Carbonell Institute

Dementia

Dementia is the name given to a group of symptoms caused by disorders that affect the brain. It is not a specific disease. People with dementia may lose the ability to think clearly enough to carry out normal activities, such as dressing or eating. They may lose their ability to solve problems or control their emotions. Personality changes may occur. Patients may be agitated or see things that are not there.


Memory loss is a common symptom of dementia. However, memory loss alone does not mean you have dementia. People with dementia have serious problems with two or more brain functions, such as memory and language. Although dementia is common in older adults, it is not a normal part of aging.


Many different diseases can cause dementia, including Alzheimer's disease and stroke. Medications are available to treat these conditions. While these medicines cannot cure dementia or repair brain damage, they can improve symptoms or slow the progression of the disease.


Most types of dementia are irreversible (degenerative). This means that the changes in the brain that are causing the dementia cannot be stopped or reversed. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.


Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a major cause of dementia in older adults. People with this condition have abnormal protein structures in certain areas of the brain.


Dementia can also be caused by many small strokes, which is called vascular dementia.

The following medical conditions can also lead to dementia:

 

  • Huntington's disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Infections that can affect the brain, such as HIV/AIDS and Lyme disease
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Pick's disease
  • Progressive supranuclear palsy

 

Some causes of dementia can be stopped or counteracted if detected early, including:

 

  • Brain injury
  • Brain tumors
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Change in blood sugar, calcium, and sodium levels
  • Low levels of vitamin B12
  • Normal pressure hydrocephalus
  • Use of certain medications, including cimetidine and some cholesterol-lowering drugs

 

Dementia generally occurs in old age, is uncommon in people under 60, and the risk of developing it increases as a person gets older.


Symptoms of dementia

The symptoms of dementia encompass difficulty with many areas of mental function, including:

 

  • Language
  • The memory
  • The perception
  • Emotional behavior or personality
  • Cognitive skills (such as calculation, abstract thinking, or the ability to discern)

 

Dementia usually first appears as forgetfulness.


Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the stage between normal forgetfulness due to aging and the onset of dementia. People with MCI have mild problems with thinking and memory that do not interfere with daily activities, and they are often aware of their forgetfulness. Not everyone with MCI develops dementia later in life.


Symptoms of mild cognitive impairment include:

 

  • Difficulty performing more than one task at a time
  • Difficulty solving problems and making decisions
  • Forgetting recent events or conversations
  • Taking longer to perform more difficult mental tasks

 

Early symptoms of dementia may include:

 

  • Difficulty performing tasks that require some thought, but which used to be easy, such as keeping track of the checkbook balance, participating in games (like bridge), and learning new information or routines.
  • Getting lost on familiar routes.
  • Language problems, such as having difficulty finding the names of familiar objects.
  • Losing interest in things that were previously enjoyed: indifferent mood.
  • Losing items.
  • Personality changes and loss of social skills, which can lead to inappropriate behavior.

 

As dementia worsens, the symptoms become more obvious and interfere with the ability to care for oneself. Symptoms may include:

 

  • Changes in sleep patterns, waking up frequently at night
  • Difficulty performing basic tasks, such as preparing meals, choosing appropriate clothing, or driving
  • Forgetting details about everyday events
  • Forgetting events from one's own life story, losing track of who one is
  • Having hallucinations, arguments, violent behavior, and hitting
  • Having delusions, depression, agitation
  • Greater difficulty reading or writing
  • Impaired judgment and loss of the ability to recognize danger
  • Using incorrect words, mispronouncing words, speaking in confusing sentences
  • Withdrawing from social contact

 

People with severe dementia can no longer:

 

  • Perform basic daily living activities, such as eating, dressing, and bathing
  • Recognizing family members
  • Understanding the language

 

Other symptoms that may occur with dementia:

 

  • Incontinence
  • Swallowing difficulties

 


At the Carbonell Institute you can find your psychiatrist in Palma de Mallorca, where Dr. Jose Carbonell and his team of psychiatrists and psychologists will advise you on the treatment best suited to your needs.

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