Dementia is not a normal part of aging
Dementia describes various symptoms of cognitive decline, such as forgetfulness. It is a symptom of several underlying conditions and brain disorders. Dementia is a general term for symptoms affecting memory, communication, and thinking. Although the likelihood of having dementia increases with age, it is not a normal part of aging.
Types and causes of dementia Trusted Source include:
Alzheimer’s disease
vascular dementia
Lewy body dementia, which may occur with Parkinson’s disease
frontotemporal dementia
mixed dementia
Experts may refer to these as Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias.
This article discusses the potential causes of dementia, the various types, and any available treatment options.
Dementia symptoms
Symptoms of dementia depend on the type a person has, but they typically include:
memory problems
asking the same question repeatedly
difficulty finding or understanding words
feeling confused in an unfamiliar environment
problems dealing with money and numbers
anxiety and withdrawal
difficulty planning and carrying out tasks
mood changes
personality and behavioral changes
sleep disturbances
changes in social awareness, such as making inappropriate jokes
obsessive tendencies
The symptoms tend to become more severe over time. The person may notice some symptoms themselves, but their family members or caregivers may notice others.
Learn more about the symptoms of dementia in older adults here.
Dementia stages
The World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source divides dementia into roughly three stages: early, middle, and late. The sections below will look at each of these in more detail.
Early stage
At this stage, it may not seem that a person has dementia. They may:
become more forgetful
lose track of time
feel lost in familiar locations
Middle stage
At this stage, the symptoms become more noticeable and include:
forgetting names and recent events
feeling lost when at home
difficulty communicating
behavioral changes
repeatedly asking questions
needing help with personal care
Late stage
At this stage, a person needs full-time assistance, as the impact of the symptoms typically becomes more severe. The person may:
be unaware of where they are
be unaware of time
have difficulty recognizing loved ones
find it hard to walk
experience behavioral changes, which may include aggression
Learn more about the stages of dementia here.
Dementia types
There are several types of dementia. They include but are not limited to the following.
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 70–80%Trusted Source of cases. In Alzheimer’s disease, “plaques” and “tangles” develop in and between the brain cells. Both are due to changes in proteins.
A person may have short-term memory problems, difficulty finding words and making decisions, and difficulty seeing things in three dimensions.
Lewy body dementia
Lewy body dementia occurs whenTrusted Source unusual structures known as Lewy bodies develop in the brain. These brain changes involve a protein called alpha-synuclein.
In the early stages, there may be fluctuations in alertness, hallucinations, and difficulty judging distance. The impact on short-term memory may be less severe than it is with Alzheimer’s disease.
People with Parkinson’s disease may also have Lewy bodies. Although doctors often consider Parkinson’s disease a disorder of movement, symptoms of dementia can also appear.
Frontotemporal dementia
This condition involves damage to the front and sidesTrusted Source of the brain. It happens when brain cells die due to clumps of protein developing inside them.
Depending on the part of the brain the condition affects, the person may have difficulty with behavior, speech and communication, or both.
Huntington’s disease
Huntington’s disease is an inherited genetic condition. The main symptoms are uncontrolled movements, but dementia can also occur.
Early symptoms may includeTrusted Source difficulty focusing, irritability, and impulsivity. Depression may also be present. The person may have difficulty with organizing, multitasking, and planning. These symptoms may appear before movement changes develop.
Mixed dementia
When this happens, a person has a diagnosis of two or three types together. For instance, a person may have both Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia at the same time.
Learn more about the types and causes of dementia here.
Early symptoms
Early symptoms of dementia vary between types but typically include:
forgetfulness
mood changes
anxiety, anger, or depression
difficulty finding the right words
apathy
confusion
repeating speech or actions
difficulty following a storyline or recounting a story
difficulty completing everyday tasks
a reduced sense of direction
difficulty adapting to changes
leaving everyday items in unusual places
Learn more about the early symptoms of dementia here.
Dementia causes
Some types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, result from the progressive death of brain cells and neurons. It develops and worsens over time.
However, dementia can also result from head injuries, stroke, brain tumors, and other causes. A stroke, for example, can stop blood and oxygen from reaching brain cells, resulting in damage and cell death. Receiving a blow to the head can damage brain cells directly.
Some types of traumatic brain injury — particularly if repetitive, which can happen in some sports — may increase the risk of certain types of dementia later in life.
Some other factors and conditions with similar symptomsTrusted Source include:
the use of some drugs
some infections, such as HIV or neurosyphilis
depression
vitamin B12 or E deficiency
thyroid problems
Is there a link between dementia and memory loss? Find out here.
Dementia tests
Assessment usually involves several questions and tasks. The following sections will explore these in more detail.
Cognitive dementia tests
Experts established the dementia tests that doctors currently use in the 1970s. A doctor may ask questions such as:
What is your age?
What is the time, to the nearest hour?
What is your address?
What is the year?
What is your date of birth?
The doctor may also take into account observations by family members and caregivers.
If the results suggest memory loss, the doctor may carry out blood tests and a CT brain scan to investigate further and rule out other possible causes.
Another test, called the mini-mental state examination — which has also been in use since the 1970s — measures:
orientation to time and place
word recall
language abilities
attention and calculation
visuospatial skills
It can help diagnose dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. It can also rate its severity and assess whether or not drug treatment is appropriate.
Mini-Cog test
The doctor may also carry out a test known as the Mini-Cog test. This involves the following steps:
The doctor will take three words from a specific set, “banana, sunrise, chair,” and ask the person to repeat them. The person can have three attempts at this.
If the person cannot do this, the doctor will ask them to draw a clock face, fill in the numbers, and set the hands to a specific time. The person should do this within 3 minutes.
If the individual cannot complete the clock task in time, the doctor will ask them to recall and repeat the three words from the first task.
There will be a maximum of 10 points. If the person scores fewer than 3–4 points, the doctor will consider dementia as a possible diagnosis.
Dementia treatment
There is currently no cure for most types of dementia, as it is not yet possible to reverse brain cell death. However, treatment may help manage symptoms.
Some medications may help reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Other forms of care
Some lifestyle strategies that may help manage dementia include making sure the person:
follows a healthy diet
gets regular exercise
attends all medical appointments
takes their medication as prescribed
has regular sleep habits
has a safe living space
has support from family members and caregivers, as needed
Does Medicare cover dementia care? Find out here.
Preventing dementia
In most cases, it is not possible to prevent dementia. However, the WHOTrusted Source suggests that the following habits may lower the risk:
exercising regularly
avoiding smoking
limiting alcohol consumption
maintaining a moderate weight
eating a healthy diet
seeking treatment for conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and high blood sugar levels
Wearing protective headgear during contact sports may also lower the risk of sustaining repeated head injuries, which could be a risk factor for dementia.
Summary
Dementia is a term that describes symptoms affecting remembering, thinking, and behavior. It is a part of Alzheimer’s disease and can occur with some movement disorders, such as Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
The symptoms usually worsen over time, and there is currently no cure. Some drugs may help manage the symptoms, but the person may eventually need full-time help.
