Mental Disorders: A Warning Sign for Dementia
               Around 43.8 million adults experience a mental ailment in a given year while roughly 10 million are living with a mental disorder. Although these numbers from the National Alliance of Mental Illness are already alarming on their own, the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) notes that individuals with psychiatric disorders have an increased risk for late-life dementia.
            Having a form of mental disorder at a younger age followed by the subsequent development of dementia in a person's latter years is a common occurrence and both have proven to cause a number of problems. Mental disorders and dementia are significant contributors to higher healthcare costs, distress, and the need for professional care. While mental ailments are essentially described as cognitive disorders, some are integral to the causes of dementia in old age. In fact, studies show that dementia is often foreshadowed by schizophrenia and depression.

The Link Between Dementia and Mental Disorders
          German neuropathologist and psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer identified delusions, anxiety, discomposure amidst confusion and memory impairment, and hallucinations, as some of the major signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia. This means that in the beginning, dementia was treated as a cognitive problem.
                 Like dementia, mental ailments such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are disorders of the brain and according to recent studies, they all cause problems on how a person moves, thinks, and feels. Seniors with dementia experience cognition problems which affects their problem-solving skills and memory. Further studies on dementia and mental disorder share other pertinent similarities. This includes depression, stigma, disengagement, and isolation.
              The crux of the matter are the causes of mental health problems and dementia, according to experts. While the factors are complex, dementia and mental ailment often arise due to genetics, biological changes in the brain, and psychological problems.

Dementia in the United States
              A New York Times article reports that roughly 7 million Americans are diagnosed with dementia. In fact, 1 in 8 Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s disease, the fifth leading cause of death in the country for seniors 65 and above. It is interesting to note that due to the similarities of dementia and mental ailments in terms of causes and symptoms, misdiagnosis is rampant. Late onset bipolar disorder, for example, has symptoms that are similar to dementia. This includes delusions, manic behavior, and agitation. Late onset schizophrenia and depression also have similar symptoms.

Mental Health Care and Dementia Care for the Elderly
            Despite mental health and dementia awareness in the United States, not all seniors receive specialized care, according to the NCBI. The report adds that there is an urgent need for this type of care to ensure that seniors with mental health or dementia get the treatment they need. If you think that your parent or grandparent is showing early signs of dementia, it is advisable to bring him to a physician immediately.

Written by guest writer - Chrissy Robinson

Can Pollution Affect Mental Health?
        The state of California has set up strict car emission standards to lower smog levels and promote healthy lung development in children, but a recent study has revealed that there is another unappreciated source of air pollution in the Golden State: fertilized soil on farmland, which emits nitrogen oxides. Researchers recommend that farmers use targeted fertilization methods, to reduce the emission of gases.
        Of course, lung development is only one issue affected by pollution. We know that nitrogen oxides and other gases worsen asthma symptoms and are associated with more frequent hospital visits and impaired heart and lung function but did you know pollution can also affect your mental health?

Air Pollution and the Mental Health of Children
         A study published in the journal BMJ Open in 2016, found that even small increases in air pollution are associated with a significant rise in mental problems. The study looked into the effect of pollution exposure on over half a million children, comparing this with records of medications prescribed for mental disease, ranging from sedatives to antipsychotics. The researchers concluded that a lower concentration of pollution (first and foremost traffic pollution) could reduce mental problems in children and teens. They noted that children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, because they are more active and their organs are still in development.

It’s Just as Bad Indoors
        Of course, smog is not the only type of pollution that plagues Americans. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside homes is generally between two and five times more polluted than the air outside. Poor indoor air quality is caused by everything from harsh cleaning products such as bleach, right through to personal care products in spray form, formaldehyde in old sofas, toxins emitted by furniture, etc. Health experts warn us to select furniture carefully, cut down on the use of chemical cleaners at home, and refrain from burning paraffin candles, which release toxins that affect respiratory health.
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Supporting Research
         The above-mentioned research does not stand alone. One major study in Hong Kong, for instance, shows that the risk of death rises sharply on days when pollution is worse. Additional research, carried out by researchers at George Washington University, found that fine particles in air (which come from many sources, including cars and factories) are linked to higher anxiety levels. Moreover, the higher the smog levels, the higher the level of anxiety experienced.
       Air pollution is far from than merely a problem for our respiratory and heart health. Studies show that children and adults alike may be more vulnerable to the effects of pollution, indicating the importance of taking steps to reduce indoor pollution at home, and pressuring the government to take a tougher stance on smog and other sources of pollution (including farming).

Written by guest writer - Chrissy Robinson