Age may bring wisdom but the downside to this is a tendency to forget things more easily but when this situation worsens, it may be a case of dementia. Other changes in mental functions are involved which can mean it is difficult to carry out everyday tasks in addition to problems with an erratic memory.
Dementia is a slow progressive brain disorder characterized by the loss of ability to think, reason and remember, but dementia is not a disease itself rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. In some cases, the dementia can be treated because the cause is treatable although in some cases where the person may appear to have dementia, a severe depression can be causing the symptoms. In cases where a person is suffering from depression, dementia like symptoms can be present leading to a false diagnosis but in others it is just a matter of treating the cause of the condition.
The importance of accurate diagnosis cannot be underestimated as even hormone imbalances, certain drugs and alcohol can cause the dementia so to treat this, it needs to be caught early on. According to the National Institute on Aging, there are at least one hundred different types of conditions that may result in short-term dementia, many of which can be treated and about ten percent of all cases of dementia may be treatable.
Temporary dementia is normally the result of some other condition and is known as reversible but if the diagnosis is chronic dementia the number of options diminishes. Unfortunately, many changes happen as you get older, anything from early or forced retirement, family death or even moving house. Events like this often distress the person involved and lead to stress or depression, both of which their physician needs to know about.
Other medical conditions can also effect how well you are coping on a daily basis and can even cause a loss of appetite and poor sleep patterns which can result in emotional problems. Of course, medical conditions like hypoglycemia, liver and kidney problems, electrolyte imbalances and hypocalcaemia can all create problems that affect sleep, appetite and cause confusion. The elderly do not always want to tell you about their problems in case they are considered to be complaining for the sake of it but if they are having trouble with their vision or hearing, this can cause symptoms of confusion which may be misinterpreted as signs of dementia.
It is a common complaint amongst the elderly that they no longer enjoy their food which can be due to ill fitting dentures or a loss of taste and as a consequence they do not receive adequate nutrition. There are also physical traumas to consider like head injuries, falls or even a physical attack which can all affect a persons behavior along with other mental illnesses associated with age like Alzheimer's for instance.
In these circumstances the best way to check for neurological problems is by using a CAT scan or MRI which can confirm the existence of dementia and whether it can in fact be treated with medication. Although there are currently less options available for the treatment of chronic dementia other than trying to make the sufferer as safe as possible in their environment and help with behavior therapy. - 16890
Dementia is a slow progressive brain disorder characterized by the loss of ability to think, reason and remember, but dementia is not a disease itself rather a group of symptoms that are caused by various diseases or conditions. In some cases, the dementia can be treated because the cause is treatable although in some cases where the person may appear to have dementia, a severe depression can be causing the symptoms. In cases where a person is suffering from depression, dementia like symptoms can be present leading to a false diagnosis but in others it is just a matter of treating the cause of the condition.
The importance of accurate diagnosis cannot be underestimated as even hormone imbalances, certain drugs and alcohol can cause the dementia so to treat this, it needs to be caught early on. According to the National Institute on Aging, there are at least one hundred different types of conditions that may result in short-term dementia, many of which can be treated and about ten percent of all cases of dementia may be treatable.
Temporary dementia is normally the result of some other condition and is known as reversible but if the diagnosis is chronic dementia the number of options diminishes. Unfortunately, many changes happen as you get older, anything from early or forced retirement, family death or even moving house. Events like this often distress the person involved and lead to stress or depression, both of which their physician needs to know about.
Other medical conditions can also effect how well you are coping on a daily basis and can even cause a loss of appetite and poor sleep patterns which can result in emotional problems. Of course, medical conditions like hypoglycemia, liver and kidney problems, electrolyte imbalances and hypocalcaemia can all create problems that affect sleep, appetite and cause confusion. The elderly do not always want to tell you about their problems in case they are considered to be complaining for the sake of it but if they are having trouble with their vision or hearing, this can cause symptoms of confusion which may be misinterpreted as signs of dementia.
It is a common complaint amongst the elderly that they no longer enjoy their food which can be due to ill fitting dentures or a loss of taste and as a consequence they do not receive adequate nutrition. There are also physical traumas to consider like head injuries, falls or even a physical attack which can all affect a persons behavior along with other mental illnesses associated with age like Alzheimer's for instance.
In these circumstances the best way to check for neurological problems is by using a CAT scan or MRI which can confirm the existence of dementia and whether it can in fact be treated with medication. Although there are currently less options available for the treatment of chronic dementia other than trying to make the sufferer as safe as possible in their environment and help with behavior therapy. - 16890
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