Dementia 1

The following information and the next few posts were taken from Medical News TodayDementia is a general term for symptoms affecting memory, communication, and thinking. Although the likelihood of having dementia increases with age, it is not a normal part of aging. Symptoms of dementia depend on the type a person has, but they typically include:

·        memory problems

·        asking the same question repeatedly

·        difficulty finding or understanding words

·        feeling confused in an unfamiliar environment

·        problems dealing with money and numbers

·        anxiety and withdrawal

·        difficulty planning and carrying out tasks

·        mood changes

·        personality and behavioral changes

·        sleep disturbances

·        changes in social awareness, such as making inappropriate jokes

·        obsessive tendencies

The symptoms tend to become more severe over time. The person may notice some symptoms themselves, but their family members or caregivers may notice others.

The World Health Organization (WHO) divides dementia into roughly three stages: early, middle, and late.

Early-stage

At this stage, it may not seem that a person has dementia. They may:

·        become more forgetful

·        lose track of time

·        feel lost in familiar locations

Middle stage

At this stage, the symptoms become more noticeable and include: 

·        forgetting names and recent events

·        feeling lost when at home

·        difficulty communicating

·        behavioural changes

·        repeatedly asking questions

·        needing help with personal care

Late stage

At this stage, a person needs full-time assistance, as the impact of the symptoms typically becomes more severe. The person may:

·        be unaware of where they are

·        be unaware of time

·        have difficulty recognizing loved ones

·        find it hard to walk

·        experience behavioural changes, which may include aggression