8 Symptoms of Dementia - Common Signs That You Need to See Your Doctor

 

If you suspect you or a loved one might be showing signs of dementia, your first step should be to see your doctor. It is only through various tests that doctors can make an actual diagnosis.

Common Signs of Dementia

• These are all common signs of dementia that indicate that it is time to visit your doctor.
• Trouble completing tasks you would usually do, such as at work or around the house 
• Listlessness; a lack of interest in things they usually do
• Difficulty following conversations
• Subtle short-term memory changes, such as not remembering the name of a person you know well, or an everyday object
• Changes in mood or personality, such as being very quiet or suddenly aggressive and loud
• Confusion, lack of awareness of what day or time it is, where you are and how you got there
• Difficulty following movies or TV shows
• Getting lost more often, even in familiar areas

Not All Memory Loss Is Dementia

The good news is that not all memory loss is dementia, and not all dementia is Alzheimer's. There can be simple lifestyle reasons why your memory isn't as sharp as it used to be in many cases. Three leading causes are stress, lack of quality sleep, and certain medications.

Your doctor can help you with all of these. There are many effective stress management techniques. Your doctor can review your sleep habits to make sure your nightly routine is a good stepping stone to a full night of high-quality sleep. Certain medications have known side effects of impairing memory. Your doctor can usually offer alternatives that won't harm your memory and monitor you to see if your symptoms improve or even disappear.

Early Detection Is Key

As with most medical conditions, early detection can often be the key to a better outcome than waiting to see a doctor until things have progressed too far.

Your primary care doctor will be your first stop. They will run blood tests and urinalysis to detect any underlying health issue triggering memory issues. For example, high blood pressure, diabetes, and thyroid issues can all lead to memory problems. If they discover any medical condition, it can be treated, and you can monitor whether or not memory returns.

Being Referred to Specialists

Depending on what the first set of tests uncovers, a person with memory loss will usually be treated or referred to one or more specialists. Each of these specialists can help decide if it is dementia or some other brain health issue.

Neurologist

A neurologist will help determine whether the brain's structure is typical and the degree of cognitive function.

Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist can help determine whether or not the behavioral changes that might have manifested are signs of dementia or a mood disorder.

Geriatrician

A geriatrician specializes in the medical conditions suffered by older people. They can help formulate a treatment plan depending on whether or not the person is suffering from cognitive impairment, dementia, or Alzheimer's.

Diagnostic Tests

Each doctor will administer verbal tests and tests on paper to the patient; these are an established method to help diagnose dementia. And if dementia is present, the tests will also determine the decline rate, such as in Alzheimer's.

They might also order CT scans, MRIs, and other imaging tests to determine if the brain's structure has changed in any way, such as due to a tumor or a stroke. Your doctor will finally determine a course of treatment or another plan of action to deal with the memory loss.

How to Tell Family and Friends That You Have Dementia

 

Being told you have any medical condition can be a very upsetting situation, but you don't have to face it alone. However, it is up to you who you wish to tell or not tell and how you go about it.

Educate Yourself

Before you tell everyone, it is often best to educate yourself as much as possible about your condition. For example, there are several different kinds of dementia, each with its prognosis (suggested outcome). Every patient is, of course, different. Some are genetically predisposed towards dementia and Alzheimer's. Others are more proactive about their health, which can help counteract genetics to some extent.

Some forms of dementia have standard treatments that are successful and can help you maintain a high quality of life and independence for many years to come. In the case of Alzheimer's, however, the cognitive decline will reach the point where a person can no longer be independent. Most Alzheimer's patients rarely live beyond ten years after diagnosis.

Giving people brochures or website links that convey the message you want to share can help.

Age

Age can be a factor in one's outlook. For example, if you are in your 80s, dementia is probably not such a huge surprise or upheaval in your life compared to some patients who are developing dementia as early as in their 40s and 50s.

Marital Status

If you are married or in a relationship, a diagnosis of dementia can put a real strain on a relationship. It can be depressing for the person diagnosed. They often hate the idea of "being a burden" on anyone. It can be frightening for both partners because there are no definite answers as to what happens next. There are treatments for dementia and Alzheimer's, and new ones are emerging all the time, but each person will respond differently to their type of dementia.

Deciding Who to Tell

Base your decision on how close you are to the person and how important it is they know. Or, base it on what you think the person will be able to hear without being devastated by the news. A third consideration is how much that person is likely to remain in your life and give you emotional and perhaps practical support as time goes on.

Sharing your diagnosis with others is an essential step toward integrating Alzheimer's disease into your life. You may be hesitant to share your diagnosis with some people, given the impact of such disclosure on you. Keep this mantra in mind: Alzheimer's disease is not your fault.

Determine your comfort level as to how many people you would like to know. You can always tell more people later as needed. The important thing is to feel supported as you cope with your news.

Picking Your Moment

Some people like to get one-on-one with their friends to break the news about their illness. Others might organize a gathering of family and friends to tell people all at the same time and deal with some of the most common questions most people have when they first hear the word dementia.

The group should be relaxed and not hyper when you tell them. You might also consider writing down what you wish to say so you can give them a vital fact without getting sidetracked.

Talk about planning for the future together, and your loved ones should soon start to accept the diagnosis and help you with your "new normal" as you live with dementia.