Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia can be devastating to a loved one.A set of symptoms that impair daily functioning and affect memory, thinking, and social abilities are called dementia.Nearly 9% of dementia is considered potentially irreversible.Patients younger than 65 years old are more likely to have dementias.Depression, hypothyroidism, and B-12 deficiency are some of the causes of dementia.There are treatments that can help with the symptoms of dementia.When you know what the future holds, you can make plans to help a loved one deal with the effects of dementia.
Step 1: A simple test can be used to check a person's memory and cognitive abilities.
It can be difficult for dementia sufferers to remember recent events or familiar routes.They might forget the concept of numbers.The Saint Louis University Mental Status exam is a simple test that a healthcare professional can use to gauge a patient's mental status.The Montreal Cognitive Assessment is a simple test that healthcare professionals can administer to assess patients.Only a trained healthcare professional can evaluate a person's mental status.Everyone has their own memory and forgetfulness is common among the general population.Family members and close friends are usually the best people to judge changes in behavior.If memory loss is interfering with day-to-day activities, you should see your doctor.
Step 2: There are signs of normal and abnormal memory loss.
It is not uncommon for a person to have memory problems as they get older.The brain of an older person may not work as well as it did in their younger years because they have experienced a lot.When memory loss starts to affect daily life, intervention needs to happen.There are different early signs for different people.Inability to care for self is a common sign.The inability to maintain household chores include chronically dirty dishes, garbage not taken out, filthy house, and dirty clothes.Other odd behaviors include calling loved ones at 3 a.m. and hanging up.
Step 3: They used to do things easily.
It is possible for dementia sufferers to forget to serve the meal they just cooked.People with dementia may have difficulty putting on clothes.Look for a decline in daily hygiene and dressing habits.If you notice that an individual is having difficulty with these tasks, you should see your doctor.
Step 4: There are problems in using language.
It's normal for people to make a mistake.When they can't find the right word, dementia sufferers get flustered.It can be frustrating for both parties if this causes them to blow up at the person they're talking to.Difficult remembering words and expressions is one of the main causes of language changes.The ability to understand other people's language will decline.The person may not be able to communicate in person.People only communicate by gesture or facial expression.
Step 5: Look for signs of confusion.
People with dementia are confused about spatial, time, and temporal contexts.spatial, time, and temporal confusion show an inability to understand where the person is in the moment.People with dementia may forget directions if they think north is south and east is west.That's right, the way they just came is a different route.They may wander off and forget how to return to where they belong.The performance of behaviors at times is marked by time disorientation.This could be like a slight change in eating or sleeping habits.It can be more significant if an individual eats breakfast in the middle of the night and then gets ready for bed during the day.It can cause confusion about where sufferers are.A person might think the public library is their living room and be angry about people in their home.It can be hard to perform tasks outside of their home due to spatial disorientation.The individual cannot navigate environments outside the home.
Step 6: Do not ignore items that are out of place.
It is common to misplace the car keys in pants pockets.People with dementia place objects in locations that don't make sense.They could put a purse in the freezer.The medicine cabinet has the checkbook in it.A person with senile dementia may argue why it makes sense from this line of logical reasoning.Don't try to get into an argument at this point, as you will be unlikely to convince him or her to change his mind.He or she is in denial because it is frightening.It's better to focus on yourself than on the truth.
Step 7: There are changes in mood or personality.
People who suffer from dementia may have rapid mood swings.They can go from being happy to being angry in minutes.It can be frustrating for dementia sufferers to have problems with common tasks.This can result in a lot of paranoia.If you want to avoid upsetting the individual even further, don't get angry.
Step 8: If you see signs of passivity, it's time to check it out.
The person may no longer like going to places they used to go, taking part in activities they enjoyed, or seeing people they once saw.Many individuals may become withdrawn as day-to-day activities become more difficult.They may settle into depression because they are not interested in doing anything outside of the home.If the person spends hours sitting in a chair and staring into space, notice.Look for declining activity, poor hygiene, and problems with common day-to-day activities.
Step 9: The current behavior is compared to what you know of the person.
There is a "constellation" of declining and erratic behaviors in dementia.There is no one indicator that is enough for a diagnosis.It's not necessarily dementia if you just forget things.A combination of all the symptoms is what you should look for.It will be easier to notice changes in an individual's behavior if you know them better.
Step 10: You should be familiar with some types of dementia.
Dementia can look different from patient to patient.Taking the cause of the dementia into consideration will allow you to predict how the patient will progress.Alzheimer's disease progresses gradually over the course of years.There are plaques and tangles found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.Lewy bodies are deposits in the brain that cause a decline in thinking, memory and motor control abilities.Unusual behavior like talking to someone who isn't there can be caused by hallucinations.This could be related to Parkinson's disease.5 to 8 years after Parkinson's symptoms start, dementia begins.A patient with multi-infarct dementia has many strokes that block a brain arteries.People with this type of dementia may have symptoms that stay the same for a while and then get worse as they have more strokes.Frontotemporal dementia is caused by parts of the brain that shrink.Between the ages of 40 and 75, this type of dementia occurs.A build up of fluid in the brain can cause dementia if the pressure increases quickly.There is evidence of this type of dementia that can be seen with aCT orMRI.Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare and fatal brain disorder that is believed to be caused by a prion.The condition comes on suddenly, even though it may be present for a long time.A brain biopsy will show the cause of the condition.
Step 11: Take the person to the doctor.
If you see a correlation of behavioral changes and symptoms, you need an expert evaluation.A primary care physician may be able to diagnose dementia.Sometimes a patient needs to be referred to a specialist.
Step 12: To check for underlying issues, get blood tests.
The doctor may use a blood test to check for potential causes of dementia, such as complete blood count, B-12 level, and or levels of bloodglucose or thyroid hormone.The doctor will use these tests to determine if there is an underlying cause.
Step 13: There are other possible causes of dementia.
The doctor can order specific types of tests, such as magnetic resonance images (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan.It's important to have at least one of these tests in order to evaluate a person with dementia.It is possible to see if a person has had a stroke or if there is a tumor in the brain with a computed tomographic (CT) or magnetic resonance image.It is possible for a physician to determine if depression or other mental health problems are related to the dementia.
Step 14: Inform the doctor if the person is taking any drugs.
Some drugs add to the symptoms of dementia.The mixing of drugs used to treat diseases can cause dementia-like symptoms.This type of drug mixing is common with older people so make sure you have an accurate medication listing.There are a number of common medications that can cause issues.
Step 15: Prepare for a full physical examination.
A physical exam can identify a disorder that is related to dementia.It could rule out dementia as well.Heart disease, stroke, and other related conditions are examples.A clue to the type of dementia that needs to be treated may be given by the variations in each of these factors.To rule out depression as an underlying cause of a patient's symptoms, the doctor may conduct a psychiatric evaluation.
Step 16: The doctor should be allowed to evaluate cognitive abilities.
The ability to write, draw, name objects, and follow directions might be included in the tests.Both motor and cognitive skills are assessed.This can be checked out by a healthcare professional when using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.The SLUMS test is an option.
Step 17: You must submit to a neurological evaluation.
Balance, reflexes, sensory and other functions will be covered in the evaluation.It is done to rule out other disorders.A brain Scan may be ordered by the doctor to identify underlying causes of strokes or tumors.Magnetic resonance images and computed tomographic scans are the main forms of scans.
Step 18: Find out if the dementia can be reversed.
Sometimes dementia can be treated and reversed with medical care.Others are progressive and irreversible.You can plan for the future if you know which category the patient falls into.Hypothyroidism, depression, and subdural hematoma are potential causes of dementia.Alzheimer's disease, multi-infarct dementia, and HIV dementia are some of the causes of dementia.