What is Dementia? Signs and Symptoms

Although it is estimated that approximately 44 million people around the world are currently living with dementia, many people do not immediately realize they are living with this disease. Even when it is recognized, only 45% of dementia patients are told by their doctor of their diagnosis. In order to receive proper care in a timely manner, one must be educated on the signs and symptoms of dementia.

Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. Dementia ranges in severity from the mildest stage, when it is just beginning to affect a person’s functioning, to the most severe stage, when a person must depend completely on others for basic activities of living.

Dementia is more common as people grow older, but it is not a normal part of aging. Many people live into their 90s and beyond without any signs of dementia.

There are several forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. A person’s symptoms can vary depending on the type.

Signs and symptoms of dementia result when once-healthy neurons, or nerve cells, in the brain stop working, lose connections with other brain cells, and die. Although everyone loses neurons as they age, people with dementia experience a far greater loss. Many conditions are progressive, which means that the signs of dementia start out slowly and gradually get worse.

The symptoms of dementia can vary and may include:

●      Losing balance and problems with movement

●      Experiencing memory loss, poor judgement, and confusion

●      Not caring about other people’s feelings

●      Acting impulsively

●      Hallucinating or experiencing delusions or paranoia

●      Losing interest in normal daily activities or events

●      Taking longer to complete normal daily tasks

●      Using unusual words to refer to familiar objects

●      Repeating questions

●      Trouble handling money responsibly and paying bills

●      Wandering and getting lost in a familiar neighborhood

●      Difficulty speaking, understanding and expressing thoughts, or reading and writing

There is no one test to determine if someone has dementia. Doctors diagnose Alzheimer's and other types of dementia based on a careful medical history, a physical examination, laboratory tests, and the characteristic changes in thinking, day-to-day function and behavior associated with each type. Doctors can determine that a person has dementia with a high level of certainty, but it's harder to determine the exact type of dementia. The symptoms and brain changes of different dementias can overlap. In some cases, a doctor may diagnose "dementia" and not specify a type.

Some risk factors for dementia, such as age and genetics, cannot be changed, but researchers continue to explore the impact of other risk factors on brain health and prevention of dementia. Research reported at the 2019 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference suggests that adopting multiple healthy lifestyle choices, including healthy diet, not smoking, regular exercise and cognitive stimulation may decrease the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

At Elder Law of Omaha our passion for seniors and their care is top priority. If you have questions about adult guardianship, estate planning or how to plan for long term care and the future, then please give us a call to set up your complimentary 30-minute consultation at 402-614-6400.