Dementia is a disease that mostly affects the brain but can also affect other parts of the body. Dementia can have cognitive, neurological, behavioral, and psychological symptoms. These symptoms can change over time and can have different effects on patients who are in a different stage and have different types of dementia. Dementia is different for every patient.
The most common symptom group for dementia is cognitive. The first symptom people notice from this group is memory loss. Normally the spouse or close family member will notice that the patient begins to forget how to do normally activities, such as turning on the television. They also may notice that the person has trouble communicating or finding the right words to use in a conversation. Other signs are being confused and disoriented, struggling to handle complex tasks, and difficulty with coordination and motor function. These symptoms are not a definite sign that a person has dementia, but the family should talk to a doctor and get test done to see if it is dementia or not (Dementia, 2019).
Another group of symptoms is neurological. Dementia is considered a neurological disorder because it affects the brain. Early neurological symptoms normally are the result of neurodegenerative brain processes that has been taking place several years before the symptom appeared (Pasquini, 2018). These symptoms typically come from a specific brain region. For example, if a person is having trouble performing fast alternating movements it is normally related to the cerebellum. Severe neurological symptoms can cause a person to not be able to make informed decisions because they cannot comprehend what is going in. These cases are almost always incurable which is why it is important for the patient and family to plan for the patients care before the patient has severe symptoms (Passmore, 2013).
Behavioral and psychological symptoms tend to be grouped together. They are grouped together because normally a behavioral symptom is caused by a psychological problem. These symptoms include personality changes, depression, anxiety, inappropriate behavior, agitation and hallucinations (Dementia, 2019). An example of these symptoms is delusional ideas. Dementia patients may believe that people are coming into their home and hiding or stealing objects from them. In reality those objects may be in the correct spot and the patient may have forgotten where they are kept, or their spouse or family member may have moved the object not realizing that the patient would react that way. This shows how the patients mind is not working correctly and how their behavior showed that. It is estimated that up to 90% of all dementia subjects are affected by behavioral and psychological symptoms (Cerejeira, 2012). These symptoms are the most common symptoms and they help doctors to determine what stage of dementia the patient is in.
There are a few different stages of Dementia. The stage before dementia is mild cognitive impairment (MCI). During this stage people experience forgetfulness, trouble recalling words and short-term memory problems. This stage may never progress to dementia. The next stage is mild dementia. People at this stage can still function independently and mostly experience forgetfulness and personality changes. Moderate dementia is the next stage. People in this stage normally need assistance because their dementia is now making everyday tasks hard for them. They have poor judgement and need help with dressing and bathing. The final stage is severe dementia. People at this stage continue to decline and need more help. They forget how to maintain bodily functions such as walking and bladder control. Some people also have the inability to communicate and they have an increased rick for infections. People progress through dementia at different rates and may not experience every stage (Leonard, 2018).
The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. This is a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. People with this disease have trouble remembering how to do everyday things, get lost easily, and find simple things confusing. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, and it is ranked as the third leading cause of death in the United States. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and slowing down the disease. Medication are used to help delay progression of the disease and to treat depression, agitation, and hallucinations. Doctors also help the family to develop strategies to help the patient focus on tasks, limit confusion, and stay calm. Alzheimer’s is a complicated disease that has many unknowns (What Is Alzheimer's Disease, 2016).
Vascular dementia is the second most common type. This occurs as a result of damage to the blood vessels that supply blood to your brain. These problems can be caused by a stroke or other condition (Hugo & Ganguli, 2014). Symptoms of vascular dementia can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease prominent symptom is memory loss while vascular dementia’s prominent symptoms are problems with organization, attention, and slowed thinking. Treatment for vascular dementia is to repair the underlying condition that caused it. Doctors will prescribe medication to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. They may also encourage patients to change their diets and exercise more frequently. It is important to get your body healthy again in order to prevent further damage to the brain and body (Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia, 2017).
Another type of dementia is Lewy body dementia (LBD). This is a progressive disease involving abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. The deposits are called Lewy bodies. Lewy bodies grow in the nerve cells in the brain which affect motor control and thinking. The different between this dementia and Alzheimer’s is that LBD affects how a person processes information. It also causes physical symptoms such as tremors and muscle stiffness. The cause of this disease is not known so there is no method prevention. Treatment focuses on symptom management. People with LBD tend to be very sensitive to drugs so doctors have to be careful with what they prescribed to patients. They will prescribe medication that helps with memory, thinking and behavior problems and tremor, slowness and stiffness. People can also do therapies to help manage symptoms. Some therapies used are physical, occupational, speech, and mental health counseling. Complementary therapies are used to help ease anxiety. These therapies are vitamins and supplements, art and music therapy, pet therapy and aromatherapy There is no way to stop the progression of LBD but therapy and medicine can help people cope with this disease (Pietrangelo, 2017).
Frontotemporal dementia is a type of dementia that isn’t defined as one condition. It is several disorders that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. These areas of the brain control personality, emotions, behavior, and speech. Some symptoms of this disease are inappropriate actions, lack of interest or enthusiasm, difficulty speaking, loss of reading and writing skills, and difficulty with social interactions. Doctors have divided frontotemporal dementia into three kinds. The first is behavioral variant which affects personality and behavior. The second if primary progressive aphasia which affects speech at first and then behavior. The third is progressive non fluent aphasia which causes people to lose their ability to recall and speak words. Frontotemporal dementia is not curable, and treatment is aimed at managing symptoms. Common treatments are medication such as anti-depressants or anti-psychotics to help reduce behavioral problems. Speech therapy is also used as treatment to help people cope with speech difficulties. People with frontotemporal dementia live an average of six to eight years after the first symptoms appear (Holland, 2016).
There are many unknowns when it comes to dementia and how to treat it. It is important for patients and their families to talk to there doctor to determine which type of dementia the patient has, what stage they are at, and what the best options for treatment are. Dementia can be very complex and there is currently no cure for it.
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What Is Alzheimer's Disease? (2017, May 16). Retrieved February 18, 2019, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-alzheimers-disease
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