Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities that is severe enough to interfere with daily life Dementia itself is not a specific disease, but several diseases can cause dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of progressive dementia in older adults. It is not yet irreversible, but depending on the cause, some symptoms of dementia may be able to be delayed or reduced..
According to a report published in The Times of India Typical dementia symptoms vary depending on the cause, but common signs and symptoms include:
Cognitive changes
- Memory loss that is usually noticed by someone else
- Difficulty communicating or finding words
- Difficulty with visual and spatial abilities, such as getting lost while driving
- Difficulty thinking or solving problems
- Difficulty handling complex tasks
- Difficulty planning and organizing
- Difficulty with coordination and motor functions
- confusion
psychological changes
- character change
- Depression
- Worry
- inappropriate behavior
- Paranoia
- Excitement
- hallucinations
But most of these symptoms of the pro-type are recognized much later in the course of disease progression and leave little or no window for objection..
Dementia researchers strive to prevent patients’ brain from deteriorating by identifying early signs of it British Express newspaper Now that a pioneering test has found ‘hidden’ signs of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, 18 years before diagnosis..
A study of more than 2,000 people shows that memory and thinking testing can reveal differences between people who develop Alzheimer’s disease, which makes up the majority of dementia cases up to 18 years before diagnosis..
Based on tests completed 13 to 18 years before the study ended, a lower score on a cognitive test was associated with an 85% increased risk of developing dementia in the future, indicating that the development of Alzheimer’s disease may begin many years earlier than expected before symptoms were recognized..
Dr. Doug Brown, director of research and development at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘Dementia often causes changes in the brain years before symptoms appear. This study shows that there may be subtle signs of Alzheimer’s disease in thinking and memory 18 years before formal diagnosis. This could mean that there is a long window of opportunity for treatment in which we can one day stop or slow down dementia.
Early signs and symptoms of dementia
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, memory loss can sometimes be an early sign of dementia. This is especially true if you:
- Struggling to remember recent events, even though you can easily remember things from long ago.
- You find it difficult to follow conversations or programs on TV.
- Forget the names of your close friends or everyday things.
- Struggling to remember things you recently heard, watched or read.
- Check your thread regularly.
- You find yourself putting things in unusual places – like keys in the fridge.
- Feel confused, even in a familiar place, or get lost on familiar journeys.
