What Do You Know About Dementia?

What is dementia?

Dementia is a decline in cognitive function. To be considered dementia, mental impairment must affect at least two brain functions. Dementia may affect: memory, thinking, language, judgment, and or behavior. Dementia is not a disease. It may be caused by a variety of illnesses or injuries. Mental impairment may range from mild to severe. It may also cause personality changes. Some dementias are progressive. This means they get worse over time. Some dementias are treatable or even reversible. Some experts restrict the term dementia to irreversible mental deterioration.
 

What are the stages of dementia?

In most cases, dementia is progressive, getting worse over time. Dementia progresses differently in everyone. However, most people experience symptoms of the following stages of dementia:

Mild cognitive impairment

Older individuals may develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI) but may never progress to dementia or any other mental impairment. People with MCI commonly experience forgetfulness, trouble recalling words, and short-term memory problems.

Mild dementia

At this stage, people with mild dementia may be able to function independently. Symptoms includes:

• short-term memory lapses
• personality changes, including anger or depression
• misplacing things or forgetfulness
• difficulty with complex tasks or problem solving
• struggling to express emotions or ideas

Moderate dementia

At this stage of dementia, people impacted may need assistance from a loved one or care provider. That’s because dementia may now interfere with daily tasks and activities. Symptoms include:

• poor judgment
• increasing confusion and frustration
• memory loss that reaches further into the past
• needing help with tasks like dressing and bathing
• significant personality changes

Severe dementia

At this late stage of dementia, the mental and physical symptoms of the condition continue to decline. Symptoms include:

• inability to maintain bodily functions, including walking and eventually swallowing and controlling bladder
• inability to communicate
• requiring full-time assistance
• increased risk for infections

People with dementia will progress through the stages of dementia at different rates. Understanding the stages of dementia can help you prepare for the future.
 
What causes dementia?
There are many causes of dementia. In general, it results from the degeneration of neurons (brain cells) or disturbances in other body systems that affect how neurons function. Several conditions can cause dementia, including diseases of the brain. The most common such causes are Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Neurodegenerative means that neurons gradually cease to function or function inappropriately and eventually die. This affects the neuron-to-neuron connections, called synapses, that are how messages are passed along in your brain. This disconnect can result in a range of dysfunction.
Some of the more common causes of dementia include:

Neurodegenerative diseases

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease with dementia
• vascular dementia
• medication side effects
• chronic alcoholism
• certain tumors or infections of the brain

Another cause is frontotemporal lobar degeneration, which is a blanket term for a range of conditions that cause damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. They include:

• frontotemporal dementia
• Pick’s disease
• supranuclear palsy
• corticobasal degeneration

 
What are other causes of dementia?
Dementia may also be caused by other conditions, including:

• structural brain disorders, such as normal-pressure hydrocephalus and subdural hematoma
• metabolic disorders, such as hypothyroidism, vitamin B-12 deficiency, kidney,and liver disorders
• toxins, such as lead

Some of these dementias may be reversible. These treatable causes of dementia may reverse symptoms if they’re caught early enough. This is one of the many reasons why it’s important to see your doctor and get a medical workup as soon as symptoms develop.
 

What are the types of dementia?

Most cases of dementia are a symptom of a specific disease. Different diseases cause different types of dementia. The most common types of dementia include:

• Alzheimer’s disease. The most common type of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease makes up 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases.
• Vascular dementia. This type of dementia is caused by reduced blood flow in the brain. It may be the result of plaque buildup in arteries that feed blood to the brain or a stroke.

Other types of dementia exist. However, they’re less common. In fact, one type of dementia occurs in only 1 in 1 million people. Learn more about this rare type of dementia and others.
 
How can you test Dementia?
No single test can confirm a dementia diagnosis. Instead, a health care provider will use a series of tests and exams. These include:

• a thorough medical history
• a careful physical exam
• laboratory tests, including blood tests
• a review of symptoms, including changes in memory, behavior, and brain function
• a family history

Doctors can determine if you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of dementia with a high degree of certainty. However, they may not be able to determine the exact type of dementia. In many cases, symptoms of dementia types overlap.
 
That makes distinguishing between two types difficult.Some health care providers will diagnose dementia without specifying the type. In that case, you may wish to see a doctor that specializes in diagnosing and treating dementia. These doctors are called neurologists. Some geriatricians also specialize in this type of diagnosis.
 
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Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/dementia
 
BrightStar Care of Portland  provides a full continuum of home care services comprised of companionship, personal care, dementia care, transportation, medication assistance, skilled nursing and more to improve clients’ health and quality of life.  
 
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