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Overview
It's normal for your memory to be affected by stress, tiredness, certain illnesses and medicines. But if you're becoming increasingly forgetful, particularly if you're over the age of 65, it's a good idea to talk to a GP about the early signs of dementia.
Memory loss (amnesia) can be annoying if it happens occasionally, but if it's affecting your daily life, or it's worrying you, or someone you know, you should get help from a GP.
Dementia is not only about memory loss. It can also affect the way you speak, think, feel and behave.
It's also important to remember that dementia is not a natural part of ageing.
Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning. There are many different causes of dementia, and many different types.
People often get confused about the difference between Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia and, together with vascular dementia, makes up the majority of cases.
Symptoms
Dementia symptoms may include problems with:
- memory loss
- thinking speed
- mental sharpness and quickness
- language, such as using words incorrectly, or trouble speaking
- understanding
- judgement
- mood
- movement
- difficulties doing daily activities
People with dementia can lose interest in their usual activities, and may have problems managing their behaviour or emotions.
They may also find social situations difficult and lose interest in relationships and socialising.
Aspects of their personality may change, and they may lose empathy (understanding and compassion).
A person with dementia may see or hear things that other people do not (hallucinations and hearing voices).
Because people with dementia may lose the ability to remember events, or not fully understand their environment or situations, it can seem as if they're not telling the truth or are wilfully ignoring problems.
As dementia affects a person's mental abilities, they may find planning and organising difficult. Maintaining their independence may also become a problem.
A person with dementia will usually need help from friends or relatives, including help with making decisions.
The symptoms of dementia usually become worse over time. In the late stage of dementia, people will not be able to take care of themselves and may lose their ability to communicate.
Causes
Dementia is a term used to describe the symptoms that occur when there's a decline in brain function.
Dementia is not a single disease. There are different diseases that can cause dementia. Many of these diseases are associated with an abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain.
This build-up causes nerve cells to function less well and ultimately die. As the nerve cells die, different areas of the brain shrink.
Risk Factors
A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of developing a condition. Some dementia risk factors are difficult or impossible to change. These include:
- age: the older you are, the more likely you are to develop dementia. However, dementia is not a natural part of ageing
- genes: in general, genes alone are not thought to cause dementia. However, certain genetic factors are involved with some of the less common types. Dementia usually develops because of a combination of genetic and "environmental" factors, such as smoking and a lack of regular exercise
- air pollution: research suggests that air pollution may affect the brain and could increase the risk of dementia
Research suggests other risk factors may also be important. These include:
- hearing loss
- untreated depression
- loneliness or social isolation
- sitting for most of the day
Treatment Options
There is currently no cure for dementia. But there are medicines and other treatments that can help with dementia symptoms.
Medicines to treat dementia
Most of the medicines available are used to treat Alzheimer's disease as this is the most common form of dementia. They can help to temporarily reduce symptoms.
The main medicines are:
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine
- Medicines to treat related conditions
- Medicines to treat challenging behaviour
- Alternative remedies
Treatments that do not involve medicines
- Cognitive stimulation therapy
- Cognitive rehabilitation
- Reminiscence and life story work
When To See A Doctor
Dementia is not a natural part of ageing. This is why it's important to talk to a GP sooner rather than later if you're worried about memory problems or other symptoms.
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