseases.

But what disorders of the psyche cause marasmus? What is this pathology? I must say that they include a number of mental illnesses of older people, united by similar features. These are senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Pick's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

Signs of the appearance of a mental disorder

And these diseases begin usually are imperceptible to others and at first rather slowly. Each patient, before there is insanity, the symptoms of mental disorders develop on an increasing scale.

Equal for these pathologies is the chronic course of the disease with a constant increase in symptoms. In addition, the diseases are usually irreversible.

And one of the most striking signs is the growth of dementia from almost imperceptible manifestations to severe changes in the human intellect.

Early symptoms of impending senility

It is very important not to let the insanity grow in time. For this, it is worth paying attention to the characteristics of a person's character. If their exaggeration is noticeable, that is, frugality becomes avarice, distrust is suspicion, and persistence is stubbornness, along with violations of the ability to adequately analyze what is happening, generalization and other logical operations, these are the first bells of an impending problem.

In such cases, it is important to immediately change the routine and even the circle of communication (as it turned out, routine is one of the causes of mental disorders). Otherwise, over time, there will be grumbling, irritability, narrowing of interests, memory disorders will begin to grow and delusions arise that usually extend to relatives and friends. And all this leads to dementia.

The clinical picture of insanity

Ironically, "Marasmus grew stronger!" About the eccentricities of an elderly person, we usually do not think about the true meaning of this definition.

But in fact, at the stage of marasmus patients are already bedridden, they lie in one pose, become absolutely helpless and lead a practically plant life. Patients in this state often do not understand the speech addressed to them, can laugh or cry without reason. Reactions in the form of screams or groans, they manifest only on physical discomfort or pain.

The general condition of a person during marasmus is characterized by severe physical exhaustion, the development of dystrophy of internal organs and increased fragility of bones. Marasmus has also characteristic external signs, such as:

• Extreme emaciation;
• Yellowish-pale wrinkled skin with pigmented spots having a brownish or dark yellow hue;
• The skin is easily injured, and on it there are diaper rash and bedsores.

What is this condition and how is it treated?

Here such insidious insanity. What is awful and ugly, you already understood. The ability to treat this condition is medically low. And therefore, the most important place in this situation is taken care of the patient and supervision. After all, as a result of the disinhibition of drives and memory disorders, it becomes dangerous both to others and to oneself.

It is very important at the same time as long as possible to leave the patient at home, in his native walls, because the need to get used to the new situation causes him to deteriorate.

Typically, the treatment of marasmus is the therapy of concomitant diseases. Nootropic drugs are shown to such patients only at the initial stage. Neuroleptic agents are prescribed in small doses only to patients with psychotic disorders or with pronounced fussiness. A positive effect was observed in the timely treatment of vascular disorders. And to combat insomnia apply a small dose of drugs with hypnotic effect ("Nitrazepam", "Diazepam").

Do not be senile!

Yes, the so-called "idiocy and marasmus," photos of which can be found in large numbers in the media, is only a demonstration of the eccentricity or naked folly of some people, and marasmus as a medical diagnosis is a very serious condition, which can be avoided if we constantly train our Mind and not lose interest in life. Do not give in to illness, and she will always back down!