Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Dementia is a term used to describe a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with your daily life.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references What is dementia? Alzheimer's Association. Accessed Feb. The dementias: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Larson EB. Evaluation of cognitive impairment of dementia. Dementia adult. Mayo Clinic; Press D, et al. Treatment of dementia. Livingston G, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: report of the Lancet Commission.
The Lancet. Brown A. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Graff-Radford NR expert opinion. Merck Manual Professional Version. Prevention of dementia.
Assessing risk for Alzheimer's disease. National Institute on Aging. Medications for memory. Tips for communicating with a person with dementia. Coupland CA, et al. But Alzheimer's disease is not a "normal" part of the ageing process. An accurate and timely diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease can give you the best chance to prepare and plan for the future, as well as receive any treatment or support that may help. If you're worried about your memory or think you may have dementia, it's a good idea to see a GP.
If possible, someone who knows you well should be with you as they can help describe any changes or problems they have noticed. If you're worried about someone else, encourage them to make an appointment and perhaps suggest that you go along with them.
There's no single test that can be used to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. And it's important to remember that memory problems do not necessarily mean you have Alzheimer's disease. A GP will ask questions about any problems you're experiencing and may do some tests to rule out other conditions. If Alzheimer's disease is suspected, you may be referred to a specialist service to:. Read more about diagnosing Alzheimer's disease. There's currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but medicines are available that can help relieve some of the symptoms.
Various other types of support are also available to help people with Alzheimer's live as independently as possible, such as making changes to your home environment so it's easier to move around and remember daily tasks.
Psychological treatments such as cognitive stimulation therapy may also be offered to help support your memory, problem solving skills and language ability. Read more about treating Alzheimer's disease. People with Alzheimer's disease can live for several years after they start to develop symptoms. But this can vary considerably from person to person. Alzheimer's disease is a life-limiting illness, although many people diagnosed with the condition will die from another cause.
As Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological condition, it can cause problems with swallowing. This can lead to aspiration food being inhaled into the lungs , which can cause frequent chest infections.
It's also common for people with Alzheimer's disease to eventually have difficulty eating and have a reduced appetite.
Many conditions are progressive, which means that the signs of dementia start out slowly and gradually get worse. If you or someone you know is experiencing memory difficulties or other changes in thinking skills, don't ignore them. See a doctor soon to determine the cause. Professional evaluation may detect a treatable condition. And even if symptoms suggest dementia, early diagnosis allows a person to get the maximum benefit from available treatments and provides an opportunity to volunteer for clinical trials or studies.
It also provides time to plan for the future. Learn more: 10 Warning Signs , Stages of Alzheimer's. Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells. This damage interferes with the ability of brain cells to communicate with each other. When brain cells cannot communicate normally, thinking, behavior and feelings can be affected. The brain has many distinct regions, each of which is responsible for different functions for example, memory, judgment and movement. When cells in a particular region are damaged, that region cannot carry out its functions normally.
Take our free e-learning course Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia outlines the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia, symptoms, stages, risk factors and more.
While most changes in the brain that cause dementia are permanent and worsen over time, thinking and memory problems caused by the following conditions may improve when the condition is treated or addressed:. There is no one test to determine if someone has dementia. Doctors diagnose Alzheimer's and other types of dementia based on a careful medical history, a physical examination, laboratory tests, and the characteristic changes in thinking, day-to-day function and behavior associated with each type.
Doctors can determine that a person has dementia with a high level of certainty. But it's harder to determine the exact type of dementia because the symptoms and brain changes of different dementias can overlap. In some cases, a doctor may diagnose "dementia" and not specify a type.
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