An Overview of Dementia

Memory often changes with age, but memory loss that disrupts daily life is not a typical part of aging. Such memory loss may be a symptom of any number of types of dementia. A general umbrella term, dementia describes a group of symptoms that affect intellectual and social abilities such as memory and/or cognitive ability severely enough to interfere with daily functioning. Some causes of dementia are treatable and even reversible.

Dementia is considered a late-life disease because it tends to develop mostly in older adults; however, it is increasingly being diagnosed in adults age 50 or younger. More than 6 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. One in nine people age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s dementia. Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women. The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is growing. It’s projected that by 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease may grow to 13.8 million.

Because dementia is a set of symptoms, not the root disease, it can be caused by: • Diseases that cause degeneration or loss of nerve cells in the brain such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases. • Diseases that affect blood vessels such as a stroke, which can cause a disorder known as multi-infarct dementia. • Toxic reactions from excessive alcohol or drug use. • Nutritional deficiencies like vitamin B12 (which can be reversed if caught early) and folate deficiency. • Infections that affect the brain and spinal cord such as AIDS Dementia Complex and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. • Certain types of hydrocephalus, an accumulation of fluid in the brain that can result from developmental abnormalities, infection, injury or brain tumors. • Head injury – either a single, severe head injury or chronic smaller injuries. • Kidney, liver, and lung diseases.

Dementia progresses gradually. In the later stages, the person may not know what day of the week, month or year it is, where they are and might not be able to identify the people around them.

Dementia symptoms vary depending on the cause, but common signs and symptoms include: • Memory loss • Difficulty communicating • Inability to learn or remember new information • Difficulty with planning and organizing • Difficulty with coordination and motor functions • Personality changes • Inability to reason • Inappropriate behavior • Paranoia • Agitation • Hallucinations

Don’t delay seeing a doctor if you or a loved one experience memory loss or other dementia symptoms. Often, symptoms can be attributed to a treatable medical condition such as urinary tract infections or even be a side effect of certain medications. Also, there are medications that can treat symptoms and help slow the progression of dementia, especially when treatment begins early.

For more information, visit www.alz.org Sources: www.mayoclinic.com and www.alz.org