What is Dementia?
Dementia is the term used to describe the deterioration of brain function that results in loss of memory, reduced language skills, impaired reasoning and loss of daily living skills. There are over 100 different types of dementia, the most common being Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. An individual may have a combination of different causes of dementia; in particular Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Each of these diseases tends to affect particular areas of the brain and will cause different changes in a person’s behaviour. Dementia affects one person in 20 aged over 65 and one person in five over 80. In New Zealand in 2008 over 40,000 people were affected by dementia and by 2026 this number is predicted to rise to 75,000. You are not alone in supporting a loved one who has Dementia.
Common Symptoms
Although there are common symptoms of dementia, each individual can be affected in different ways. Depending on the type and progression of dementia, symptoms can include:
- memory loss, especially of more recent events. In the early stages of dementia, the person may misplace objects or forget what they're planning to do
- difficulty finding their way around, especially in new or unfamiliar surroundings
- problems finding the correct words or understanding other people
- poor concentration
- problems learning new ideas or skills
- difficulties with thinking and judgement, such as finding it hard to lay a table
- psychological changes such as becoming irritable, saying or doing inappropriate things or becoming suspicious or aggressive
- in later stages, dementia will cause severe intellectual, behavioural and physical problems, including loss of speech, immobility, incontinence and frailty
However, these symptoms do not always mean dementia. They can also be caused by stress, depression, diabetes, vitamin deficiency, infections or many other illnesses. It is therefore always important for the person to be examined by a doctor and an accurate diagnosis made, possibly by a specialist.
For information about Alzheimer's research visit alz.org research center