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Definition

Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior.

See also: Alzheimer's disease

Alternative Names

Chronic brain syndrome; Lewy body dementia; DLB; Vascular dementia; Mild cognitive impairment; MCI

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Most types of dementia are nonreversible (degenerative). Nonreversible means the changes in the brain that are causing the dementia cannot be stopped or turned back. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.

Lewy body disease is a leading cause of dementia in elderly adults. People with this condition have abnormal protein structures in certain areas of the brain.

Dementia also can be due to many small strokes. This is called vascular dementia.

The following medical conditions also can lead to dementia:

Some causes of dementia may be stopped or reversed if they are found soon enough, including:

Dementia usually occurs in older age. It is rare in people under age 60. The risk for dementia increases as a person gets older.

Symptoms

Dementia symptoms include difficulty with many areas of mental function, including:

  • Language
  • Memory
  • Perception
  • Emotional behavior or personality
  • Cognitive skills (such as calculation, abstract thinking, or judgment)

Dementia usually first appears as forgetfulness.

Mild cognitive impairment is the stage between normal forgetfulness due to aging and the development of dementia. People with MCI have mild problems with thinking and memory that do not interfere with everyday activities. They are often aware of the forgetfulness. Not everyone with MCI develops dementia.

Symptoms of MCI include:

  • Forgetting recent events or conversations
  • Difficulty performing more than one task at a time
  • Difficulty solving problems
  • Taking longer to perform more difficult mental activities

The early symptoms of dementia can include:

  • Language problems, such as trouble finding the name of familiar objects
  • Misplacing items
  • Getting lost on familiar routes
  • Personality changes and loss of social skills
  • Losing interest in things you previously enjoyed, flat mood
  • Difficulty performing tasks that take some thought, but that used to come easily, such as balancing a checkbook, playing games (such as bridge), and learning new information or routines

As the dementia becomes worse, symptoms are more obvious and interfere with the ability to take care of yourself. The symptoms may include:

  • Forgetting details about current events
  • Forgetting events in your own life history, losing awareness of who you are
  • Change in sleep patterns, often waking up at night
  • More difficulty reading or writing
  • Poor judgment and loss of ability to recognize danger
  • Using the wrong word, not pronouncing words correctly, speaking in confusing sentences
  • Withdrawing from social contact
  • Having hallucinations, arguments, striking out, and violent behavior
  • Having delusions, depression, agitation
  • Difficulty doing basic tasks, such as preparing meals, choosing proper clothing, or driving

People with severe dementia can no longer:

  • Understand language
  • Recognize family members
  • Perform basic activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, and bathing

Other symptoms that may occur with dementia:

Signs and tests

Dementia can often be diagnosed with a history and physical exam by a skilled doctor or nurse. A health care provider will take a history, do a physical exam (including a neurological exam), and perform some tests of mental function called a mental status examination.

The health care provider may order tests to help determine whether other problems could be causing dementia or making it worse. These conditions include:

The following tests and procedures may be done:

Treatment

For information on how to take care of a loved one with dementia, see: Dementia - home care

The goal of treatment is to control the symptoms of dementia. Treatment depends on the condition causing the dementia. Some people may need to stay in the hospital for a short time.

Stopping or changing medications that make confusion worse may improve brain function.

There is growing evidence that some kinds of mental exercises can help dementia.

Treating conditions that can lead to confusion often greatly improve mental functioning. Such conditions include:

  • Anemia
  • Decreased oxygen (hypoxia)
  • Depression
  • Heart failure
  • Infections
  • Nutritional disorders
  • Thyroid disorders

Medications may be needed to control behavior problems caused by a loss of judgement, increased impulsivity, and confusion. Possible medications include:

  • Antipsychotics (haloperidol, risperdal, olanzapine)
  • Mood stabilizers (fluoxetine, imipramine, citalopram)
  • Serotonin-affecting drugs (trazodone, buspirone)
  • Stimulants (methylphenidate)

Certain drugs may be used to slow the rate at which symptoms worsen. The benefit from these drugs is often small, and patients and their families may not always notice much of a change.

  • Donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), galantamine (Razadyne, formerly called Reminyl)
  • Memantine (Namenda)

A person's eyes and ears should be checked regularly. Hearing aids, glasses, or cataract surgery may be needed.

Psychotherapy or group therapy usually does not help because it may cause more confusion.

Expectations (prognosis)

People with mild cognitive impairment do not always develop dementia. However, when dementia does occur, it usually gets worse and often decreases quality of life and lifespan.

Complications

Complications depend on the cause of the dementia, but may include the following:

  • Abuse by an overstressed caregiver
  • Increased infections anywhere in the body
  • Loss of ability to function or care for self
  • Loss of ability to interact
  • Reduced lifespan
  • Side effects of medications used to treat the disorder
Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if:

  • Dementia develops or a sudden change in mental statusoccurs
  • The condition of a person with dementia gets worse
  • You are unable to care for a person with dementia at home
Prevention

Most causes of dementia are not preventable.

You can reduce the risk of vascular dementia, which is caused by a series of small strokes, by quitting smoking and controlling high blood pressure and Diabetes. Eating a low-fat diet and exercising regularly may also reduce the risk of vascular dementia.

References

Brewer JB, Gabrieli JDE, Preston AR, Vaidya CJ, Rosen AC. Memory. In: Goetz CG, ed. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 5.

Farlow MR, Cummings JL. Effective pharmacologic management of Alzheimer's disease. Am J Med, 2007;120:388-397.

Burns A, Iliffe S. Alzheimer's disease. BMJ. 2009;338:b158.doi:10.1136/bmj.b158.

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14y ago

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Continue Learning about Gerontology

How old are people with dementia?

People with dementia are typically older adults, with the risk increasing with age. However, early-onset dementia can occur in individuals as young as their 40s or 50s. The majority of individuals diagnosed with dementia are over the age of 65.


Are there currently any effective treatments for dementia?

The goal of treating dementia is to control the symptoms of it and the type of treatment depends on the condition causing the dementia. For the different causes/treatments of dementia go to http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/dementia/overview.html


Dealing with Dementia?

Dementia is classified as a loss of brain function that happens with certain diseases. It hampers thinking, memory, language, behavior and judgment. There are several types of dementia that are degenerative and cannot be reversed. The most common kind of dementia is Alzheimer's Disease. In elderly adults, the most common cause of dementia is lewy body disease. Those with this condition have out of the ordinary protein structures in particular locations in the mind. Dementia can also be caused by several small strokes, also known as vascular dementia.


Where can I find some info on treatments of dementia?

You can find some options regarding different dementia treatments here: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/tc/dementia-treatment-overview Be sure to read it thoroughly though, as there are different stages of dementia and different causes. I recommend consulting a doctor.


Is dementia a proper noun?

No, the noun 'dementia' is a common noun; a general word for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life; a word for any type of mental decline of anyone.A proper noun is the name or title of a specific person, place, or thing; for example, Dementia Gallery (shop) in Woodland Hills, CA or "Dementia" (1955 horror movie).

Related Questions

Illness starting with D?

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How does models of dementia care view the person with dementia?

how does models of dementia care view the person with dementia


Is dementia a noun?

Dementia is a noun


Mental decline and deterioration?

Dementia


What is an example sentence with dementia?

She was suffering from dementia.


What is worse Dementia or Alzheimer's?

Alzhiemers is a form of dementia it is progressive and fatal. There are many types of dementia.


Which types of dementia are potentially reversible?

Most dementia is incurable and irreversible. Forms of dementia that are reversible are caused by a tumor or impairment from drugs or medication.


Does Alzheimer's disease cause dementia or is it a form of dementia?

Alzheimer's is a form of dementia that specifically results in memory loss. If you'd like more information on the symptoms of dementia, as well as some options for those with dementia, please visit the link in the related links.


What are the main irreversible causes of dementia?

The three main irreversible causes are Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multi-infarct dementia (also called vascular dementia).


What disease is similar to dementia?

Dementia is the same as Alzheimer's disease.


Is dementia a midlife crisis?

No, dementia isn’t a midlife crisis—they’re completely different things. A midlife crisis is more emotional or psychological, where someone might start feeling stuck or lost in life, often in their 40s or 50s, questioning things like their career, purpose, or direction. It’s usually a phase people can work through or snap out of. Dementia, on the other hand, is a serious medical condition that affects the brain. It causes memory loss, confusion, and changes in thinking and behavior. Unlike a midlife crisis, dementia involves actual damage to brain function and needs proper medical care and long-term support.


Does herpes cause dementia?

Herpes doesn't cause dementia.