Know The Signs Of Dementia
Early diagnosis can help people with dementia plan for the future, and might mean they can access interventions that help slow down the disease. Being familiar with the signs of dementia can help people receive a diagnosis as early as possible.
Early signs that a person might have dementia can include:
- being vague in everyday conversations
- memory loss that affects day-to-day function
- short term memory loss
- difficulty performing everyday tasks and taking longer to do routine tasks
- losing enthusiasm or interest in regular activities
- difficulties in thinking or saying the right words
- changes in personality or behaviour
- finding it difficult to follow instructions
- finding it difficult to follow stories
- increased emotional unpredictability.
How Quickly Does Dementia Progress
Dementia is progressive, meaning it worsens over time. Just as dementia affects everyone differently, the length of each stage will vary for your loved one. Some people live independently for a while after theyre diagnosed, while others need immediate assistance. How long someone lives with dementia depends on the type theyre experiencing and their overall health.
Early Signs Of Dementia
Its not easy to spot the early signs of dementia in someone we are caring for. If a person is struggling to remember a name, follow a conversation or recall what they did yesterday, many of us may put it down to the fact that the person is getting older. But it may well be a warning that they are in the early stages of dementia.
Family, friends and care workers are likely to be the first to see the signs and play a key role in encouraging a person receiving care to see a GP.
Because I was with my wife continuously, I think I was less likely to recognise some of the changes that were taking place than people who saw her less regularly.
A carer speaking about his wifes early signs of dementia, healthtalk website
A doctor can help establish whether a person has dementia or a treatable illness or condition that can cause dementia-like symptoms, such as depression, a urinary infection or nutritional disorders.
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Signs That A Person With Dementia Is Experiencing A Delusion
How can I tell if someone is experiencing delusions? People with dementia are likely to experience any of the following delusions: having fixed, unrealistic beliefs about things being irrational about things like fear or hatred of others believing that someone is trying to harm them and making up elaborate stories about their lives.
Stage : Severe Dementia
In the final stage of dementia, individuals lose speaking abilities, become incontinent, and require assistance with eating. Their body eventually loses basic physical abilities and becomes rigid.
What it looks like: Your family member will no longer be able to walk as this stage progresses. They may speak unintelligible phrases, with the occasional word you thought they forgot.
Duration: The final and most aggressive stage of a dementia can last six years or longer. People with severe dementia most commonly die of pneumonia, infections, or another condition.
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Confusion With Time Or Place
If your loved one has trouble with the time or place of events, it could be an early symptom of dementia. Forgetting the date, month, time of year, or important events may be a red flag.
Take note of when you notice a family member is unable to keep track of time. If dad briefly forgets the day of the week, its probably nothing to worry about. But if he doesnt know the month or forgets family is coming over for dinner, it may be a cause for concern.
The 7 Stages Of Dementia
While there are various scales to successfully measure the progression of dementia, the most common scale is the Global Deterioration Scale for Assessment of Primary Degenerative Dementia , which is also known as the Reisberg Scale.
According to this scale, there are seven stages of dementia that can be further categorised into four levels: no dementia, early-stage dementia, mid-stage dementia, and late-stage dementia.
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What Causes Alcoholic Dementia
Alcohol-related dementia ultimately describes any dementia-type illness that is caused by alcohol use. Alcohol can have a toxic effect on the brain, affecting normal function. Alcohol can also affect how vitamin B1, or thiamine, is absorbed. Thiamine is essential for brain health and a thiamine deficiency can lead to permanent brain damage.
What Should I Do If I Think My Parent Has Dementia
If you think your parent or another relative has dementia, follow these steps to help improve their health and well-being.
- Trust your instincts. If youre seeing unusual behaviors in your family member, jot down the symptoms, when they present, and how often they occur. Think about changes youve noticed over the past few years.
- Learn the signs of dementia. Educating yourself about various symptoms will help you know what to look for. It can also help rule out reversible conditions sometimes mistaken for dementia, such as delirium.
- Talk to your parent. Its important to share concerns with them before more symptoms occur. Decide how youll begin the conversation. Recognize that it might not go as planned. Above all, be respectful and offer your support.
- Talk to a doctor. Reaching an earlier diagnosis will set your loved one on a path to better care and treatment options. Be honest and upfront with the doctor about the symptoms youve noticed.
Read:How to Talk to the Doctor About Your Elderly Parent or Spouse
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What Should I Expect As Dementia Progresses
Most forms of dementia are incurable and get worse over time. Although your loved one could be mostly independent for a while, theyll eventually need assistance with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and cooking. Its also important to remember that their safety could become a concern.
If you anticipate their needs increasing, home care supports families while enabling seniors to continue living at home for as long as possible. Remaining in a familiar place can be especially helpful for people with dementia.
In later stages of dementia, living at home may no longer be an option. Memory care communities are a specialized type of senior living designed to meet the unique needs of someone experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline.
Encourage Them To See Their Doctor
If youve noticed that someone close to you is showing symptoms of dementia, its important to encourage them to see their doctor to talk through whats been going on.
Talking to someone about changes youve noticed in them can be difficult. It can help to have the conversation in a space where both of you are comfortable, are able to hear each other clearly and speak freely. Health Direct recommends starting the conversation by talking about what youve noticed and the other common reasons this might be happening. For example, you might say youve noticed the person has had trouble with their memory recently, and ask if theyve been stressed or not sleeping well. Then you can suggest that its time to see a doctor to find out whats happening.
If you dont have a close relationship with the person, you might talk to someone who knows them well about what youve noticed, see if theyve noticed the same things and ask them to bring it up with the person.
If a person remains resistant to following up about changes in their memory or behaviour, Dementia Australia recommends finding a different, physical reason to encourage the person to see the doctor, like an overall physical check-up, a blood pressure test or diabetes check. You can see more suggestions on what to do if the person you are concerned about does not want to see their doctor on the Dementia Australia website.
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Early Signs Of Dementia And How To Spot Them
Spotting the early signs of Dementia can make all the difference as if it is diagnosed early, there is a chance that medication will slow down the diseases that cause the damage to the brain.
Weve put together a handy list of the early signs of dementia for you to look out for and some specific symptoms you can monitor.
Common Forms Of Dementia
There are many different forms of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form and may contribute to 60-70% of cases. Other major forms include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies , and a group of diseases that contribute to frontotemporal dementia . Dementia may also develop after a stroke or in the context of certain infections such as HIV, harmful use of alcohol, repetitivephysical injuries to the brain or nutritional deficiencies. The boundaries between different forms of dementia are indistinct and mixed forms often co-exist.
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Vascular Dementia And Paranoia
Vascular dementia is a type of dementia that is caused by problems with the supply of blood to the brain. This can lead to a decline in cognitive abilities and changes in behaviour. People with vascular dementia may become paranoid and suspicious of others. They may also experience problems with memory, language, and thinking.
If your condition is caused by coronary artery disease, you should consult with an internist or neurologist who has been trained to deal with it. Abnormalities in the brain, such as agitation, depression, and schizophrenia, are common. This is especially true when treating patients with dementia or vascular disease. Examine the underlying causes . You should develop a treatment plan that targets behaviors and eliminates modifiable triggers. Determine whether or not there is any new behavioral pattern emerging. Assess whether or not nonpharmacologic therapies should be modified.
Knowing The Stages Of Dementia Helps You Plan
Even if the stages arent exact and symptoms can still be unpredictable, being able to plan ahead is essential.
The truth is that Alzheimers and dementia care is expensive and time-consuming. Being financially prepared for increasing care needs is a necessity.
On an emotional level, having an idea of what symptoms to expect helps you find ways to cope with challenging behaviors.
It also gives you a chance to mentally prepare yourself for the inevitable changes in your older adult.
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What Age Does Dementia Start
Typically, dementia symptoms occur after age 65, and the risk of dementia increases with age. Though rare, even people in their 30s can start showing signs of Alzheimers, according to the National Institute on Aging. The age when someone can get dementia also varies depending on the type theyre experiencing.
Here are the age ranges of when some common forms of dementia are typically diagnosed.
- Alzheimers disease: Mid-60s
- Frontotemporal dementia: Between 45 and 64
- Lewy body dementia: After age 50
- Vascular dementia: Over age 65
If someone gets Alzheimers before their mid-60s, its considered to be early-onset dementia. The signs of early-onset dementia are similar to typical symptoms of dementia.
Is Paranoia An Early Symptom Of Dementia
There is no definitive answer to this question as everyone experiences symptoms of dementia differently. However, some experts believe that paranoia may be an early symptom of the condition, as it can be one of the first signs that something is not quite right. If you are experiencing paranoid thoughts or feelings, it is important to speak to a doctor or medical professional to rule out any other possible causes.
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What Are The Signs Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Scientists continue to unravel the complex brain changes involved in the onset and progression of Alzheimers disease. It seems likely that damage to the brain starts a decade or more before memory and other cognitive problems appear. During this preclinical stage of Alzheimers disease, people seem to be symptom-free, but toxic changes are taking place in the brain.
Damage occurring in the brain of someone with Alzheimers disease begins to show itself in very early clinical signs and symptoms. For most people with Alzheimersthose who have the late-onset varietysymptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Signs of early-onset Alzheimers begin between a persons 30s and mid-60s.
The first symptoms of Alzheimers vary from person to person. Memory problems are typically one of the first signs of cognitive impairment related to Alzheimers disease. Decline in non-memory aspects of cognition, such as word-finding, vision/spatial issues, and impaired reasoning or judgment, may also signal the very early stages of Alzheimers disease. And some people may be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. As the disease progresses, people experience greater memory loss and other cognitive difficulties.
Alzheimers disease progresses in several stages: preclinical, mild , moderate, and severe .
How To Cope With Dementia
It can be difficult for patients and their families to come to terms with dementia, but there are ways to overcome it. The disease can be treated by bringing together families to provide support and educate themselves. Patients can live in an environment that is both safe and comfortable in a hospital or nursing home. Furthermore, caregivers can provide emotional and practical assistance.
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Struggling With Sense Of Direction
Your sense of direction starts to become more noticeable with early signs of Dementia. This can include getting lost more often, not remembering certain landmarks, or forgetting how to get to places you have been many times.Following step-by-step instructions can become very difficult in early Dementia.
Getting Help For Alcohol Abuse And Addiction
It can be difficult to stop using alcohol, even if its causing alcohol-related dementia signs to occur. Anyone with an alcohol use disorder should seek professional medical help to prevent further complications while working toward addiction recovery.
Alcohol addiction treatment options include outpatient and inpatient treatment. Outpatient treatment involves going to regular physical and mental health appointments to get treatment and learn how to overcome alcohol addiction while otherwise keeping any work and social obligations. Inpatient treatment requires more dedication and involves living in a rehab center to get intensive treatment that is more likely to have a lasting effect.
The Recovery Village offers high-quality inpatient and outpatient treatment options across the country. We invite you to contact us to learn how to get started on your journey to lasting recovery from the effects of alcohol addiction.
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Symptoms Specific To Vascular Dementia
Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia, after Alzheimer’s. Some people have both vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, often called “mixed dementia”.
Symptoms of vascular dementia are similar to Alzheimer’s disease, although memory loss may not be as obvious in the early stages.
Symptoms can sometimes develop suddenly and quickly get worse, but they can also develop gradually over many months or years.
Specific symptoms can include:
- stroke-like symptoms: including muscle weakness or temporary paralysis on one side of the body
- movement problems difficulty walking or a change in the way a person walks
- thinking problems having difficulty with attention, planning and reasoning
- mood changes depression and a tendency to become more emotional
Read more about vascular dementia.
The Seven Stages Of Dementia
One of the most difficult things to hear about dementia is that, in most cases, dementia is irreversible and incurable. However, with an early diagnosis and proper care, the progression of some forms of dementia can be managed and slowed down. The cognitive decline that accompanies dementia conditions does not happen all at once – the progression of dementia can be divided into seven distinct, identifiable stages.
Learning about the stages of dementia can help with identifying signs and symptoms early on, as well as assisting sufferers and caretakers in knowing what to expect in further stages. The earlier dementia is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can start.
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Are Early Signs Of Dementia Obvious
Changes in a person in the early stages of dementia can be so gradual they can often be mistaken for normal ageing. Because dementia affects people in different ways, symptoms may not always be obvious. In fact, failure to recognise early signs often leads to people not being diagnosed for several years.
So what to look for? Perhaps someone you care for is struggling to remember what they did yesterday and forgets the names of friends or everyday objects. They may have difficulty following conversations or TV programmes, repeat things over and over, or have problems thinking or reasoning. They may feel angry, anxious or depressed about memory loss or feel confused even in a familiar environment.
The healthtalk website presents a range of carers experiences of identifying the early signs of dementia. One carer put it this way.
The first stage is not recognisable I think, or certainly wasnt recognisable as far as I was concerned initially . I was certainly not understanding… the fact that my wife was at the beginning of a serious problem, a serious mental health problem. Because I was with my wife continuously, I think I was less likely to recognise some of the changes that were taking place than people who saw her less regularly.
Problems With Speaking Or Writing
A person with dementia may find it hard to engage in conversations. They might forget what they are saying or what somebody else has said, and it may be challenging to enter a conversation.
People may also find that their spelling, punctuation, and grammar get worse. Sometimes, a persons handwriting becomes more difficult to understand.
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