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DEMENTIA
Dementia
is the term used to describe the symptoms of a large group of
illnesses that cause a progressive decline in mental functioning.
There are a variety of causes.
Dementia can happen to
anybody
Most people with dementia are older, but it is
important to remember that older people do not get dementia. It is
not a normal part of aging. Dementia can
happen to anybody, but it is more common after the age of 65
years. However, people in their 40s and 50s can also have
dementia.
The most common early symptoms
The
early symptoms of dementia are subtle and vary for each person and
from day-to-day. Symptoms gradually get worse. Common symptoms
include:
Memory
problems, especially for recent events (long term memory usually
remains in the early stages).
Language
and speech difficulties.
Confusion,
getting lost.
Personality
changes and behavior changes.
Apathy
and withdrawal.
Loss
of ability to do familiar tasks.
Types
and causes
There are many different types of dementia. The
most common are:
Alzheimer's
disease - there is no known cause, except for a very small
percentage of cases which are inherited.
Vascular
dementia - damage is caused by 'mini-strokes', risk may be
able to be reduced by maintaining good cardiovascular health: not
smoking, weight control, exercise.
Pick's
disease and frontal lobe dementia - damage starts in the
front part of the brain, with personality and behavioral
symptoms more common early on; the causes are unknown.
Parkinson's
disease - dementia is more common in people with Parkinson's
but not everyone with Parkinson's gets dementia; causes are
unknown.
Alcohol
related dementia - caused by too much alcohol, especially
with a poor diet, low in Vitamin B1 (thiamine); can be prevented
by avoiding alcohol abuse.
AIDS
related dementia - caused by the HIV virus, but does not
affect everyone with HIV-AIDS.
Huntington's
disease: an inherited condition, dementia is usually an
inevitable part of the deterioration.
Dementia
and Age
Dementia is not a normal part of aging,
although it is more common in older people. People as young as 40
can get Alzheimer's disease. One in four people aged over 85 years
have some form of dementia.
Diagnosis is important
It
is important to confirm a diagnosis. This will:
Rule
out other conditions which can be mistaken for dementia, such as
depression, stress, pain, infection.
Enable
treatments to be discussed - there are treatments which can help
some people.
Help
planning for the future to start early, while the person affected
can still actively participate.
Allow
support to be arranged to assist both the person with dementia
and their family.
A local
doctor or specialist should conduct a full assessment. Cognitive
Dementia and Memory Service (CDAMS) clinics can assist in
diagnosis. If the person will not go to a doctor or the doctor is
unwilling to take concerns seriously, seek advice on how to obtain
Alzheimer/Dementia support services.
Is it
dementia?
There are a number of conditions that have
symptoms similar to those of dementia. By treating these
conditions, the symptoms will often disappear.
These include:
It is
essential that a medical diagnosis is obtained at an early stage,
when symptoms first appear, to ensure that a person who has a
treatable condition is diagnosed and treated correctly.
Can
dementia be inherited?
This
will depend on the cause of the dementia, so it is important to
have a firm medical diagnosis. If there are concerns about the
risk of inheriting dementia, discuss it with a doctor or contact
Alzheimer's Australia and speak to a counselor.
What
can be done to help?
At
present, there is no prevention or cure for most forms of
dementia. However, some medications and alternative treatments
have been found to reduce some symptoms. Community support is
available for the person with dementia, their families and carers,
and can make a positive difference to managing dementia.
Getting
help early will make a difference
The earlier help is
found, the better the family and person with the disease will be.
It is important to:
Plan
ahead - while the person can still legally sign documents, get
enduring powers of attorney to manage financial affairs and
medical decisions, and for guardianship.
Get
information - find out about dementia and what lies ahead, being
informed gives people more sense of control.
Seek
support - many people find it helpful to talk through what a
diagnosis of dementia means and how they can make adjustments.
Practical
help - help in the home, respite so carers can have a break, the
person with dementia going out to clubs, day centers
or outings with friends, all make a positive difference.
Legal Issues:
At the early
stages of Dementia, if the patient has capacity to recognize his
loved ones and identify the nature and extent of his assets, he
can creat a power of attorney, or trust to allow for another
person to manage his assets in the event of his incapacity.
As the disease
is progressive, in the later stages of the disease, the above
options may become unavailable and the meas for taking care of a
person's legal and financial affairs becomes limited to the
Conservatorship process. (Please see our article regarding
Conservatorships)
The
importance of recognizing the symptoms of Dementia or Alzhiemer
diseases is to be able to plan for the health and finacial needs
of the patient which often is ignored as family members are
overwhelmed by managing the disease itself.
Support
services
There is a wide range of community services which
help both the person with dementia and their carers throughout the
course of the disease. These include:
Dementia
Helpline.
Support
and information groups, for people in the early stages of
dementia and their carers.
Carer
education and training programs.
Books,
videos and other resources.
Counseling
and practical advice, for individuals or family groups.
Alzheimer
/ Dementia support groups.
Telephone
support programs.
Adult
Day Care centers.
Respite
care, including in-home, out-of-home and flexible care such as
holidays.
Home
care and meals on wheels.
High
and low level aged care facilities.
Things
to remember
Dementia
is a progressive decline in mental functioning
There
are many causes of dementia, Alzheimer's disease is just one
While
dementia is more common in older people, it is not a normal part
of aging
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