Loss of cognitive function is scary regardless of how it happens. Even more dangerous can be when it occurs for seemingly no reason, such as when people develop dementia. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential, as dementia can significantly reduce the quality of life. Dementia is used as a general term to describe a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. There are many different types of dementia, each with its own set of symptoms. This article will discuss the different types of dementia, their symptoms, and recognizing when these symptoms begin.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. The primary symptom of Alzheimer’s disease is a gradual memory decline, specifically the ability to recall recent events and information. Other symptoms can include disorientation, mood swings, and problems using language. Memory loss often makes it difficult for people with Alzheimer’s to care for themselves.
As Alzheimer’s progresses, people have trouble with basic tasks of daily living. For example, they cook a meal, wash, dress according to social norms, manage money and other bills. In the early stages, you may notice things like the person repeating themself frequently. Getting lost in familiar places, asking for help with simple tasks more often, and having trouble completing regular daily activities such as bathing and dressing. The patient may become anxious or aggressive as their sense of self diminishes. Eventually, the disease leads to full-body debilitation and ultimately death.
Frontotemporal Dementia (Pick’s Disease)
This type of dementia is characterized by abnormal behavior and problems with language or movement. Symptoms of frontotemporal dementia often result in the loss of inhibition. A patient may begin acting up, become more emotional than before, or be unable to control their impulses. For example, someone experiencing frontotemporal dementia may act out or make sexual comments when meeting new people. They may seem confused about right and wrong. Alternatively, patients with this type of dementia can also experience some of the same symptoms as Alzheimer’s disease. They can become confused, irritable, and engage in repetitive behaviors like pacing or tapping their fingers against surfaces.
Although this type of dementia is less common than others, it develops earlier. Frontotemporal dementia typically begins between the ages of 45-65. As with most dementia symptoms, early diagnosis and treatment are essential in treating this disease. Some early signs and symptoms include a change in eating behavior, social conduct, lack of inhibition, and neglecting personal hygiene.
Vascular Dementia (Multi-Infarct)
This type of dementia is due to the damage of small blood vessels in the brain, disrupting oxygen flow to other parts of the brain and causing cell death. When there is a loss of blood supply, parts of the brain can die or shrink, leading to dementia symptoms. The onset usually takes place over some time, and symptoms vary depending on the part of the brain deprived of oxygen. Some symptoms include; impaired judgment. Also, problems with abstract thinking, inability to plan, memory problems, language issues, and impaired perception of spatial orientation.
People with vascular dementia can lose long-term memory more quickly than short-term memory, which is important to note since Alzheimer’s disease typically affects both equally. Problems with thinking can cause people with vascular dementia to act differently than they usually would. For example, someone may become more irritable, lose their temper for no reason, or take poor judgment. Personality changes can be a symptom of vascular dementia as well. Early signs of vascular dementia include memory loss that is different from the norm, trouble speaking or finding words. As well as impaired judgment changes in personality like increased irritability, making poor judgments and taking risks.
Lewy Body Dementia
Lewy bodies form in the brain cells of people with this type of dementia. Symptoms are similar to Alzheimer’s disease but are different because they include: motor control problems, fluctuations in cognition and alertness, and visual hallucinations. Motor control problems can cause movement issues like tremors and stiffness that worsen at night, so it is frequently misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease.
Fluctuations in cognition and alertness can cause a person to appear “off” or confused, leading to misdiagnosis of dementia symptoms. Visual hallucinations are very common; patients with this type of dementia often report seeing things such as people, animals, or insects that aren’t there and distorted images of objects. Early signs of this disease can include delusions such as believing things that aren’t true—minor hallucinations like seeing, hearing, smelling, or feeling something that isn’t real. Also, changes in gait and posture with frequent falls due to balance issues.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
CJD is a rare and fatal brain disorder that rapidly progresses. CJD affects about one in every one million people worldwide each year. Symptoms of CJD vary depending on the age of onset. New signs will develop every few weeks until the person dies, usually within one year of diagnosis.
CJD is a type of rare dementia which not only affects the brain but the nervous system as well. Early symptoms include personality changes, memory loss, depression, mood swings, problems speaking or swallowing, vision issues including blurred or double vision, and trouble with coordination, leading to tremors or inability to use one side of the body properly. As things progress, people with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease experience worsening issues with coordination. Memory loss will progress to disorientation, confusion, hallucinations, rigid muscles, seizures, coma, or death.
Conclusion
While the symptoms of dementia vary greatly depending on the type and severity, some signs are red flags for dementia. Dementias are a severe illness, and if caregivers recognize any of these symptoms as signs, they can provide better care to those who need it. If you or a loved one has been experiencing any of these symptoms, seek a doctor immediately. Signs such as memory loss or trouble speaking can be due to something else besides dementia, so it is essential to get checked out by your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and prognosis.