Dementia is an individual’s condition where their cognitive function begins to decline. Cognitive Abilities like thinking, reasoning, planning, and remembering are affected to the extent that the individual is unable to perform basic life functions like bathing and eating. It is not a specific disease but an umbrella term that covers an overall cognitive ability loss. Alzheimer’s disease makes up to 80% of dementia cases.
How does dementia vary from person to person?
The extent of dementia varies from person to person and mostly occurs from age 60 and above. It can also prevail in a person’s 50s-60s depending on the individual’s medical history. The extent of dementia is determined by the symptoms of how the person is performing in day-to-day life. Solving complex problems, memory, and organizational skills determine the impact of the disease. The individual’s ability to communicate and express themselves is also a determinant of their diagnosis.
What are the early symptoms of dementia?
The difference between early and advanced dementia is also estimated based on the extent of the symptoms. Early signs and diagnosis of dementia give your doctor and caretakers a heads-up on how to be prepared for the upcoming turn of events. It is important to pay attention to the early stages of dementia before they become even more prevalent. Early symptoms of dementia include subtle short-term memory changes. Forgetting important things or putting them in new places, having trouble recalling newly learned information. If the individual is struggling to express their thoughts or is facing a shortage of vocabulary can be seen as a sign of early dementia. Confusion and irritability which is an effect of forgetting things is also a symptom of early dementia.
How do early stages differ from advanced stages?
More pronounced symptoms of dementia include increased memory loss like forgetting important events of one’s life or losing track of daily repetitive tasks. Performing advanced and complicated tasks like driving feels more and more complicated with every passing day. Increased irritation and paranoia due to confusion and lack of focus are also very noticeable.
Where does the Diagnosis begin?
This is the step where the diagnosis begins. A Psychiatrist goes through a detailed medical history of the individual which includes past medical problems, present medication,s and lifestyle habits. All these factors help devise a medical plan to move forward with. After going through the detailed history of the individual, the present condition is assessed by a set of neurological and physical tests. The neurological examination will assess the patient’s memory, language, visual perception, attention, problem-solving, and movement. These tests also include psychological and cognitive tests. Brain Imaging helps get to the core root cause through thorough scans. Scans like MRI and CT scans help differentiate between different types of dementia to simplify the diagnosis of the individual.
What kind of tests are included in the diagnosis of dementia?
The complete diagnosis of dementia through various neurological and neurophysical tests calls for the next step. This step includes an effective care planning process for the individual as well as the proper education of caretakers. Managing future healthcare plans as well as living arrangements falls into this category. Treating the individual with kindness and patience is the key to making informed decisions. Isolation can breed more negativity and have more adverse effects on the individual battling dementia. That is why the individual and their caretakers need to communicate with support groups and community resources.
Caring and Supporting Individuals facing dementia
Dementia completely transforms the lives of the individual facing it as well as their family and loved ones. It is essential to support them in their journey as much as possible. Early diagnosis helps devise a plan that puts you one step ahead of dementia. It remains crucial to look out for any early symptoms of dementia in older people. Dementia remains a sensitive issue so caretakers must remain considerate and vigilant. Ongoing symptoms and timely reporting to the psychiatrist can help manage dementia to the extent that the individual becomes stable. Community Programs and Social Groups mitigate loneliness and isolation in an individual and give them hope for a better life.