How
to Spot and Recognize the Signs of Dementia in Seniors
Reports
show that as many as 7% of adults above the age of 60 suffer from dementia. But
what exactly is dementia?
 Dementia is defined as the decline in memory as well
as other mental problems. Alternatively, dementia can be described as a group
of symptoms that affects thinking, memory as well as social abilities which in
turn impacts your daily life. There are numerous causes of dementia, but the
most common cause of progressive dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. If you have
dementia, you may experience impairment in communication, thought, and memory.
However, not all memory problems are a symptom of dementia. In addition to
memory problems, dementia may also affect your communication, focus, reasoning
as well as language. In this article, we are going to look at how to spot and
recognize the signs of dementia in seniors.
●
Memory
loss
According
to Jane Byrne, Project Coordinator at
FirstCare nursing home Kildare. “While broadly speaking dementia patients
may present similarly, all dementia patients will have varying symptoms because
the affected parts of the brain vary from one person to another.”
Memory
loss is a common sign of dementia. It is common for people to forget things as
you age. If you are suffering from this symptom, then it means you have
difficulty recalling new information you have learned. In this case, seniors
will rely on family and friends to keep track of things.
●
Difficulty
speaking or writing
A
senior suffering from dementia may find it difficult to engage in
conversations. You can spot this sign in case you see them forgetting what they
are saying or what another person has said. Also, people with dementia will
find their punctuation, grammar, and spelling is getting worse.
● Mood
changes
Another
way you can spot if seniors have dementia is by confirming if there is a mood
change. For example, if a senior is diagnosed with depression it could be an
early sign of dementia. In addition to mood changes, you may also notice a
change in personality.
●
Confusion
If
you are in the early stages of dementia, you may become confused. When you
experience memory lapses or judgment lapses, confusion will likely arise. You
can spot if someone is confused if they lack the right words to express
themselves or cannot remember faces. Also, if a senior is confused, they are
likely to forget where they placed their keys. For this reason, a
medical alert system is not always right for someone suffering from dementia
●
Apathy
Apathy
may occur in people who are suffering from an early stage of dementia. You can
notice this sign of dementia in seniors in case you notice they have lost
interest in activities or hobbies you used to enjoy. Also, if you have apathy
it means you do not want to spend time with family and friends.
Dementia
usually affects seniors above the age of 65 but can also affect young people.
If you are in your 30s, 40s or 50s, you may experience early onset of dementia.
The most common cause of dementia includes Huntington’s disease, Lewy body
dementia, Brain damage, as well as Alzheimer’s disease. For you to successfully
diagnose and treat this condition, you should know how to spot and recognize
the signs of dementia in seniors. If you experience the above signs of
dementia, you need to visit a doctor who will perform different tests like
blood tests, brain imaging tests, a neurological exam, or a complete mental and
memory tests. However, you can prevent dementia by reading, getting physically
active, playing memory games and making other lifestyle changes such as eating
fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as omega 3 fatty acids. Try some of these activities for dementia patients with your loved one.
About The Author:
Holly Clark has been working in the care industry for 5+
years as a project coordinator. She regularly blogs about both the personal and
practical challenges of caring and is always actively working on producing
informative content. Holly is currently writing for Firstcare.
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