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  1. Dementia
    DementiaNeurodegenerative disease
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    Overview - Dementia

    Verified Expert
    Also known as: major neurocognitive disorder
    A group of symptoms that affects memory, thinking and interfers with daily life.
    Condition Highlight
    Urgent medical attention is usually recommended in severe cases by healthcare providers
    How common is condition?
    Very common (More than 3 million cases per year in US)
    Is condition treatable?
    Treatments can help manage condition, no known cure
    Does diagnosis require lab test or imaging?
    Often requires lab test or imaging
    Condition Highlight
    Common for ages 60 and older
    Condition Highlight
    More common in females
    Condition Highlight
    Family history may increase likelihood
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    Causes

    Verified Expert

    • Damage to brain cells is the primary cause of dementia. Causes for this damage include:
    • Advance age, as in case of Alzheimer’s disease
    • Family history
    • Damage to blood vessels of the brain
    • Accumulation of clumps of protein in the brain
    • Genetic disorders such as Huntington's disease
    • Mental and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and depression
    • Traumatic brain injury or repetitive brain injury as seen in boxers
    • Infections which cause high fever
    • Metabolic disorders such as thyroid problems and diabetes
    • Certain medications
    • Vitamin deficiencies
    • Poisoning with heavy metals or pesticides
    • Alcohol abuse
    • Brain tumor or cancer
    • Enlarged structures of the brain

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    Symptoms

    Verified Expert
    Contact your provider if experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms.

    The symptoms include:

    Cognitive and sensory changes:

    • Memory loss, generally noticed by the near and dear ones
    • Difficulty in communication, especially finding the right words to communicate
    • Reduced ability to organize, plan, reason, or solve problems
    • Difficulty handling complex tasks
    • Confusion and disorientation
    • Difficulty with coordination and motor functions
    • Loss of or Reduced visual perception
    • Metallic taste in mouth, decreased sense of smell
    • Agnosia - unable to identify objects or persons

    Psychological changes:

    • Changes in personality and behavior
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Hallucinations
    • Mood swings
    • Agitation
    • Apathy - lack of interest or emotions

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    What does dementia mean in medical terms?
    Dementia at this time simply referred to anyone who had lost the ability to reason, and was applied equally to psychosis, "organic" diseases like syphilis that destroy the brain, and to the dementia associated with old age, which was attributed to "hardening of the arteries". Dementia has been referred to in medical texts since antiquity.
    en.wikipedia.org

    Treatment

    Verified Expert

    Most types of dementia cannot be cured. Treatments aim at reducing symptoms and progression of the condition.

    Medication

    Cholinesterase inhibitors: Helps to improve memory and cognitive functioning.

    Donepezil . Galantamine

    NMDA receptor antagonists: To improve learning and memory.

    Memantine

    Antipsychotics: To treat symptoms of anxiety, depression, and agitation.

    Risperidone

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    Diagnosis

    Verified Expert
    One or more of these tests may be recommended by your medical provider.
    Diagnosis aims at finding at least two impaired mental functions that interfere with daily activities. Doctor may order several tests to confirm the diagnosis.

    Common tests & procedures

    Patient history: Family history or any other injuries to head.

    Laboratory examination: Include blood and spinal fluid examinations to check for infections, nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalance.

    Psychological examination: To determine mental health conditions causing dementia.

    Cognitive and neuropsychological tests: To evaluate thinking, memory, reasoning, judgment, language, and attention abilities.

    Neurological test: To check for visual perception, movements, problem-solving, senses, balance, and reflexes.

    CT scan: CT scan of brain is done to check bleeding or tumor in the brain.

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI of the brain provides a detailed image of abnormalities of the brain.

    Positron emission tomography (PET): This is done to check for brain activities.

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    Source: Focus Medica. For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice.
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    Table of Contents
    Overview
    Causes
    Symptoms
    What does dementia mean in medical terms?
    Treatment
    Health guide
    Diagnosis
     
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