Dementia is a general term that represents a group of diseases and illnesses that cause the loss of cognitive functioning to the point that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.
Cognitive changes they may experience include:
- Memory loss, usually noticed by someone else
- Problems communicating or finding words
- Trouble with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving
- Problems with reasoning or problem-solving
- Trouble performing complex tasks
- Trouble with planning and organizing
- Poor coordination and control of movements
- Confusion and disorientation
Some people with dementia can’t control their emotions, and they may also have psychological changes, such as:
- Personality changes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Inappropriate behavior
- Hallucinations
Dementia is caused by damage to your brain, affecting its nerve cells and destroying the brain’s ability to communicate with its various areas. Dementia can also result from blocked blood flow to your brain, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain tissue dies.
Progressive dementias get worse over time. Types of dementias that worsen and aren’t reversible include:
- Alzheimer’s disease (the most common cause of dementia)
- Vascular dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Mixed dementia
Other disorders linked to dementia include:
- Huntington’s disease
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- Parkinson’s disease
Some causes of dementia-like symptoms can be reversed with treatment including:
- Infections and immune disorders
- Metabolic or endocrine problems
- Low levels of certain nutrients
- Medicine side effects
- Subdural bleeding
- Brain tumors
- Normal-pressure hydrocephalus
Many risk factors can contribute to dementia, including:
- Age
- Family history
A healthcare provider must recognize the pattern of loss of skills and function to be able to diagnose the cause of dementia. No single test can diagnose dementia, therefore, a series of tests may be conducted to determine a diagnosis. These tests include:
- Cognitive and neuropsychological tests
- Neurological evaluation
- Brain scans
- CT or MRI
- PET scans
- Laboratory tests
- Psychiatric evaluation
Most types of dementia can’t be cured, but there are ways to manage your symptoms including:
- Medications
- Therapies
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms associated with dementia, you can receive treatment from a neurologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.