Understanding Dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe symptoms impacting memory, performance of daily activities, and communication abilities. While there are many known diseases or syndromes that can cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is the most commonly diagnosed reason for dementia, accounting for an estimated 60 to 80 percent of all cases.

Common signs of dementia can include:

• Memory decline

• Deterioration of thinking skills

• Poor judgment and reasoning skills

• Decreased focus and attention

• Changes in language and communication skills

Alzheimer’s Symptoms and Dementia Warning Signs

Some memory loss is a part of the normal aging process. Forgetting where an item is placed, or momentarily lapsing on someone’s name does not necessarily indicate dementia. In some cases, what appears as concerning memory loss may be reversed if caused by treatable conditions such as depression, drug interaction, or excess use of alcohol. A lapse in memory is not always disease-related.

Alzheimer’s vs Normal Memory Loss

Although Alzheimer’s most commonly affects people over the age of 65, there is a difference between normal memory changes caused by age and memory loss caused by a form of dementia. If you’re concerned that a loved one may have dementia symptoms, it’s important to be able to discern dementia from normal memory changes. Here are a few comparisons, but keep in mind that only a doctor can make an official Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis. If you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have dementia, please call your doctor to schedule a full evaluation.

Seven Stages of Alzheimer’s

Firsthand experience with people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can be misleading. Symptoms appear, the diagnosis is confirmed, and the individual shows increasingly severe signs of cognitive impairment. As time goes on, the decline becomes more evident and more rapid. Alzheimer’s may take as long as 25 years or more to progress from the initial stages to the end of life.