EduCare Advent Care-ndar – Day thirteen
Christmas is a time when families get together.
When spending more time with relatives you are more likely to notice changes in behaviour which may be early signs of dementia. On day 13 of our Advent
What is Dementia
The Alzheimer’s Society describes dementia as “a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. Dementia is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or a series of strokes. Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms will gradually get worse”.
Early signs and symptoms of dementia
The early signs of dementia can be difficult to recognise. It is often those who are closest to the person and know them well, that start to suspect that something is not right. Being able to recognise the signs of dementia will help in achieving an early diagnosis for the individual concerned.
Early signs and symptoms of dementia include:
Physical
Changes in sleep patterns and appetite, difficulty with balance.
Psychological
Loss or lapses in recent memory, uncharacteristic behaviour, poor concentration, getting lost in familiar places, mistaking a shadow for a person or a floor mat as a
Social
Withdrawal from social contacts, difficulty following conversations, forgetting learned social skills.
In the early stages of dementia an individual may show only a few of these signs and symptoms, and as you have seen from the list of symptoms, dementia is not just about memory loss. Each individual will be affected differently depending on the type of dementia they have and the way their brain is affected.
Some signs of dementia can initially be mistaken for another condition and vice versa, as the signs can be similar for both. We can all become forgetful and misplace thing when we are stressed for example.
Conditions which could be mistaken for dementia include:
Depression – people who are depressed may not be able to concentrate, have difficulty sleeping and may lose their appetite or eat to excess.
Other health conditions – individuals can become confused, anxious, delusional or suffer from hallucinations as a result of an infection, dehydration or as a reaction to their medication.
A brain tumour or brain injury – the person could present with any of the previous signs.
Stress – a person who is stressed usually has difficulty sleeping, they may not feel like eating or eat too much, they can become short-tempered and have difficulty concentrating.
Diagnosis
The Alzheimer’s Society recommends that if you or someone close to you is experiencing changes such as significant memory loss, confusion or language difficulties, it’s a good idea to visit your GP for an assessment.
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