About Dementia...
Dementia is a scary word.
We all know someone who has been told they have dementia, or that their loved one has it, and we may think we know what the term means. However, dementia is actually NOT just one set of difficulties with one particular cause, but a whole category of disorders that vary widely in causes, in symptoms, and even in the extent to which they are treatable. Basically, dementia is a broad term that refers to significant, unexpected changes in a person's cognitive functioning that interfere with the performance of normal life activities... but the causes of those changes, and whether they are mild or severe, temporary or permanent, may actually vary widely. Two people with the same underlying cause for their cognitive changes can also experience very different challenges over time.
What does dementia look like? Well, that can vary greatly, also. Doctors used to assume that memory problems were the primary sign of dementia, and that surely can be true. But people show dementia in many different ways. Some experience notable personality changes. Others have trouble speaking or understanding language. Still other have difficulty navigating. Some may experience trouble with executing familiar motor sequences.
We've all heard of Alzheimer's Disease, and that, of course, is a very common cause of dementia. But it is by no means the ONLY one... Strokes are another relatively common cause, but instead of coming on gradually and inevitably getting worse, cognitive symptoms due to strokes tend to begin suddenly, and may be reversible to some extent, as healing occurs. Some people experience temporary dementia symptoms due to other medical conditions, such as seizure disorders, brain tumors, sleep disorders, or head injuries. Dementia symptoms, sometimes gradually worsening and other times temporary and reversible, can occur with a variety of medical conditions. Heavy substance use or multiple serious head injuries can also result in a progressive loss of cognitive functioning. A few people have genetic causes of dementia, and some lifestyle factors and dangerous situations can increase risk for dementia in the future. Most often, dementia occurs later in life, but that is not always the case: Strokes, head injuries, and brain tumors can happen to young people, and one rare, genetic form of Alzheimer's tends to first show up in persons who are still in the their 50's.
To put is more succinctly, every person living with dementia has a unique set of challenges to manage. While dread and fear are very understandable feelings, when symptoms begin to occur, those natural reactions are most problematic when they delay identification of the underlying causes and the initiation of any appropriate treatments. Trying to ignore or deny difficulties, while very understandable, can actually place the affected person at risk.
If you (or those who care about you) have questions about your ability to drive, your ability to live alone, your handling of personal business affairs, or any risks you may have taken, please listen to those concerns, and seek out medical evaluation and/or neuropsychological testing without delay. The more you know, the better the decision you will make, to ensure your future well-being.
Dementia is a scary word.
We all know someone who has been told they have dementia, or that their loved one has it, and we may think we know what the term means. However, dementia is actually NOT just one set of difficulties with one particular cause, but a whole category of disorders that vary widely in causes, in symptoms, and even in the extent to which they are treatable. Basically, dementia is a broad term that refers to significant, unexpected changes in a person's cognitive functioning that interfere with the performance of normal life activities... but the causes of those changes, and whether they are mild or severe, temporary or permanent, may actually vary widely. Two people with the same underlying cause for their cognitive changes can also experience very different challenges over time.
What does dementia look like? Well, that can vary greatly, also. Doctors used to assume that memory problems were the primary sign of dementia, and that surely can be true. But people show dementia in many different ways. Some experience notable personality changes. Others have trouble speaking or understanding language. Still other have difficulty navigating. Some may experience trouble with executing familiar motor sequences.
We've all heard of Alzheimer's Disease, and that, of course, is a very common cause of dementia. But it is by no means the ONLY one... Strokes are another relatively common cause, but instead of coming on gradually and inevitably getting worse, cognitive symptoms due to strokes tend to begin suddenly, and may be reversible to some extent, as healing occurs. Some people experience temporary dementia symptoms due to other medical conditions, such as seizure disorders, brain tumors, sleep disorders, or head injuries. Dementia symptoms, sometimes gradually worsening and other times temporary and reversible, can occur with a variety of medical conditions. Heavy substance use or multiple serious head injuries can also result in a progressive loss of cognitive functioning. A few people have genetic causes of dementia, and some lifestyle factors and dangerous situations can increase risk for dementia in the future. Most often, dementia occurs later in life, but that is not always the case: Strokes, head injuries, and brain tumors can happen to young people, and one rare, genetic form of Alzheimer's tends to first show up in persons who are still in the their 50's.
To put is more succinctly, every person living with dementia has a unique set of challenges to manage. While dread and fear are very understandable feelings, when symptoms begin to occur, those natural reactions are most problematic when they delay identification of the underlying causes and the initiation of any appropriate treatments. Trying to ignore or deny difficulties, while very understandable, can actually place the affected person at risk.
If you (or those who care about you) have questions about your ability to drive, your ability to live alone, your handling of personal business affairs, or any risks you may have taken, please listen to those concerns, and seek out medical evaluation and/or neuropsychological testing without delay. The more you know, the better the decision you will make, to ensure your future well-being.