Dementia is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to loss of cognitive functioning such as thinking, remembering and reasoning. The loss of cognitive functioning eventually starts to interfere with the affected individual's daily life and routine.
Some people with dementia experience sudden changes in their behaviour where their personalities become unrecognisable. The severity of dementia varies from a mild stage to the most severe stage, depending on which part of the brain is affected.
During the mild stage, the person's functioning has started to decline while in the later stages the person is completely dependent on others to perform basic tasks.
Dementia and memory loss is common among people of older ages but it is not a normal part of ageing. Many people go on to live a normal life without developing dementia.
There are several different forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. A person’s symptoms can vary depending on the type.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Dementia?
The most common signs and symptoms of dementia are caused when the neurons, or nerve cells of your brain stop working, they lose connections with other brain cells and die.
While everyone loses neurons as they age, the loss of neurons experienced by dementia patients is far greater.
Some of the most common symptoms of dementia are:
Loss of memory, inability to judge and confusion
Difficulty in speaking and expressing thoughts, or reading and writing
Unable to recognise familiar settings such as home, neighbourhood
Difficulty in managing finances responsibly
Repeating queries
Using unusual words to refer to familiar objects
Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks
Disinterest in normal activities or activities they previously found interesting
Delusional, paranoid
Becoming impulsive
Lack of regard for others' feeling
Losing balance and problems with movement
It’s also possible for people with delayed development and intellectual disabilities to develop dementia as they age and it can be difficult to recognise symptoms in them. Therefore, it’s important to keep track of a person's current abilities and monitor changes over time so accurate diagnoses can be made.
What Causes Dementia?
The common causes of dementia and other related conditions can vary depending on the area of the brain that is affected.
Research suggests that certain changes in the brain are linked to certain forms of dementia but in most cases the underlying conditions are unknown. Rare genetic mutations may cause dementia in a relatively small number of people.
Although there is no way to prevent dementia, having a decent quality of life can help reduce the risk factors that have been associated with this disease.
What Are The Different Types Of Dementia?
There are multiple factors and related disorders that can contribute to the development of dementia in an individual. Neurodegenerative disorders are a result of progressive and irreversible loss of nerve cells and brain function. Currently, there are no cures for these diseases.
The five most common forms of dementia are:
Alzheimer's disease:
It’s the most common dementia condition among older people. This condition is caused by changes in the brain, and abnormal build-up of proteins, which are known as amyloid plaques and tau tangles.
Frontotemporal dementia:
It’s a rarer form of dementia and mostly occurs in people younger than 60. According to research, it is caused by abnormal amounts or forms of proteins.
Lewy body dementia:
It’s a form of dementia that’s caused by abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein, called Lewy bodies.
Vascular dementia:
It’s caused by a condition in which blood vessels in your brain are damaged or the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain is affected.
Mixed Dementia:
It’s a combination of two or more types of dementia.
Other dementia-like conditions can be reversed with treatment. One such example is the normal pressure hydrocephalus, in which cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain. This condition can be easily resolved with treatment.
Conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression and delirium can cause serious memory problems that resemble dementia, as can side effects of certain medicines.
Other similar conditions include:
Argyrophilic grain disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Huntington's disease
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
HIV-associated dementia
Having these conditions can make it difficult to diagnose dementia but an accurate diagnosis is important to get the best treatment.
How Is Dementia Diagnosed?
If you suspect that your loved one might have early signs of dementia, you should talk to their GP as soon as possible. Their Doctor will initially do a check-up and talk to your loved one about their symptoms.
They will then do a series of cognitive and neurological tests. These will help in assessing their thinking and physical functioning.
The GP will also check their medical history and carry out a genetics test to understand the chances of them having dementia. They will also carry out routine tests such as blood pressure blood tests, physical examinations and cognitive ability tests.
The healthcare providers will also do several scans such as CT or MRI or a PET scan of your loved one's brain to check for any abnormalities. These scans help in identifying signs of strokes, tumours and traumatic brain injury and other problems that can cause dementia. They also help in identifying changes in brain function and any other abnormalities.
To get an accurate diagnosis of dementia you and your loved one will have to wait. But it is important to get the most detailed diagnosis so you can get answers and move forward with a plan.
It’s important to remember that early diagnosis of dementia is extremely important because it will prepare your loved one and you for the future. It’ll not only help in managing the condition but it’ll also allow you to discuss finances, work and essential topics with your loved one diagnosed as sadly this will only get worse over time.
In the long run, your loved one will need to think about home help because in the later stages of dementia they will struggle with taking care of themselves.
Home Care Services For Dementia Patients
If you have a loved one diagnosed with dementia who requires home care and support. You should opt for local home care services. These services provide care and support to your dementia diagnosed loved one.
At Abney & Baker, we provide families with professional carers who can take care of their loved ones diagnosed with dementia. Our carers are trained to support your loved one whilst retaining dignity and respect.
We understand that your loved one's situation is extremely vulnerable but with the right care and support, they can have the best quality of life.
To learn more about our services in Melksham and surrounding areas get in touch:
Helping your loved one to continue living independently and confidently in their own home.
By providing a range of support at home, we’re helping many clients across Bath & North East Somerset and West Wiltshire retain their independence and stay in control in the comfort of their own homes.
Remember we’re always here if you want to chat about your care options. Just get in touch:
Call 0333 043 4880 - Email enquiries@abneyandbaker.com - Book a call here