by Amanda Gamdana
No-one has a perfect memory and almost all of us forget things from time to time but the case of dementia is not normal nor is it just a case of forgetfulness. The condition causes mental changes that make it difficult to function and carry out our normal lives, not just remembering names and dates.
As dementia is a progressive disorder, it often goes unrecognized for some time as it is often confuse with the general aging process but it is actually a range of symptoms that are the result of other often completely unrelated conditions.
Sometimes though it is possible to treat dementia because whatever has caused it can be treated and there are even occasions where although the person may appear to be suffering with dementia, it is in fact depression that can have similar symptoms. In cases where a person is suffering from depression, dementia like symptoms can be present leading to a false diagnosis but in others it is just a matter of treating the cause of the condition.
The dementia may be caused by common problems like prescription medication, alcohol even nutritional deficiencies or hormone problems so when the doctor carries out a medical examination he or she needs to be fully aware of these problems. While current figures indicate around 100 different conditions that can result in temporary dementia, only ten percent of dementia patients can actually be treated.
Normally dementia is placed into two categories; those that are chronic and those that are reversible where in these incidents the short-term dementia is as result of another unrelated condition. Elderly people face a tremendous amount of change in their lives, sometimes this change can be abrupt like retirement, loss of a loved one, divorce, or change in location for example. Any of these can cause depression, anxiety, and can damage physical and mental health so make sure your physician is informed of these stresses in your life.
Many other physical conditions that the elderly are prone to can also problems with sleep patterns, erratic mood swings and affect the amount of food they eat. Of course, medical conditions like hypoglycemia, liver and kidney problems, electrolyte imbalances and hypocalcaemia can all create problems that affect sleep, appetite and cause confusion. The elderly do not always want to tell you about their problems in case they are considered to be complaining for the sake of it but if they are having trouble with their vision or hearing, this can cause symptoms of confusion which may be misinterpreted as signs of dementia.
Other senses also start to fail including that of taste and it is difficult to cultivate an appetite if you cannot taste your food which in turn leads to nutritional deficiencies and then the person’s behavior will be affected which may be misinterpreted once again for dementia. Head injuries can also affect cognitive functions along with other mental illnesses like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s and these too must be investigated.
The only way to fully diagnose dementia is by using modern scanning techniques which may also help when searching for treatable conditions as well. The main difference when it is a case of irreversible dementia is the need for adjustments to be made where the person lives to avoid situations that are dangerous but continuous training in behavior methods should also be carried out.
What You Should Know About Dementia
No-one has a perfect memory and almost all of us forget things from time to time but the case of dementia is not normal nor is it just a case of forgetfulness. The condition causes mental changes that make it difficult to function and carry out our normal lives, not just remembering names and dates.
As dementia is a progressive disorder, it often goes unrecognized for some time as it is often confuse with the general aging process but it is actually a range of symptoms that are the result of other often completely unrelated conditions.
Sometimes though it is possible to treat dementia because whatever has caused it can be treated and there are even occasions where although the person may appear to be suffering with dementia, it is in fact depression that can have similar symptoms. In cases where a person is suffering from depression, dementia like symptoms can be present leading to a false diagnosis but in others it is just a matter of treating the cause of the condition.
The dementia may be caused by common problems like prescription medication, alcohol even nutritional deficiencies or hormone problems so when the doctor carries out a medical examination he or she needs to be fully aware of these problems. While current figures indicate around 100 different conditions that can result in temporary dementia, only ten percent of dementia patients can actually be treated.
Normally dementia is placed into two categories; those that are chronic and those that are reversible where in these incidents the short-term dementia is as result of another unrelated condition. Elderly people face a tremendous amount of change in their lives, sometimes this change can be abrupt like retirement, loss of a loved one, divorce, or change in location for example. Any of these can cause depression, anxiety, and can damage physical and mental health so make sure your physician is informed of these stresses in your life.
Many other physical conditions that the elderly are prone to can also problems with sleep patterns, erratic mood swings and affect the amount of food they eat. Of course, medical conditions like hypoglycemia, liver and kidney problems, electrolyte imbalances and hypocalcaemia can all create problems that affect sleep, appetite and cause confusion. The elderly do not always want to tell you about their problems in case they are considered to be complaining for the sake of it but if they are having trouble with their vision or hearing, this can cause symptoms of confusion which may be misinterpreted as signs of dementia.
Other senses also start to fail including that of taste and it is difficult to cultivate an appetite if you cannot taste your food which in turn leads to nutritional deficiencies and then the person’s behavior will be affected which may be misinterpreted once again for dementia. Head injuries can also affect cognitive functions along with other mental illnesses like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s and these too must be investigated.
The only way to fully diagnose dementia is by using modern scanning techniques which may also help when searching for treatable conditions as well. The main difference when it is a case of irreversible dementia is the need for adjustments to be made where the person lives to avoid situations that are dangerous but continuous training in behavior methods should also be carried out.
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