For the most part, these people have Alzheimer's. People with dementia have changes in their brains that aren't normal. The disease gets worse over time. It's hard to think, remember, and act normally because of this. It's hard to live a normal life and do normal things when you have these signs.
Most people who have dementia are over 65, but certain kinds can happen to people 45 to 55 years old. There is a term for this: "young-onset dementia." There are already over 850,000 people with dementia, and that number will only grow. One in fourteen people over 65 have dementia.
What Can Cause Dementia?
Neurones, which are brain cells that send signals, get sick with dementia. Alzheimer's hurts these cells, making it hard for them to talk to each other. This can be a sign of dementia because it makes it challenging for the brain to do some things. Alzheimer's is a disease that gets worse over time. Over time, more and more importantly, neurons die or get hurt.
This means that the damaged parts of the brain get smaller as dementia gets worse. Different things cause different types of dementia. We still don't know what hurts brain cells in some types of dementia, but we have a better idea here. This kind of dementia is usually brought on by a stroke or a string of small strokes that block blood flow to the brain.
What Are The Signs Of Dementia?
Everyone loses their memories in their way. How someone with dementia feels depends on many factors, such as the type of dementia they have, the stage they are in, where their dementia started, how they lived before they got dementia and more. People with dementia often think, remember, and act in new ways. Brain changes that happen over time get worse. Find out what the first signs of dementia are.
Thinking
Some people can get lost and need to keep track of time. When they wake up in the morning, they might mix up names or places. They might also be worried about being somewhere else, like picking up their kids from school or work. People who have dementia may also find it hard to focus or finish things they used to be able to do on their own.
Memory
A lot of the time, people with dementia can't remember things as well as older people can. It can be hard for the person with dementia, their helper, and their family when they forget names and places. They may forget things more as their illness gets worse. People who lose their memories feel younger than they are and forget things that happened in the last few years.
Behavior
Some kinds of dementia change the way a person thinks and acts. They get angry and hurt sometimes, but they are shy and quiet. A lot of people go through changes in how they act and feel, like being sad, worried, or having mood swings. Click on the link below to find out more about "Sundowning." It can also be hard to talk to someone who has dementia, and they may act differently. They also need help that makes sense when they read, write, or talk.
Different Kinds Of Dementia
"Dementia" can refer to more than 200 different health problems. More than 90% of people with dementia have one of the four main types. Different things cause different types of dementia, so the common signs and symptoms may be a little different. Also, people with different kinds of dementia tend to have different lengths of lives. About two-thirds of people with dementia die of Alzheimer's. That's about 500,000 people in the UK.
How To Diagnose Dementia
Getting an instant review is very important. In its early stages, some treatments can help slow the progress of some types of dementia. A quick diagnosis may give you and your family more time to make plans for your future medical care, legal needs, and money needs.
Early detection of dementia is hard to achieve, though, as family members need to notice signs, memory tests need to be administered, and a person's medical and family history needs to be carefully studied over time. If a doctor knows someone has dementia, it can be hard for them to tell what kind of dementia they have.
Someone might tell you to talk to an expert. The first thing you could do is tell your parent's doctor that you are worried about their memory or attention. When someone is suspected of having dementia, they will be taken to a memory center to get a formal diagnosis.
How To Treat And Take Care Of A Dementia Patient
It's tough to take care of someone who has lost their memory. As things get worse, their healthcare needs will change and grow. It can be tough to find people with dementia because it can be hard to help them do things like eat more and sleep better.
Write down the care they need now and the care they will need in the future. Follow these steps to set up their accounts. While there is no cure for dementia, some medicines can help slow the progress of particular kinds of dementia in their early stages. Still, most of the time, doctors give drugs to treat side effects like feeling sad, angry, or nervous.
It's important to have a group of people who can help you and give you time to relax if you care for someone with memory loss. There are lots of fun new things you can do with your loved one. Take them to bars and activity groups. You can talk to other people who are going through the same thing as you and find out about other memory care resources in your area.