Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

There are many psychological symptoms stemming from dementia. Some of those symptoms are more severe than others. Some of the most severe symptoms are delusions, hallucinations, and the inability to recognize people and places. These symptoms are also the most difficult for the caregiver to deal with. Other less severe psychological symptoms are crying, swearing, and repeating oneself. These symptoms are still distressing to the caregiver, but are somewhat easier to deal with. Dementia occurs from changes in the brain. Some of these changes can be reversed, while others cannot.

Delusions

• Delusional thinking is a psychological symptom of dementia. The delusional thoughts can come in the form of thinking that no one can be trusted, family members are stealing from the delusional person, deceased relatives are still alive, that current events involve them, and the person may believe that she is not at home when she is. There are many delusional symptoms that result from dementia. Usually it is the caregiver and other people in the home who become the target of the individual with dementia.

Hallucinations

• Hallucinations that relate to dementia can be extremely difficult for the caregiver to deal with. Hallucinations are a more extreme symptom related to dementia. The individual with dementia may see or hear things that are not there. Hallucinations can cause the person to see and talk to people that are not there, and she may even talk to deceased pets. She may see someone else in the mirror when it is really her and become terrified. The dementia hallucinations can also cause the individual to hear voices directing them to do things much like the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Behavioral Changes

• While delusions and hallucinations do cause changes in behavior, there are many more behavioral changes related to dementia. These behavioral changes can also be related to personality changes. Some of these behaviors include making rude or mean comments, acting sexually inappropriate in public, screams, shouts or curses, and exhibiting a lack of impulse control. These behaviors are new to the individual with dementia and did not occur before.

Memory

• Memory is often affected by dementia in the later stages. The individual with dementia may recognize faces but not remember the names of relatives or friends they see infrequently. As the dementia progresses the individual can get to the point he no longer recognizes those family members who are close to him. Memory can also affect the ability to remember where they are, leading to confusion.

Reversible Psychological Symptoms

• Individuals who experience psychological symptoms of dementia have the potential for the dementia to be reversed if the dementia is due to toxicity from lead poisoning or drugs, if there was a removable brain tumor, if the dementia was due to an infection, or even from a stroke if there has been minimal damage to the brain from any of these causes.

Irreversible Psychological Symptoms

• Many causes of dementia cannot be reversed, including diseases such as Parkinson's and Huntington's, degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, massive brain injuries, and victims of multiple strokes. In many of these cases the individual with dementia continues to deteriorate. There is no cure for any of these irreversible causes of psychological symptoms related to dementia.