Guidelines for Dementia

Dementia is a condition that can have a devastating effect on the sufferer as well as those around him. When dementia is suspected, it is important to undergo a complete medical evaluation to determine the cause and the extent of the condition. A person suffering from dementia may need assistance with day-to-day activities. In some cases, a person with dementia may be a risk to herself and to others.

Definition

• Dementia itself is not a disease. It is a term that describes a variety of symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, behavior changes and changes in mood and personality. Doctors make a diagnosis of dementia if two or more brain functions are significantly impaired with no loss of consciousness. Those who suffer from dementia have impaired brain functionality that interferes with daily living.

Causes

• Dementia may be reversible or irreversible depending on the cause. Irreversible dementia typically worsens over time and is caused by diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Creutzfeld-Jacob disease, multi-infarct (vascular) dementia, Pick's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body disease and Huntington's disease. There are also a variety of treatable conditions that can cause dementia or dementia-like symptoms such as depression, medication interactions, normal pressure hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain), vitamin B-12 deficiency, infections, hormonal and thyroid imbalances and malnutrition. Dementia caused by these conditions is usually reversible.

Treatment

• Dementia caused by certain illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease can be treated with medications. While these medications do not halt the progression of the illness, they can slow down the rate that the dementia worsens. If dementia is caused by a treatable condition, the condition causing the dementia is treated. Some people with dementia can benefit from memory aids such as mnemonics or note taking.

Prognosis

• Irreversible dementia cause by illnesses such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease cannot be cured. Mental functionality is progressively lost to the point that the patient typically needs constant care and supervision. Dementia that is caused by treatable conditions is usually reversed once the condition causing the dementia is properly addressed.

Misconceptions

• Although dementia is common in very elderly individuals, many people think dementia is a normal part of aging. It is not. Dementia also does not only occur in the elderly, it can occur in younger adults as well. Dementia in an individual is not always apparent to the casual observer. People who are close to the individual are more likely to notice changes in behavior that could be an indication of dementia.