If you, or a friend or relative, have been diagnosed with dementia, you may be feeling anxious or confused. You may not know what dementia is. This factsheet should help answer some of your questions about dementia, including what causes it and how it is diagnosed.
The term ‘dementia’ describes a set of symptoms which include loss of memory, mood changes and problems with communication and reasoning. These symptoms occur when the brain is damaged by certain diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease and damage caused by a series of small strokes.
Dementia is progressive, which means that the symptoms will gradually get worse. How fast dementia progresses will depend on the individual person and what type of dementia they have. Each person is unique and will experience dementia in their own way. It is often the case that carers, family and friends struggle to cope.
Symptoms of dementia may include the following:
Loss of memory – this particularly affects short term memory, for example forgetting what happened earlier in the day, not being able to recall conversations, being repetitive or forgetting the way home from the shops. Long term memory is usually still quite good.
Mood changes – people with dementia may be withdrawn, sad, frightened or angry about what is happening to them.
Communication problems – individuals may experience problems finding the right words for things, for example describing the function instead of naming it.
What causes Dementia?
There are over 100 diseases and conditions that result in dementia. The 4 most common include:
Alzheimer’s Disease – This is the most common cause of dementia. During the course of the disease the chemistry and structure of the brain change, leading to the death of brain cells. Problems of short-term memory are usually the first noticeable sign.
Vascular Dementia – If the oxygen supply to the brain falls due to vascular disease, brain cells are likely to die and this can cause the symptoms of vascular dementia. These symptoms can occur either suddenly, following a stroke, or over time through a series of small strokes.
Dementia with Lewy Bodies – This form of dementia gets its name from tiny abnormal structures that develop inside nerve cells. Their presence in the brain leads to the degeneration of brain tissue. Symptoms can include disorientation and hallucinations, as well as problems with planning, reasoning and problem solving. Memory can be affected to a lesser degree. This form of dementia shares some of the characteristics with Parkinson?s Disease.
Fronto-temporal dementia (including Pick?s Disease) – In fronto-temporal dementia, damage is usually focused in the front part of the brain. At first, personality and behaviour changes are the most obvious signs.
Who gets Dementia?
Anyone a develop dementia. There are about 425,000 Australians living with dementia. Dementia mainly affects people over the age of 65 and the likelihood increases with age. However, it can affect younger people in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. There are over 26,000 Australians under the age of 65 who have dementia. Dementia is the 2nd leading cause of death in Australia and is the leading cause of death of Australian women.
Can dementia be cured?
Currently there is no cure for dementia, although research is continuing into developing drugs, vaccines and other treatments. Drugs have been developed that can temporarily alleviate some of the symptoms of some types of dementia.
How can I tell if I have dementia?
Many people fear they have dementia, particularly if they think that their memory is getting worse or if they have known someone who has had the illness. Becoming forgetful does not necessarily mean that you have dementia; memory loss can be an effect of aging, and it can also be a sign of stress or depression. In rare cases, dementia like symptoms can be caused by vitamin deficiencies and/or a brain tumour.
Diagnosing dementia
It is very important to get a proper diagnosis. A diagnosis will help the doctor rule out any illnesses that might have similar symptoms to dementia, including depression. Having a diagnosis may also mean it is possible to be prescribed drugs to alleviate some symptoms. Whether you are someone with dementia or a carer, a diagnosis can help with preparing and planning for the future.
Dementia can be diagnoses by a doctor, either a GP or a specialist. The specialist may be a geriatrician (a doctor specialising in the care of older people), a neurologist (someone who concentrates on diseases of the nervous system) or a psychiatrist (a mental health specialist). The doctor may carry out a number of tests to check basic thinking processes and the ability to perform daily tasks. They may request further tests, such as a brain scan or more in-depth assessment of memory, concentration and thinking skills.
Tim England is a Dementia Care Specialist and Educator who hosts regular public education seminars on dementia.
Learn more by visiting https://www.dementiachampion.com