Dementia is not a normal part of aging.
Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability that interferes with daily life. Dementia occurs due to damage to brain cells, affecting a person’s ability to communicate, influencing thinking, behavior, and feelings.
Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. However, while Alzheimer’s is a disease, dementia is not.
Dementia
According to alz.org, dementia is a group of symptoms that decline memory, reasoning, or other thinking skills. There are many different kinds of dementia caused by many conditions. Mixed dementia is when more than one type of dementia co-occurs in the brain. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases, according to alz.org.
Sings of Dementia
Cognitive Changes
- Memory loss, usually noticed by someone else
- Difficulty communicating or finding words
- Difficulty with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving
- Difficulty reasoning or problem-solving
- Difficulty handling complex tasks
- Difficulty with planning or organizing
- Difficulty with coordination and motor functions
- Confusion and disorientation
Psychological Changes
- Personality changes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Inappropriate behavior
- Paranoia
- Agitation
- Hallucinations
*mayoclinic.org 2021 information
Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease caused by complex changes in the brain followed by cell damage. The cell damage leads to symptoms of dementia that gradually worsen over time.
As the disease advance, symptoms become more pronounced and include disorientation, confusion, and behavior changes. Eventually, even speaking, swallowing, and walking become difficult.
Like dementia, Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. While increasing age is a risk factor, approximately 200,000 Americans under 65 live with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
Ten Early Signs of Alzheimer’s
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or problem-solving
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood or personality
*alz.org 2021 information
Are you struggling through dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis? Home health care offers families medical and practical support from home. Services evolve with needs, ensuring patients receive timely care.
