DAMMAM: Aging represents the accumulation of changes in a human being over time, encompassing physical, psychological and social changes. Also, there are prominent physiological changes experienced by the elderly that affect the mastery of their organic functions.

On the occasion of International Day of Older Persons, Saihat Charity organized a number of events to define the common diseases of the elderly.

Mona Al-Moghaslah, a psychiatrist at Saihat Charity, said: “Older people, starting from the age of 65, suffer from many symptoms, including depression, delirium, cognitive decline, malnutrition, fainting, dizziness, osteoporosis, visual and hearing impairment,” warning of the serious consequences resulting from improper dealing with such symptoms.”

She said: “Unfortunately, we do not notice such diseases in their early stages, but rather start dealing with them when they reach advanced stages, particularly in cognitive decline cases.”

“Those who take care of an older person must note signs of forgetfulness for starting the treatment of the etiology before its conversion to permanent dementia,” Al-Moghaslah said, confirming that cognitive decline may be caused by depression, lack of vitamin B, and small strokes.

The psychiatrist said that hydrocephalus disease that begins with cognitive decline, difficulty in walking, or incontinence, may be treated through installing a tube from the brain to the abdomen.

The psychiatrist classified temporary cognitive deterioration as the major disease that affects the elderly, because the reactions of the elderly are beyond the familiar ones, including sudden screaming, or nudity and nervousness, which resulted from a physical cause like painful urination, lung inflammation, potassium deficiency, cold, wrong drugs.

She confirmed that once the physical cause is treated, the patient will return to his normal nature, but it is necessary to visit emergency centers for properly diagnosing the cause.

On the tripping and falling, Al-Moghaslah said: “There are multiple non-observant causes for such symptoms, including severe friction in the joints, or dizziness caused by drugs.”

She recommended enrolling the older persons in elderly care programs at approved health care centers, emphasizing that those who are responsible for this category of patients should note any simple variables that occur in the elderly so they do not deteriorate and reach advanced stages.