DEMENTIA

Dementia is the gradual loss of social and cognitive skills, such as the ability to think, reason, remember, and plan. It can effect speech, motor skills, and general behavior. Progression of dementia and the degree of any one symptom varies from person to person.

There are many physical reasons for dementia. Aging itself does not cause dementia. Dementias are more common among the elderly, but can affect a few people in their forties or fifties. Some can even affect children. There are dozens of medical problems that cause dementia. Many are treatable, while others are not.

Central nervous system diseases and disorders can lead to dementia. One of the most common causes of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. Few people get this before age 50. By age 65, about 3 percent of people have this disease. By age 85, over 20 percent of people have this disease. This is usually a slow process that begins with people having trouble learning new things or forgetting very recent events. It then steadily gets worse over several years. Alzheimer's patients usually die within ten years. There is no medical test for Alzheimer's. If you or someone you know is diagnosed, make sure you get a second opinion. Experts suspect that as many as half of those diagnosed with Alzheimer's may actually have something else. Over-medication, dehydration, and depression can all look like Alzheimer's in an elderly person. All of these are treatable.

Other dementias are usually easier to diagnose. Vascular problems are the second leading cause of dementia. This type of dementia will usually show up on medical tests like an MRI or a CT scan. Multiple strokes, even small ones, can lead to step-like worsening dementia. Other causes of dementia include Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, AIDS, or head trauma. Dementia can also result from long misuse of drugs or alcohol.

If you are concerned about dementia in yourself or a family member, ask your primary healthcare provider about a referral to a neurologist or neuropsychologist. The problem may be treatable. A caregiver can learn to modify activities of daily living for a person with dementia so they will be as safe as possible.

For more information about dementia, call the Alzheimer's Association at (800) 272-3900 or visit their website at www.alz.org. The Family Caregiver Alliance is a support organization for caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, ALS and related brain disorders. Call (415) 434 3388 or visit their website at www.caregiver.org.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File AGIN4121.rf2 VRS# 7814 Data Version 7.0