Dementia: Symptoms, causes and types of THIS condition

Dementia denotes a group of symptoms which affect memory, thinking process, social abilities etc. These issues interfere in our daily life. Dementia is not a specific disease rather it is caused by different diseases. Dementia is mostly associated with memory loss, but this is not the only issue caused by dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is a common type of progressive dementia, but there are many other elements to this condition as well. 

Symptoms of dementia

The symptoms of dementia are as follows: 

Memory loss- It’s generally noticed by the patient’s close ones. 

Having problems finding words or communicating. 

Difficulty in solving complex problems or tasks.

Difficulty in planning or organising something.

Confusion.

Difficulty in coordination. 

Getting lost.

Psychological changes in dementia:

Changes in personality. 

Depression. 

Anxiety and paranoia. 

Hallucinations. 

Inappropriate behaviour. 

Mood swings.

Types of dementia:

Cortical dementia- This occurs due to the problems in the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain. 

Subcortical dementia- This is caused by the problems in the parts of the brain which is beneath the cortex. 

Causes of dementia that are reversible

About 20 per cent of the causes of dementia are reversible. They are as follows:

Alcohol 

Tumours. 

Blood clots beneath the outer covering of the brain. 

Normal-pressure hydrocephalus, which is a build-up of fluid in the brain. 

Metabolic deficiency like B12 deficiency. 

Low levels of thyroid hormones 

Low blood sugar.

HAND- HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders

Causes of dementia that are not reversible

These causes of dementia are partially manageable, but they are not reversible: 

Alzheimer’s disease

Vascular dementia. 

Dementia from Parkinson’s disease. 

Dementia with Lewy bodies. 

Frontotemporal dementia

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

When to consult a doctor

Mostly our loved ones can spot the disease. So, if any of your family members has memory problems, then talk to your doctor right away without any delay. Many treatable medical conditions can also cause dementia. So, first, it’s important to spot the underlying cause of the condition to treat it properly.

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