What is dementia?

Dementia is a term used to describe a loss of brain function which can be caused by various conditions. It is most common in people aged 60 years and older, although it is not considered a normal aspect of aging.

Dementia affects a person’s memory, communication skills, and ability to perform normal daily tasks. People with dementia also may show impaired judgment and may have trouble controlling their emotions.

Dementia can be caused by conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, or by strokes, brain injury, brain tumor, or chronic alcohol abuse. While some of the causes of dementia may be reversible, most are not.

Before the onset of dementia, a patient might experience a stage called mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. In MCI, the individual might have difficulty making decisions, solving problems or remembering recent events. When the patient progresses to early dementia, some of the following symptoms may occur:

difficulty performing mental tasks that used to come easily, such as balancing a checkbook or playing games
getting lost on routes that are familiar
misplacing objects
language problems; having trouble identifying familiar simple objects
personality changes, which may include poor impulse control/inappropriate behaviors
depression, loss of interest in activities the patient previously enjoyed
passivity, a tendency to isolate oneself

In the later stages of dementia, a person’s cognitive function declines further, and they begin to lose touch with reality. During these stages, a dementia sufferer will need family members or other caregivers to help them with basic daily activities.

They may illicit these symptoms:

changes in sleep (waking up at night)
difficulty getting dressed, preparing meals, or performing other basic tasks
trouble remembering current events
forgetting important details of one’s own life and history
hallucinations, delusions, anger, and possibly violent behavior
wandering off
trouble communicating or understanding language
inability to recognize friends or family members
trouble swallowing
incontinence

The treatment for dementia depends on the underlying condition that causes the dementia. Although in many cases dementia is not reversible, there are medications that can slow the progression of dementia and improve symptoms. Patients with dementia also may need to be taken off any medications that can cause confusion.

Sources:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dementia.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000739.htm

http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/dementia.printerview.all.html