what is dementia? dementia – signs, symptoms, causes, tests, treatment, care

What is dementia and causes?

What is the test for dementia?

What are the 7 symptoms of dementia?

What is the most common treatment for dementia?

When should you get tested for dementia?

What are the 10 warning signs of dementia?

What are the first signs of dementia in a person?

What are the 12 risk factors for dementia?

What questions are asked in a dementia test?

What are the 4 main types of dementia?

How is early onset dementia diagnosed?

What are the symptoms of dementia?

Common symptoms affect behavior, personality, thinking, judgment, and language and movement. Mixed dementia. Autopsy studies of the brains of people 80 and older who had dementia indicate that many had a combination of several causes, such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia.

What causes dementia symptoms?

Dementia-like symptoms can result from fever or other side effects of your body's attempt to fight off an infection. Multiple sclerosis and other conditions caused by the body's immune system attacking nerve cells also can cause dementia. Metabolic problems and endocrine abnormalities.

Is dementia a normal age?

The risk rises as you age, especially after age 65. However, dementia isn't a normal part of aging, and dementia can occur in younger people. Family history. Having a family history of dementia puts you at greater risk of developing the condition.

What is the best diet for dementia?

A diet such as the Mediterranean diet — rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids, which are commonly found in certain fish and nuts — might promote health and lower your risk of developing dementia. This type of diet also improves cardiovascular health, which may help lower dementia risk.

Does sleep apnea cause dementia?

People who have sleep apnea and other sleep disturbances might be at higher risk of developing dementia. Vitamin and nutritional deficiencies. Low levels of vitamin D, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate can increase your risk of dementia. Medications that can worsen memory.

Can a fever cause dementia?

Dementia-like symptoms can result from fever or other side effects of your body's attempt to fight off an infection. Multiple sclerosis and other conditions caused by the body's immune system attacking nerve cells also can cause dementia. Metabolic problems and endocrine abnormalities.

How to delay the onset of dementia?

Mentally stimulating activities, such as reading, solving puzzles and playing word games, and memory training might delay the onset of dementia and decrease its effects. Be physically and socially active. Physical activity and social interaction might delay the onset of dementia and reduce its symptoms.

What are the symptoms of dementia?

Because dementia is a general term, its symptoms can vary widely from person to person. People with dementia have problems with: Memory. Attention. Communication. Reasoning, judgment, and problem solving. Visual perception beyond typical age-related changes in vision. Signs that may point to dementia include:

How do you know if you have dementia?

Because dementia is a general term, its symptoms can vary widely from person to person. People with dementia have problems with: Visual perception beyond typical age-related changes in vision. Signs that may point to dementia include: Forgetting the name of a close family member or friend.

Can dementia be reversible?

Reversible causes . People who have dementia may have a reversible underlying cause such as side effect of medication, increased pressure in the brain, vitamin deficiency, and thyroid hormone imbalance. Medical providers should screen for reversible causes in patients who are concerning for dementia.

Is dementia a disease?

Related Pages. Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging.

What are the causes of dementia?

Poor heart health. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking increase the risk of dementia if not treated properly. Traumatic brain injury. Head injuries can increase the risk of dementia, especially if they are severe or occur repeatedly.

Is there a cure for dementia?

Neurodegenerative dementias, like Alzheimer’s disease, have no cure, though there are medications that can help protect the brain or manage symptoms such as anxiety or behavior changes. Research to develop more treatment options is ongoing.

What are the symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia?

Lewy body dementia. In addition to more typical symptoms like memory loss, people with this form of dementia may have movement or balance problems like stiffness or trembling. Many people also experience changes in alertness including daytime sleepiness, confusion or staring spells.

What are the symptoms of dementia?

There are many conditions that can cause dementia-like symptoms that can sometimes be stopped or even reversed with treatment. These conditions include: 1 Side effects of certain medicines 2 Emotional problems, such as stress, anxiety, or depression 3 Certain vitamin deficiencies 4 Drinking too much alcohol 5 Blood clots, tumors, or infections in the brain 6 Delirium, a sudden state of confusion and disorientation 7 Head injury, such as a concussion from a fall or accident 8 Thyroid, kidney, or liver problems 9 Normal pressure hydrocephalus, an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain

How do you know if you have dementia?

Many people associate dementia with memory loss. This is because memory problems are often one of the early symptoms of a dementia disorder, but they are not the only one. The symptoms of dementia can vary, depending on the type of dementia and what areas of the brain are affected. Symptoms may include: 1 Memory loss, poor judgment, and confusion 2 Changes in the ability to speak, understand, and express thoughts and/or words and to write and read 3 Wandering and getting lost in a familiar neighborhood 4 Trouble handling money and paying bills 5 Repeating questions 6 Using unusual words to refer to familiar objects 7 Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks 8 Loss of interest in normal daily activities or events 9 Hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia 10 Acting impulsively 11 Not caring about other people’s feelings 12 Problems with balance and movement

What is dementia in psychology?

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological conditions affecting the brain that get worse over time. It is the loss of the ability to think, remember, and reason to levels that affect daily life and activities. Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions and other behaviors, and their personality may change.

Can dementia affect your personality?

Some people with dementia cannot control their emotions and other behavior s, and their personality may change. In the past, dementia was sometimes referred to as “senility” and was thought to be a normal part of aging, likely because it is more common as people age.

Is dementia a normal part of aging?

As many as half of all people age 85 or older may have dementia. But dementia is not a normal part of aging. Not everyone develops dementia as they get older, and, in rare cases, some people develop dementia in midlife.

Can genetic mutations cause dementia?

For a small number of people, rare genetic mutations that cause dementia have been identified . Although some people may be diagnosed with general dementia, to best tailor treatment ...

What is the most common form of dementia?

The five most common forms of dementia are: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common dementia diagnosis among older adults. Alzheimer’s dementia is typically associated with abnormal buildups of proteins in the brain — these are known as amyloid plaques and tau tangles — along with a loss of connection among nerve cells.

How to tell if you have dementia?

For dementia symptoms that overlap with normal aging-related cognitive changes, there are distinguishing factors that can help understand whether or not these are regular changes. These can include: 1 Speech skills: Occasionally forgetting words is usually a sign of normal cognitive changes, while frequent pauses in speech, difficulty understanding speech, or tendency to call things by the wrong name can be a sign of dementia. 2 Memory loss: Those with regular aging-related memory loss will usually be able to recall specific instances in which their memory has failed, and may complain about increasing forgetfulness. Those with dementia-related memory loss will be unable to recall specific instances of memory loss, and may not acknowledge they have memory loss unless they are prompted or asked. 3 Short-term memory changes: Significant declines in short-term memory, such as an inability to remember recent conversations or events, are not a normal sign of aging and can indicate dementia. 4 Trouble with familiar tasks: Normal cognitive decline can cause trouble with directions or with remembering how to get somewhere, but getting lost in familiar, frequently visited locations or forgetting the way home could be signs of dementia. 5 Social skills: Loss of social skills isn't a normal part of aging - lack of interest in socializing, decreased ability to speak to others, or increased socially inappropriate behavior can be a sign of dementia.

What are the psychological changes of dementia?

Psychological Changes for Dementia Patients 1 Changes in mood: Frequent mood swings, increased sensitivity to change, and increased anxiety and agitation. 2 Personality changes: Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities and sometimes completely changed personality and behaviors. 3 Hallucinations or paranoia: In later stages of dementia, sufferers may believe that even close friends or family are dangerous or "out to get them". 4 Decreased reasoning skills: Neglecting safety, personal hygiene, exercise, or nutrition. May display decreased judgement skills involving money, like careless purchases or giving away large sums of money. 5 Socially inappropriate behavior: Making rude or explicit sexual comments publicly or to strangers.

How does dementia affect cognitive function?

Cognitive Changes for Dementia Patients 1 Disorientation: A person with dementia becomes lost in familiar places, expresses confusion about the date or time of day, or has difficulty with directions. 2 Memory loss: Failure to recognize people and faces, in later stages even family members or close loved ones. Dementia patients can also experience decreases in short term memory, such as asking the same questions repeatedly or forgetting recent events and conversations. 3 Problems communicating: Loss of social skills and lack of interest in socializing, frequently forgetting words, or being unable to follow a conversation. 4 Difficulty with complex tasks: Difficulty planning or organizing events, paying bills, following recipes, writing letters, or traveling to new locations. 5 Decreased concentration: Difficulty staying focused and concentrating, decreased ability to learn and memorize new information. 6 Problems with coordination: Decreased motor functions and coordination, sometimes manifested as trembling, shaking, or difficulty walking.

Is dementia a normal part of aging?

In fact, many dementia symptoms can be a completely normal part of aging, or can be signs of other afflictions like depression. In understanding dementia, one of the most important first steps is learning what distinguishes regular cognitive changes from dementia.

Is short term memory a sign of dementia?

Short-term memory changes: Significant declines in short-term memory, such as an inability to remember recent conversations or events, are not a normal sign of aging and can indicate dementia.

What are the cognitive changes of dementia?

Cognitive Changes for Dementia Patients. Disorientation: A person with dementia becomes lost in familiar places, expresses confusion about the date or time of day, or has difficulty with directions. Memory loss: Failure to recognize people and faces, in later stages even family members or close loved ones.

Does dementia affect memory?

Memory loss: Failure to recognize people and faces, in later stages even family members or close loved ones. Dementia patients can also experience decreases in short term memory, such as asking the same questions repeatedly or forgetting recent events and conversations.