The symptoms of dementia
According to the Alzheimer's society, dementia is on the rise. There are 750,000 people with dementia in the UK and over a million people will afflicted with this disease by 2025. It is important to become knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms of this disease as it grows in prevalence in our population. The signs of dementia can vary from person to person and are largely based on the cause of the disease however, there are some symptoms that distinctly characterize dementia such as forgetfulness, depression and communication problems.
Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common causes of dementia. In Alzheimer's disease, both the chemical structure and functioning of the brain change. Brain cells begin to die off early causing all types of cognitive and physical problems leading to the characteristic forgetfulness and confusion common in dementia. Mood swings may also surface as the diagnosed individuals brain functioning begins to deteriorate.
Lewy body dementia is characterized by the presence of small proteins called lewy bodies in the brain's nerve cells, causing a decline in physical and cognitive functioning. Some scientists have thought that this form of dementia is related to Alzheimer's and/or Parkinson's disease. The sufferer of this type of dementia will often have some of the symptoms characteristic of Alzheimer's and/or Parkinson's disease. In addition to the forgetfulness and depression that characteristically occur with most forms of dementia, rapid eye movement sleep disorder and repeated falls may be present. Difficulty swallowing can occur. Blood pressure, urinary problems and constipation may also surface.
In vascular dementia, which is usually caused by stroke, in addition to the usual memory problems and depression, hallucinations may occur. Loss of bowel or bladder control may also occur, compromising one's sense of privacy and independence. Dizziness, tremors and balance problems are common. There may be slurred speech and the reduced ability to carry out basic daily functions such as bathing and preparing a simple meal.
Fronto tempero dementia is not as common in the population. This condition is caused by damage to the front lobe of the brain. This disease is thought to be related to your genetic make up and is often accompanied by symptoms reflecting damage to the functioning of the front end of the brain. It is commonly characterized by a change in personality and inappropriate behavior such as laughing for no reason. Communication problems are also common including not being able to find the right words to say or not having much to say at all.
Dementia is a disease that progresses in many. There is no one treatment for this disease but there are some medications that can help stave off some if it's effects. The sooner a diagnosis is found, the sooner treatments can occur, making life more manageable for the dementia patient and their family to understand and cope with this disease. If you think that you or a loved one may have this disease, a family physician and neurologist can work with you and your family to determine whether dementia is present.
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