Elder Care, Substance Abuse History & Frontal Lobe Complications

Implications in Dementia

Substance abuse among adults continues to be a leading cause of health concern in the United States. For many adults, the complications of substance abuse are life long and can lead to secondary health complications with age. If you are caring for an aging parent that experienced a complication with substance abuse during her lifetime, you may notice issues of behavior and personality complications with aging.

Complications involving behavior, memory and personality are common with the aging process. However, for aging adults who demonstrate a history of substance abuse, this prior history may lead to exacerbated complications with personality, behavior and memory. The primary reason for this complication is due to the damage of the frontal lobe caused by many years of alcohol or drug use.

As your parent ages, if they experiences a prior history of substance abuse, there are very specific personality traits you will notice developing in terms of cognitive processing. With the frontal lobe impairment, your parent may suddenly demonstrate complications involving self-control, impulsivity, and even loss or distorted expression of apathy. While these types of behaviors can be challenging for families to deal with, when we understand the underlying cause and origin, we can begin to seek the necessary help for our aging parent.

If your parent is expressing these types of complications, you will want to consult a health care professional about the possible use of outpatient rehabilitation programs. While your parent may not require substance abuse programs, it will be necessary to find programs that specialize in frontal lobe disorders as it relates to a substance abuse history. In many traumatic brain injury centers, the specialists are familiar wit these complications may be able to provide services for your aging parent.