Is It Dementia? 3 Things to Know

It’s very common for people’s memory to slip as they age. They forget little things, like a word here or there. However, dementia, the umbrella term for a range of conditions affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities, is also a widespread phenomenon. Some struggle to differentiate between the two and fear that the natural aging process may be dementia.

Let’s check out some of the important differentiators to help separate the facts from the fiction.

1. There Isn’t One Thing Called Dementia

Sometimes, people talk about dementia as if there is just one type of disease or illness that a person either does or does not have. Actually, several different diseases can cause dementia. Alzheimer’s is the most common, but there are others. It’s possible to have dementia without having Alzheimer’s, though the two are often and incorrectly used interchangeably.

Vascular dementia is caused by damage to the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. Front temporal dementia and mixed dementia are other types, while Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are disorders often linked to dementia.

It’s best to speak to a doctor or healthcare professional to precisely diagnose your condition.

2. Dementia Causes Various Symptoms

Likewise, dementia can have different effects on a person. One person may struggle to remember things, while another may have difficulty with reasoning, performing complex tasks, coordinating and controlling movements, or may just be generally confused.

Of course, one person may experience a mix of all these things at once or at different times, at varying levels of severity. You shouldn’t assume that any forgetfulness as you get older is necessarily caused by dementia, but if you have any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to see a doctor and get them looked at sooner rather than later.

Conditions can progress and worsen over time, but even when the illness isn’t treatable, you can have a much higher quality of life when surrounded by experienced specialists at Sagecare who let you age in place. They understand that a person is much more than their condition, and they know how to treat patients with dignity while keeping them safe.

3. Some Dementia Symptoms Are Reversible

Thankfully, some conditions causing dementia-like symptoms can be reversed with treatment. When the body fights off a fever or infection, symptoms that may appear like dementia can result. The immune disorder multiple sclerosis may also look like dementia because it makes the body attack its own nerve cells. Treatment can reverse this.

Metabolic or endocrine problems, low levels of nutrients, medicine side effects, and subdural bleeding may all look like dementia under certain conditions. Speak to a doctor if you have any symptoms you aren’t sure about because they may be totally reversible.

People’s bodies and minds change as they get older, and some of the changes may be difficult to understand or accept. It may also be hard to know precisely what the change is, as diagnosis isn’t always a simple matter. Connect with a healthcare specialist to determine what you’re experiencing and get the most suitable level of care.