Understanding Dementia: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Dementia

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - HAD - HIV Associated Dementia - Senile Dementia with Depressive Features - Presenile Delirium - Vascular Dementia - Senile Dementia with Delusions - Presenile Delusion - Presenile Dementia - Senile Dementia with Delirium - Senile Dementia - Senile Dementia with Delusions Depressive Features - Presenile Depression

General

Dementia is not a specific disease, but a general condition in which there is impairment of cognitive functions such as memory, orientation, comprehension, thinking and more. Although dementia usually involves memory loss (senility), not every memory loss means that there is dementia. there are a number of causes of dementia. The most common cause is Alzheimer's disease. Other diseases are Parkinson's disease, cerebrovascular disease and frontal dementia, as well as brain tumors, immune disorders, metabolic disorders and more. Although some causes of dementia can be reversible, dementia is usually a condition that worsens over time.

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Signs & symptoms

Symptoms of dementia may include memory loss, confusion and disorientation, communication difficulties and difficulty reasoning, handling complex tasks, and organizing. behavioral changes may appear, such as personality changes, depression, outbursts of anger or aggression and hallucinations. In advanced dementia, there is a loss of independence and almost total dependence on the help of family and external caregivers.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis consists of identifying the existence of dementia (usually with the help of Cognitive and neuropsychological tests and questionnaires) and diagnosing the cause of dementia. Diagnosis may include a thorough questioning, neurological examination and different tests such as brain scans, laboratory tests, lumbar puncture (a sample of spinal fluid), and more.

Treatment

Treatment for dementia depends on its cause. In some cases, the cause can be treated in a way that will cause the dementia to regress. However, in most cases, the treatment is aimed to improve symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. Treatment will usually include medication combined with the creation of a physically and mentally active daily routine.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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