Dementia is not a single disease, but refers to a group of symptoms that are caused by numerous brain diseases or other conditions. These symptoms include memory loss, problems with language, poor judgment, change in personality, mood or behavior. Knowing that your relative has dementia explains the symptoms, but does not fully explain WHY the person is having these symptoms.
There are two types of dementia: progressive, meaning it gets worse over time, and reversible dementia. The most common types of progressive dementia, are Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body dementia and Vascular Dementia (strokes). Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60 - 75% of the types of progressive dementia.
There are many conditions that can cause dementia-like symptoms but are treatable and reversible including vitamin deficiency (B1, B 6, B12) drug reactions, depression, thyroid problems, alcohol, and dehydration.
If a parent or a loved one is experiencing signs of dementia that are severe enough to interfere with everyday life, social activities or a job, it is time to see a qualified doctor
and ask for a thorough assessment.
The 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
Used with permission from the Alzheimer’s Association (adapted examples by icarevillage.com)
The Alzheimer’s Association recommends that if you or your loved one has any of the following symptoms, to see your doctor so you can find out what is going on.
| 1. Memory loss |
What’s Normal: Occasionally forgetting an appointment, a birthday or someone’s name |
What’s NOT Normal: Forgetting things more often and not remembering them later, especially recent events or experiences. |
| 2. Difficult performing familiar tasks |
What’s Normal: Forgetting to put an ingredient in a recipe periodically or forgetting to serve the cookies at the end of the meal. |
What’s NOT Normal: Forgetting how to make a favorite long-time recipe or forgetting that you made cookies to serve to guests, |
| 3. Problems with language |
What’s Normal: Sometimes having difficulties coming up with the right word; “it’s on the tip of my tongue.” |
What’s NOT Normal: Forgetting simple words and substituting words that make it hard to understand what the person is trying to say “I need to put the things on my hands to keep them warm" (gloves) or substituting occasional for offensive because both words start with "o." |
| 4. Disorientation to place and time |
What’s Normal: A momentary lapse of memory causing you to forget where you are going or what day of the week it is. |
What’s NOT Normal: Getting lost driving to where you have worked for 20 years, getting lost walking in your neighborhood. |
| 5. Poor or decreased judgment |
What’s Normal: Making a questionable decision from time to time. |
What’s NOT Normal: Giving away large sums of money in repsonse to mail solicitations or telemarketers. |
| 6. Problems with abstract thinking |
What’s Normal: Having trouble balancing your checkbook from time to time. |
What’s NOT Normal: Having trouble with numbers and forgetting how they should be used. |
| 7. Misplacing things |
What’s Normal: Periodic short lapse of memory: Misplacing keys, forgetting a person’s name, forgetting where you parked the car at the mall. |
What’s NOT Normal: Putting things in inappropriate places such as the fish in the dishwasher, not recognizing a familiar friend or relative. |
| 8. Changes in personality |
What’s Normal: A person’s personality may gradually change a bit with age. |
What’s NOT Normal: A person with Alzheimer’s disease can experience abrupt and dramatic changes in personality, and act out of character, or become extroverted. |
| 9. Change in mood or behavior |
What’s Normal: Feeling sad, moody, or irritable from time to time. |
What’s NOT Normal: Rapid, unexplained mood swings—going from being calm to being sad or angry for no apparent reason. |
| 10. Loss of initiative |
What’s Normal: Not being up to doing something, going somewhere, or being with friends. |
What’s NOT Normal: A person with Alzheimer’s may sit in front of the TV for hours, require more than usual coaching to do usual activities. |
