Common Symptoms of Dementia
Having a loved one with dementia can be difficult. There are many symptoms to watch out for and different forms of dementia. Some of the most common symptoms are:
Alzheimer’s disease
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease vary from person to person. But a few common symptoms include difficulty remembering, forgetting, losing track of time, difficulty paying bills, and problems with numbers.
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s time to visit the doctor. Your doctor may prescribe medication to reduce these symptoms. A memory clinic can also help with diagnosis. Memory clinics are staffed by professionals who are experts in diagnosing dementia. These professionals listen to your concerns and arrange additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.
During the early stages of Alzheimer’s, the symptoms are mild. However, as the disease progresses, these symptoms become more severe.
In the late stages, people with Alzheimer’s disease can no longer communicate. They may lose their bowel control and become confused about time and also may have problems with swallowing. They may also get lost in familiar places.
Frontotemporal dementia
Among the symptoms of dementia, frontotemporal dementia is a rare neurological condition that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. People with this condition can develop problems with speech and movement.
Frontotemporal dementia can be diagnosed with a brain scan. This type of imaging is also known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain scans are interpreted in context with the patient’s history.
If you or a loved one has been experiencing symptoms of frontotemporal dementia, make an appointment with a doctor to diagnose the condition. Your doctor may ask you about your family’s history of the state and may order imaging and an assessment of your mind and behaviour. Your doctor may order genetic testing if you have a family history of frontotemporal degeneration.
Frontotemporal dementia is caused by a degeneration of the brain’s frontal lobes, which are responsible for behaviour and language. The frontal lobes are also responsible for emotions, decision-making, and personality.
Lewy body dementia
Those with Lewy body dementia often experience hallucinations. These are often accompanied by other behaviours such as confusion, fear, and anger. Some people may also experience visual, sound, or smell hallucinations.
Lewy body dementia symptoms may start suddenly or gradually progress over time. Some signs may be minor, but others may be severe and affect daily living. The earliest symptoms of Lewy body dementia include visual hallucinations. Some people may also experience sound hallucinations, smell hallucinations, or other unusual behaviour.
Abnormal clumps of protein in the brain cause Lewy body dementia. These protein clumps interfere with the neurotransmitter dopamine. This neurotransmitter is vital for thinking, memory, and movement; when this chemical is lost, the entire body functions incorrectly.
People with Lewy body dementia may experience difficulty focusing, confusion, difficulty with language, problems with numbers, and poor judgment. They may also experience delusions, leading to false accusations and beliefs.
Mixed dementia
Symptoms of mixed dementia can vary, depending on the parts of the brain affected. Some signs of mixed dementia may include confusion, memory loss, new bodies, and vascular disease. If you suffer from these symptoms, you should seek medical help immediately.
There is no known cure for mixed dementia, but there are medications that may help. These medications can help you cope with the symptoms of dementia and prevent the condition from progressing.
Studies have shown that mixed dementia is prevalent. About 10% of people with dementia are thought to have mixed dementia. Generally, this condition is caused by a combination of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. However, there are other causes of dementia.
Most people with mixed dementia were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at some point in their lives. Most of these people were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when they were younger. The disease affects the memory and concentration of the person. It also affects their ability to function in their daily lives.
Repetition
Throughout all stages of dementia, repetition is a common symptom. Repetition may be caused by a lack of cognitive function, memory loss, environmental influences, or a combination of the two.
Repetitive behaviours may include repetition of words, phrases, or activities. The symptom of repetition may also be related to the deterioration of the part of the brain responsible for language and sense-making.
A study by Hwang et al. (2000) found that verbal repetition is more prevalent in the early stages of dementia. These researchers found that repetitive questioning was the most common type of verbal repetition. The questioning was divided into repetitive statements, repetitive stories, and redundant information telling.
There were fewer repetitions of stories and information telling than repetitive statements. Most recurrences occurred within a two-hour interval.