No-one has a perfect memory and almost all of us forget things from time to time but the case of dementia is not normal nor is it just a case of forgetfulness. Other changes in mental functions are involved which can mean it is difficult to carry out everyday tasks in addition to problems with an erratic memory.
As dementia is a progressive disorder, it often goes unrecognized for some time as it is often confuse with the general aging process but it is actually a range of symptoms that are the result of other often completely unrelated conditions. However, while dementia cannot be cured, there are many instances where, when caught early on, it can be treated with varying degrees of success and often although dementia may seem to be present, it can actually be a case of the person being depressed. In cases where a person is suffering from depression, dementia like symptoms can be present leading to a false diagnosis but in others it is just a matter of treating the cause of the condition.
The importance of accurate diagnosis cannot be underestimated as even hormone imbalances, certain drugs and alcohol can cause the dementia so to treat this, it needs to be caught early on. The National Institute on Aging has classified 100 conditions that can cause short-term dementia so it is important your doctor does not miss potentially treatable conditions as the number of treatable causes of dementia is believed to be about 10 percent.
Dementia in the elderly can take on two different forms; reversible and chronic so when symptoms are reversible, the short-term dementia has been caused by another illness or disease. Stress is known to be a cause of temporary dementia and can be the result of the many changes older people have from losing a partner to moving home for instance. Events like this often distress the person involved and lead to stress or depression, both of which their physician needs to know about.
The elderly also suffer from many other conditions which tend to affect us more as we age and can affect many things we take for granted like a good night’s sleep, healthy appetite, mental attitude and even our general happiness. Of course, medical conditions like hypoglycemia, liver and kidney problems, electrolyte imbalances and hypocalcaemia can all create problems that affect sleep, appetite and cause confusion. As we age our hearing and eyesight start to deteriorate and this may happen progressively so an elderly person may not notice or care to admit they have trouble seeing and hearing which may appear to another person that they do not appear to be fully aware of what is happening around them.
Nutritional Imbalances can also cause dementia like symptoms and indicators of this include difficulty swallowing, chewing, or digesting food but the loss of the sense of smell, taste, or inability to eat due to dentures or trouble shopping can all contribute to nutritional deficiencies. Situations like a fall with an injury to the head might also produce problems with mental functioning just as other illnesses associated with dementia like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease can and should also be looked into by the doctor.
Full medical and neuro-psychological testing is needed to diagnose dementia; using CAT scans and MRI’s are usually part of this process including some of the newer scanning systems which should find whatever may be a treatable cause of acute dementia. The main difference when it is a case of irreversible dementia is the need for adjustments to be made where the person lives to avoid situations that are dangerous but continuous training in behavior methods should also be carried out.
