What Are Symptoms Of Dementia In The Elderly

Differences In Signs Of Dementia In Men And Women

While it is true that the majority of dementia symptoms and signs are seen in both sexes, according to research, some differences can be appreciated between the two. They involve the rate and degree to which certain symptoms develop. The following are such symptoms:

Verbal skills: Men were seen to retain verbal fluency longer than women. This is the ability to correctly perform naming tasks, and the ability to successfully perform delayed recall of words.

Subjective memory complaints: Women were seen to experience memory impairment earlier in the course of dementia than men.

Depressive symptoms: Men with depressive symptoms were found to have a significantly higher risk of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimers disease, compared to women with depressive symptoms.

Rate of symptom progression: A study found that once the initial symptoms of dementia appear in men and women, they tend to progress at a faster rate in women than men. The reasoning for this correlation is not well understood but is suspected to be genetic or environmental in origin.

Whats The Difference Between Paranoia And Hallucinations

Somebody who has dementia could have paranoid delusions and hallucination manifestations simultaneously, or they could have just one of those symptoms . They are not the same thing. Paranoid delusions involve false beliefs, whereas hallucinations are false sensations. If someone with Alzheimers is experiencing hallucinations, they could be smelling, tasting, hearing, seeing, or feeling something that is not there.

Dementia Symptoms In Your Elderly Parents

Dementia Symptoms in Your Elderly Parents: What to Watch For

No one knows your parents personalities, hobbies, or quirks like you do. If you notice unusual behavior or experience a persistent feeling that something is off, theres a good chance it is. Aging is a well-known risk factor for Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. In fact, the risk of developing Alzheimers disease doubles every five years in people 65 and older. If you are looking for the best dementia care centers then you can consider dementia care facilities from https://www.careconciergene.com/memory-carefor your elderly parents.

Learning to spot key dementia symptoms in aging parents and documenting the early stages of dementia can make a big difference. Your observations would provide helpful insight to doctors, which can lead to a quicker and more accurate diagnosis.

The warning signs may vary by individual, but the following eight dementia behaviors are indicators for you to watch for.

1. Difficulty remembering or trouble to find words

Its normal for older adults to have lapses in thought here and there. But showing signs of forgetfulness every day is an early warning sign of dementia. If your mom is consistently losing track of her thoughts mid-sentence, or if your dad has trouble finding words in casual conversations, these are dementia signs to note.

2. Inability to learn something new

3. Struggling to manage finances

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What If You Cant Do This Alone

Caring for somebody who has dementia and paranoia is definitely a challenging task, and its severity can be even greater depending on how deeply the persons cognitive function has declined. If you find yourself unable to care for somebody with dementia, contact us. At All American Home Care, we carefully assess what exactly your loved one needs. We can provide certified, expert caregivers to help your loved one experience a better quality of life at home. Our caregivers are available 24/7, even on the weekends! We value the importance of community, compassion, and kindness.

You dont have to weather this storm alone. Call us and see how we can help you today.

When To See A Doctor

Anyone who has concerns about their memory should contact a doctor.

If a person notices dementia-like symptoms in someone else, they should encourage them to see a doctor. It may help to accompany the person to the appointment and provide emotional support.

Caring for someone with dementia can be challenging, and at times it can feel overwhelming.

The following nonprofit organizations provide information and support:

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What Are The Main Types Of Dementia

Dementia isn’t a disease in itself, it’s a term used to describe symptoms caused by other diseases that affect the brain. Knowing the type of dementia means treatment can be more specific to an individual’s needs.

The most common types of dementia are:

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a form of dementia that targets the part of the brain that controls memory, language and thought. Alzheimer’s and dementia often get confused with one another, which can cause upset and confusion.

Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, after Alzheimer’s disease. This type of dementia is caused when the brain becomes damaged due to lack of blood supply, for instance following a stroke.

Other types of dementia

There are many other, rarer, types of dementia such as dementia with Lewy bodies or frontotemporal dementia. Conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease may lead to someone developing dementia.

The many different types and related conditions can be confusing and overwhelming if you have received a dementia diagnosis or know someone with it. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Dementia in the UK

• 850,000 people have dementia in the UK.
• 1 in 6 people over 80 have dementia.
• Only 43% of people with dementia have actually been diagnosed.

Can Dementia Be Prevented

Although dementia cannot be prevented, living a health-focused life might influence risk factors for certain types of dementia. Keeping blood vessels clear of cholesterol buildup, maintaining normal blood pressure, controlling blood sugar, staying at a healthy weight basically, staying as healthy as one can can keep the brain fueled with the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function at its highest possible level. Specific healthful steps you can take include:

• Follow a Mediterranean diet, which is one filled with whole grains, vegetables, fruits, fish and shellfish, nuts, beans, olive oil and only limited amounts of red meats.
• Exercise. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
• Keep your brain engaged. Solve puzzles, play word games, and try other mentally stimulating activities. These activities may delay the start of dementia.
• Stay socially active. Interact with people discuss current events keep your mind, heart, and soul engaged.

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Most Common Dementia Symptoms

Similar to other health conditions, dementia affects people differently. Dementia symptoms can develop slowly and build progressively over time.

Early symptoms of dementia in seniors include:

• Short-term memory loss that disrupts daily life. An individual may forget recently learned information, important dates or events, ask the same questions repeatedly or need to rely on memory aids In addition, an individual may start putting everyday items in unusual places and are unable to trace their steps to find them again. This often leads to accusations of stealing.
• Often finding difficulty in finding the right words or phrasing. This could include an individual stopping in the middle of a conversation or having trouble naming a familiar object, such as table or watch.
• Visible changes in mood and attitude, such as unexplained outbursts of anger and crying.
• Confusion and difficulty completing routine tasks. This could include following cooking recipes or keeping track of bills.
• Changes to spatial relation processing abilities, resulting in accidents or difficulty with directions. For example, getting lost on the way to the grocery store and finding the way back home, issues with balance or trouble reading.
• Obsessive and repetitive behaviors tied to memory loss. This could include locking doors over and over again and washing hands excessively.
• Extreme difficulty with change or disruptions to normal patterns and routines, which can result in fear, stress and anxiety.

What Can I Do To Reduce My Risk Of Dementia

Those that follow a healthier lifestyle have been shown to have a lower risk of dementia. Doing what you can to protect your heart, as well as staying active, can be beneficial. Therefore, it’s best to aim to:

• eat a varied diet containing lots of fruit and vegetables
• eat less salty and fatty foods, especially those high in saturated fat
• drink alcohol in moderation
• enjoy an active life with plenty of outside interests
• ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and cholesterol
• keep your blood glucose well controlled if you have diabetes.

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Isnt Dementia Part Of Normal Aging

No, many older adults live their entire lives without developing dementia. Normal aging may include weakening muscles and bones, stiffening of arteries and vessels, and some age-related memory changes that may show as:

• Occasionally misplacing car keys
• Struggling to find a word but remembering it later
• Forgetting the name of an acquaintance
• Forgetting the most recent events

Normally, knowledge and experiences built over years, old memories, and language would stay intact.

Impairments With Abstract Thinking

As the damage developed by the brain cells worsens, it affects a persons ability to organize their thoughts and express themselves. The disease begins to attack the brain cells long before the symptoms of Alzheimers in elderly people become apparent.

The pre-clinical stage is only discernable in research settings but the mild cognitive impairment that follows comes with signs related to diminished thinking and memory skills.

A person with Alzheimers disease often has challenges performing complex tasks that require critical thinking. Much like misplacing belongings, they might forget what numbers are for or have trouble co-relating the written digits with their corresponding names.

Someone with the disease also starts having challenges with things they often did with ease like balancing a checkbook.

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Symptoms Of Dementia In The Elderly: Dementia Prognosis Treatment

Old age is not a disease. The main problem among elderly is preservation of health, rehabilitation after sickness and someone to take care of. Several diseases crop up as a person grows old. Most of them are chronic. With rise in the number of aged population all over the world, the number of persons suffering from dementia is progressively on the rise. Besides, elderly who develop dementia are living longer after its onset, mainly because of the success in treating diseases which were previously considered fatal, example pneumonia.

Dementia is a clinical syndrome.

Is It Dementia Or Old Age

A list of dementia symptoms may include factors like decreased focus, lack of motivation, or decreased memory. Suffering from these symptoms doesn’t always point to dementia. In fact, many dementia symptoms can be a completely normal part of aging, or can be signs of other afflictions like depression. In understanding dementia, one of the most important first steps is learning what distinguishes regular cognitive changes from dementia.

Most people experience mild cognitive changes and memory loss as they begin to move into their 50s. One of the clearest indicators of dementia is the speed of progression. Regular mental decline associated with aging is usually a slow and gradual loss of memory or attention span. Dementia, however, is often characterized by rapid, sudden, and severe changes in memory and cognitive ability.

For dementia symptoms that overlap with normal aging-related cognitive changes, there are distinguishing factors that can help understand whether or not these are regular changes. These can include:

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Discussing Dementia Symptoms With Dr Alex Bailey

In a new episode of the Age Space Podcast, we talk to Dr Alex Bailey, an old age psychiatrist working in Westminster, sharing his thoughts and advice on dementia. This includes identifying the early signs of dementia, details of memory services, supporting those with dementia to live well, psychological therapies, supporting carers and much more. Listen to the dementia explained podcast.

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The Signs Of Normal Ageing And Dementia

The table below lists some of the possible changes due to both normal ageing and early dementia. However, it is important to remember that everyone is different and not everyone with dementia will have all of these changes.

Other conditions may also account for some of them. For example, a person with depression can have problems making decisions, get confused easily and appear withdrawn or irritable.

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Cognitive Changes For Dementia Patients

• Disorientation: A person with dementia becomes lost in familiar places, expresses confusion about the date or time of day, or has difficulty with directions.
• Memory loss: Failure to recognize people and faces, in later stages even family members or close loved ones. Dementia patients can also experience decreases in short term memory, such as asking the same questions repeatedly or forgetting recent events and conversations.
• Problems communicating: Loss of social skills and lack of interest in socializing, frequently forgetting words, or being unable to follow a conversation.
• Difficulty with complex tasks: Difficulty planning or organizing events, paying bills, following recipes, writing letters, or traveling to new locations.
• Difficulty staying focused and concentrating, decreased ability to learn and memorize new information.
• Problems with coordination: Decreased motor functions and coordination, sometimes manifested as trembling, shaking, or difficulty walking.

What Increases The Risk For Dementia

• AgeThe strongest known risk factor for dementia is increasing age, with most cases affecting those of 65 years and older

• Family historyThose who have parents or siblings with dementia are more likely to develop dementia themselves.

• Race/ethnicityOlder African Americans are twice more likely to have dementia than whites. Hispanics 1.5 times more likely to have dementia than whites.

• Poor heart healthHigh blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking increase the risk of dementia if not treated properly.

• Traumatic brain injuryHead injuries can increase the risk of dementia, especially if they are severe or occur repeatedly.

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What Are The Most Common Types Of Dementia

• Alzheimers disease. This is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases. It is caused by specific changes in the brain. The trademark symptom is trouble remembering recent events, such as a conversation that occurred minutes or hours ago, while difficulty remembering more distant memories occurs later in the disease. Other concerns like difficulty with walking or talking or personality changes also come later. Family history is the most important risk factor. Having a first-degree relative with Alzheimers disease increases the risk of developing it by 10 to 30 percent.

• Vascular dementia. About 10 percent of dementia cases are linked to strokes or other issues with blood flow to the brain. Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are also risk factors. Symptoms vary depending on the area and size of the brain impacted. The disease progresses in a step-wise fashion, meaning symptoms will suddenly get worse as the individual gets more strokes or mini-strokes.

• Lewy body dementia. In addition to more typical symptoms like memory loss, people with this form of dementia may have movement or balance problems like stiffness or trembling. Many people also experience changes in alertness including daytime sleepiness, confusion or staring spells. They may also have trouble sleeping at night or may experience visual hallucinations .

Inability To Communicate Coherently

Yet another symptom of Alzheimers in elderly people that is often confused with the natural aging process is the inability to communicate coherently.

As people age, its often typical for them to start speaking at a slower speed. People with Alzheimers often have trouble finding the simplest of words to express what they intend and they may substitute them with unusual words.

It makes both their written and spoken speech much harder to understand. They may want to find a hairbrush and refer to it as that thing for the head, which might seem odd or unusual of them particularly if they are the ones who misplaced the item in the first place.

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Where To Find Help

When your loved one is displaying troubling symptoms, a trip to a primary care physician is often the first step. But to get a definitive diagnosis, youll need to see a specialist such as a neurologist, geriatrician or geriatric psychiatrist.

If you cant find one, the National Institute on Aging recommends contacting the neurology department of a nearby medical school. Some hospitals also have clinics that focus on dementia.

Ailments can mimic dementia

What Should You Do If You Think Somebody Has Dementia

If you are noticing troubling signs of paranoia, your first step should be to contact their doctor as soon as possible. This is especially important if you think that the person could potentially harm themselves or a caregiver. It is necessary for them to undergo a medical evaluation in order to determine if they have to take medication.

Medication is usually not the first approach to dementia and paranoia that doctors will recommend, because antipsychotic medications can be dangerous for older adults. They even come with the risk of stroke or death, so they must be used very carefully. There are non-drug approaches that you can discuss with a physician before resorting to medicine. Such interventions include therapy, redirection, reassurance, environment modification, and more. Keep reading to see our best tips for soothing paranoia in people who have dementia.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Dementia

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. While everyone loses some neurons as they age, people with dementia experience far greater loss.

The symptoms of dementia can vary and may include:

• Experiencing memory loss, poor judgment, and confusion
• Difficulty speaking, understanding and expressing thoughts, or reading and writing
• Wandering and getting lost in a familiar neighborhood
• Trouble handling money responsibly and paying bills
• Repeating questions
• Not caring about other peoples feelings
• Losing balance and problems with movement

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities can also develop dementia as they age, and recognizing their symptoms can be particularly difficult. Its important to consider a persons current abilities and to monitor for changes over time that could signal dementia.