Signs & Effects of Dementia

Red River Hospital helps individuals struggling with dementia build a strong foundation for long-term recovery. Serving Wichita Falls, TX, Red River is the leading provider of dementia treatment.

Understanding Dementia

Learn about dementia

Dementia is not a specific disease, but rather refers to a collection of symptoms that are the result of disturbances within one’s cognitive functioning. People with dementia experience severe problems with their memory, have difficulty maintaining control of their emotions, and struggle with significant impairments in intellectual functioning. Additionally, people who suffer from dementia typically lose their ability to solve problems and maintain sound judgment. Dementia can also result in a person experiencing drastic personality changes and developing behavior problems. There are believed to be as many as 50 different cited causes that lead to the onset of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common. However, dementia itself can be classified in a number of different ways depending on the area of the brain that is damaged and the symptoms that result from that damage.

Dementia is known to be a progressive disease, meaning that its symptoms will gradually get worse over time. While many forms of dementia cannot be cured, the symptoms can be managed through the implementation of proper treatment. On the other hand, there are some forms of dementia, such as those caused by a reaction to medications or certain infections, which can be reversible with treatment. In either case, it is imperative that treatment for dementia is received as early as possible.

Statistics

Dementia statistics

Dementia as a whole is said to affect approximately 24 million people throughout the world and is believed to be one of the world’s most rapidly growing disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease in particular is said to affect 1 out of every 9 older adults in America and is believed to be the seventh leading cause of death in the United States.

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and risk factors for dementia

The onset of dementia is the result of nerve cell damage in the brain and there are many factors that can lead to its development. The following are some examples of various causes and risk factors that can be attributed to the inception of dementia.

Genetic: Research has shown that specific genetic mutations can place a person at a significantly higher risk of developing dementia, leading to the strong hypothesis that there is a hereditary link to the disease. The genes that influence the likelihood that a person will develop any type of disease are broken down into two categories: deterministic genes and risk genes. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, both of these genes have been identified in people suffering from certain kinds of dementia.

Physical: Studies have shown that dementia is caused by the degeneration of various cells in the cerebral cortex, which is the part of the brain that controls a person’s memories, thoughts, and actions, as well as certain aspects of one’s personality. These brain cells die at a much more rapid rate than is normal, resulting in the development of cognitive impairment.

Environmental: Some professionals in the field believe that different environmental factors can potentially play a role in the development of dementia. Studies have shown that if people are exposed to chemicals like lead, aluminum, and particulate air pollution have can contribute to the onset of dementia. Additionally, when people are exposed to these toxicities, the risk of experiencing this decline in cognition can develop at an earlier age.

Risk Factors:

  • Increased age
  • Family history of dementia
  • Exposure to some toxic chemicals
  • Having Down syndrome
  • Suffering from infections that affect the brain, like HIV or syphilis
  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • High cholesterol

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of dementia

Due to the fact that there are so many various forms of dementia and the fact that these various forms affect different aspects of the brain, the signs and symptoms of dementia will vary from person to person. Examples of these various symptoms can include:

Behavioral symptoms:

  • Getting lost in familiar places
  • Inappropriate behavior
  • Suddenly requiring assistance to perform complex tasks
  • Language difficulties
  • Experiencing difficulty organizing and planning
  • Social withdrawal
  • Unprovoked violent behavior

Physical symptoms:

  • Loss of bowel and bladder control
  • Muscle weakness
  • Impaired motor functioning
  • Impaired balance
  • Tremors
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Lack of personal hygiene

Cognitive symptoms:

  • Inability to reason
  • Inability to recognize objects
  • Impaired perception
  • Lack of sound judgment
  • Comprehension disturbances
  • Inability to pay attention
  • Lack of abstract thinking
  • Memory loss

Psychosocial symptoms:

  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Psychosis
  • Paranoia
  • Increased agitation
  • Significant mood swings that are unusual for the individual

Effects

Effects of dementia

When a person has dementia, the effects that he or she experiences will not only have a significant on his or her life, but on the lives of his or her family members as well. Examples of effects that can result from the presence of dementia may include:

  • Increased levels of aggression
  • Repeating oneself
  • Partaking in repetitive activities
  • Long-term memory loss
  • Getting lost in familiar places
  • Losing the ability to recognize familiar faces
  • Becoming excessively and unnecessarily suspicious of other people

Co-Occurring Disorders

Dementia and co-occurring disorders

It is not uncommon for the various forms of dementia to occur alongside other mental illnesses, with the symptoms of dementia leading to the onset of such illnesses, or the illnesses themselves leading to the onset of dementia symptoms. The most common mental disorders that may co-exist with dementia can include:

  • Depressive disorders
  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Specific phobias
  • Substance abuse disorders
  • Psychosis
  • Traumatic brain injury

What sets us apart?

We understand the many pressures, concerns, and frustrations that can accompany the effort to find the best treatment option, and we are dedicated to doing all that we can to make this a more efficient and effective process.

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