23/02/2021
DEMENTIA
DEFINITION
Dementia isn't a specific disease. Instead, dementia describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning.
Dementia indicates problems with at least two brain functions, such as memory loss and impaired judgment or language, and the inability to perform some daily activities such as paying bills or becoming lost while driving.
Though memory loss generally occurs in dementia, memory loss alone doesn't mean you have dementia. There is a certain extent of memory loss that is a normal part of aging.
Many causes of dementia symptoms exist. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of a progressive dementia. Some causes of dementia may be reversible.
SYMPTOMS
Dementia symptoms vary depending on the cause, but common signs and symptoms include:
Cognitive changes
Memory lossDifficulty communicating or finding wordsDifficulty with complex tasksDifficulty with planning and organizingDifficulty with coordination and motor functionsProblems with disorientation, such as getting lost
Psychological changes
Personality changesInability to reasonInappropriate behaviorParanoiaAgitationHallucinations
Alzheimer's disease and several other types of dementia worsen over time. Early diagnosis gives you time to plan for the future while you can participate in making decisions.
CAUSES
Dementia involves damage of nerve cells in the brain, which may occur in several areas of the brain. Dementia may affect people differently, depending on the area of the brain affected.
Dementias can be classified in a variety of ways and are often grouped by what they have in common, such as what part of the brain is affected, or whether they worsen over time (progressive dementias).
Some dementias, such as those caused by a reaction to medications or an infection, are reversible with treatment.