Dementia Signs and Symptoms

Lost keys, a misplaced wallet or a forgotten parking place happens to all of us. However, getting lost on the way to the grocery store, being unable to follow a familiar recipe, or forgetting what month or year it is can be signs of a more serious problem.

Dementia, or a loss of thinking skills that affects daily function, is not a normal part of aging and is more than age-related memory loss. With dementia, damage to brain cells hinders their ability to communicate with each other. As a result, the condition leads to problems with a person’s language skills, behavior, and ability to think, reason and solve problems.

Dementia screenings are included in Medicare annual wellness visits for adults over age 65. Need a provider? Find one accepting new patients.

Forms of Dementia

Dementia is not just one disease. Rather, it’s an umbrella term for a group of conditions that affect cognition. Some of the most common types of dementia include:

• Alzheimer’s disease: By far the most common form of the disease, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60%-80% of dementia cases, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. 
• Vascular dementia: This type of dementia results from damage to the brain caused by one significant stroke or multiple small strokes.
• Lewy body dementia (LBD): This condition is marked by physical tremors and movement problems similar to those seen with Parkinson’s disease, as well as cognitive, behavioral and memory issues often seen with dementia. In some patients with LBD, the movement changes appear first and dementia occurs later.
• Frontotemporal dementia: This term applies to forms of dementia that lead to the gradual loss of nerve cells in and eventual shrinkage of the areas of the brain behind the forehead (frontal lobes) and ears (temporal lobes). Over time, the damage causes changes to behavior, personality and language.

People can also have multiple forms of dementia. This is referred to as mixed dementia.

Early Signs of Dementia

Symptoms of each of these conditions vary widely, and not everyone with dementia experiences the same symptoms. If you are concerned about you or a loved one possibly having dementia, the following warning signs should prompt you to make an appointment with a primary care provider:

• Memory loss, including losing items and problems completing familiar tasks: This includes forgetting the rules to a favorite game, no longer remembering how to get to the grocery store or accusing others of stealing items that were lost.
• Confusion related to time or place: Someone with dementia may frequently forget what month or year it is or where they are.
• Problems with vision, reading and writing: These may include difficulties with judging distance and comprehending or remembering reading material.
• Poor judgment: People with dementia may show extremely poor judgment in handling money or no longer take as much care grooming themselves.
• Mood and personality changes, including social withdrawal: Frequent mood swings, an extreme change in personality and a withdrawal from once-beloved hobbies are common in people with dementia.

A primary care provider or neurologist can diagnose dementia with a cognitive function test and offer advice about treatment options.

Dementia vs. Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, but having dementia does not mean that you have Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific form of dementia that occurs when cell damage causes irreversible brain changes that affect cognition, whereas dementia is a term broadly applied to conditions that affect memory, reasoning and thinking.

Early in Alzheimer’s disease, people have difficulty with short-term memory. As the condition progressively worsens, they begin struggling with simple daily tasks, such as eating, dressing and bathing.

Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, an early diagnosis provides patients and their families with more options. Patients may be able to reduce the severity of symptoms and participate in clinical trials if they are diagnosed early in the course of the disease. Early diagnosis also gives families time to plan for the future.

Can I Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?

While doctors cannot know for certain whether someone will develop Alzheimer’s disease, there are some risk factors. The condition is more common in older adults and people with a family history of the disease.

Although very little is known about how environment and lifestyle influence Alzheimer’s disease development, emerging research suggests some steps could help lower your risk. These include:

• Managing high blood pressure and keeping cholesterol levels in healthy ranges
• Practicing heart-healthy habits, such as getting regular physical activity and eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and low in sugar and saturated fat
• Staying socially and mentally active, including reading, playing games or learning a new skill

Beaufort Memorial Memory Center

At the Beaufort Memorial Memory Center, our team, led by board-certified neurologist Dr. Paul Mazzeo, will develop a treatment plan and coordinate follow-up care. Our team supports patients and families and connects them with the healthcare and community resources they need to manage a dementia diagnosis.
We offer:

• Comprehensive neurological evaluations that include cognitive testing
• Brain imaging with MRI, CT and PET scans
• Genetic analysis
• Patient access to clinical trials
• The latest available treatments

Our social worker serves as a navigator to coordinate care that may be necessary and can help you and your family find caregiving resources, such as adult day services, that might help alleviate the stress of a dementia diagnosis. Our speech language pathologist and occupational therapists provide therapy that can help improve activities of daily living.