Geriatrics & Dementia

Geriatrics is a branch of medicine that treats diseases unique to older people, such as dementia, a progressive deterioration in intellectual function. Dementia makes it difficult or impossible for an older person to perform daily living activities and is the most common cause for older people to be in nursing homes or other types of institutions. Mild memory loss or slowing of cognitive processes is normal and does not necessarily mean an older person has dementia. The only way to be sure is to get a doctor's diagnosis, according to Health Central.

Alzheimer's Disease Versus Dementia

• People confuse Alzheimer's disease with dementia all the time; yet, they are different. Dementia is an umbrella term for a host of age-related diseases, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common, reports David Roeltgen, a physician with Health Central. Although Alzheimer's disease is irreversible, some forms of dementia are reversible and even curable, such as mild cognitive impairment due to medical illness or medications, according to Caring.com. Other forms of dementia are vascular dementia (usually caused by a stroke or hypertension), mixed dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. Although Parkinson's disease does not necessarily develop into dementia, this disease can affect cognitive functioning in its later stages.

How Common is Dementia?

• About four to five million people in the United States, as of 2006, have dementia, according to Merck. The chances of getting it double every five years after the age of 60. About 1 percent of people aged 60 to 64 have it, while 30 to 50 percent of those older than 85 do.

Symptoms

• In a mild case of dementia, short-term memory and language function loss are common, as is apathy. Patients may get lost coming home from the grocery store and have trouble driving. People with mild dementia can be irritable, hostile and display poor judgment. Usually, patients with mild dementia can remain at home.

  With moderate dementia, people have trouble with basic tasks such as bathing, dressing and using the bathroom. Confusion and poor judgment escalate, often resulting in an increased risk of falls. People with moderate dementia tend to wander, especially if they are not living in familiar surroundings. They may act in aggressive or sexually inappropriate ways.

  People with severe dementia cannot eat or walk by themselves anymore and have reverted to a completely helpless state. They may not recognize close family members.

Treatment

• After a diagnosis from a doctor, caregivers will learn the best treatment methods. An early enough diagnosis will allow the patient to have a say in his own treatment. The goal should be to improve daily functioning and to give the patient the best possible quality of life. Sometimes, the doctor will prescribe an antidepressant. Another treatment method is creating a safe and supportive environment for the patient. For example, if the patient is able to remain at home, posting signs around the house can help with orientation. A visiting nurse can make sure the patient is taking the correct medications and can ensure the patient is eating right.

Spouses at Increased Risk

• If your spouse has dementia, you are six times more likely to develop dementia yourself, according to a study published in the "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society." Men are at higher risk of this phenomenon than women are. Researchers speculate that caregiver stress leads to higher risk, but future studies are needed to determine the exact relationship. The good news is that most people who care for a spouse with dementia will not develop it themselves.