Dementia
Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects one or more brain functions such as memory, thinking, language, judgment, or behavior. Dementia may also be referred to as major neurocognitive disorder.
Neurocognitive disorder
Neurocognitive disorder is a general term that describes decreased mental function due to a medical disease other than a psychiatric illness. Neuroco...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleCauses
Dementia usually occurs in older age. Most types are rare in people under age 60. The risk of dementia increases as a person gets older.
Most types of dementia are nonreversible and degenerative. Nonreversible means the changes in the brain that are causing the dementia cannot be stopped or turned back. Alzheimer disease is the most common type of dementia.
Alzheimer disease
Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. It affects memo...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleAlzheimer disease - Animation
Imagine waking up this morning, and not being able to remember your own name, or recognize your spouse? While Alzheimer disease is a more gradual process, over time it can destroy memory to the point where people can't even remember the simplest and most important details of their lives. Let's talk more about Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer disease is a type of dementia, a loss of brain function that makes it harder and harder to think and speak. To understand what causes Alzheimer, we need to look inside the brain. In a normal brain, nerves send messages to one another. In people with Alzheimer disease, abnormal proteins clump in the brain, damaging nerve cells so they can no longer send the messages needed to think clearly. So, why do some people get Alzheimer, and others do not? Getting older itself doesn't cause Alzheimer disease. It's not a part of the normal aging process. Alzheimer does seem to run in families, though. So if you have a close relative, like a sister or parent, with Alzheimer, you may be more likely to get the disease. Usually when Alzheimer disease starts, people have trouble remembering simple things, like their phone number, or where they put their car keys. But, as the disease progresses, memory loss gets worse. People with Alzheimer find it hard to have conversations or complete simple tasks, like getting dressed. They can also become angry or depressed. Those in the later stages of the disease can no longer care for themselves. They lose the ability to recognize even close family members. To diagnose Alzheimer disease, doctors prescribe tests of mental ability. They also prescribe medical tests to rule out diseases that can make it harder to think clearly, such as a brain tumor or stroke. As far as treatments for Alzheimer disease, right now, there isn't a cure. A few drugs can slow memory loss and control depression and aggressiveness from the disease. Despite what you may have read, there isn't any proof that vitamins or other supplements can prevent or treat Alzheimer. However, eating a low-fat diet that's high in vitamin E and C, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids may keep your brain healthier. Alzheimer disease is different in each person. Some people decline quickly and die within just a few years, while others can live for two decades with the disease. If you have a family member with Alzheimer, talk to your doctor about ways to protect your own memory. And, call right away if you have any significant memory loss. Though it may be normal forgetfulness that comes with getting older, the sooner you get it checked out, the earlier you can start treatment if you need it.
Another common type of dementia is vascular dementia. It is caused by poor blood flow to the brain, such as with stroke.
Vascular dementia
Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects one or more brain functions such as memory, thinking, language, j...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleLewy body disease is another cause of dementia in older adults. People with this condition have abnormal protein structures in certain areas of the brain. Any condition that results in injury to the brain can cause dementia.
The following medical conditions can also lead to dementia:
- Huntington disease
Huntington disease
Huntington disease (HD) is a genetic disorder in which nerve cells in certain parts of the brain waste away, or degenerate. The disease is passed do...
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- Frontotemporal degeneration (Pick disease)
Frontotemporal degeneration
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a rare form of dementia that is similar to Alzheimer disease, except that it tends to affect only certain areas of t...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Infections such as HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and Lyme disease
HIV/AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). When a person becomes infected with HIV, the ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleSyphilis
Neurosyphilis is a bacterial infection of the brain or spinal cord. It usually occurs in people who have had untreated syphilis for many years....
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleLyme disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite of one of several types of ticks.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Parkinson disease
Parkinson disease
Parkinson disease results from certain brain cells dying. These cells help control movement and coordination. The disease leads to shaking (tremors...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Progressive supranuclear palsy
Progressive supranuclear palsy
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a movement disorder that occurs from damage to certain nerve cells in the brain.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Excess alcohol use
- Brain trauma
Some causes of dementia, such as those due to abnormal chemical processes in the body, may be stopped or reversed if they are found soon enough, including:
Abnormal chemical processes in the body
Dementia is loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Dementia may also be referred to as major neurocognitive disorder. Dementia du...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article- Brain injury
- Brain tumors
- Long-term (chronic) alcohol abuse
- Changes in blood sugar, sodium, and calcium levels
- Low vitamin B12 level
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. After the body uses what it needs of these vitamins, leftover amo...
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Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus is a buildup of spinal fluid inside the fluid chambers of the brain. Hydrocephalus means "water on the brain. "Normal pressure hydroce...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Use of certain medicines, including cimetidine and some cholesterol medicines
- Some brain infections
Symptoms
Dementia symptoms include difficulty with many areas of mental function, including:
- Emotional behavior or personality
- Language
- Memory
- Perception
- Thinking and judgment (cognitive skills)
Dementia usually first appears as forgetfulness.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition in which a person has more memory and thinking problems than other people their age. People with MCI have mild problems with thinking and memory that do not interfere with daily activities. They often know about their forgetfulness. Not everyone with MCI develops dementia.
Symptoms of MCI include:
- Difficulty doing more than one task at a time
- Difficulty solving problems or making decisions
- Forgetting names of familiar people, recent events, or conversations
- Taking longer to do more difficult mental activities
Early symptoms of dementia can include:
- Difficulty with tasks that take some thought, but that used to come easily, such as balancing a checkbook, playing games (such as bridge), and learning new information or routines
- Getting lost on familiar routes
- Language problems, such as trouble with the names of familiar objects
- Losing interest in things previously enjoyed, flat mood
- Misplacing items
- Personality changes and loss of social skills, which can lead to inappropriate behaviors
- Mood changes leading to aggressive behavior
- Poor performance of job duties
As dementia becomes worse, symptoms are more obvious and interfere with the ability to take care of oneself. Symptoms may include:
- Change in sleep patterns, often waking up at night
- Difficulty with basic tasks, such as preparing meals, choosing proper clothing, or driving
- Forgetting details about current events
- Wandering and getting lost
- Forgetting events in one's own life history, or losing self-awareness
- Having hallucinations, arguments, striking out, and violent behavior
Hallucinations
Hallucinations involve sensing things such as visions, sounds, or smells that seem real but are not. These things are created by the mind.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Having delusions, depression, and agitation
Depression
Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for shor...
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- Poor judgment and loss of ability to recognize danger
- Using the wrong word, not pronouncing words correctly, speaking in confusing sentences
- Withdrawing from social contact
People with severe dementia can no longer:
- Perform basic activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing, and bathing
- Recognize family members
- Understand language
Other symptoms that may occur with dementia:
- Problems controlling bowel movements or urine
- Swallowing problems
Exams and Tests
A skilled health care provider can often diagnose dementia using the following:
- Complete physical exam, including nervous system exam
- Asking about the person's medical history and symptoms
- Mental function tests (mental status examination)
- Neuropsychological testing
Other tests may be ordered to find out if other problems may be causing dementia or making it worse. These conditions include:
- Anemia
Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...
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Brain tumor
A primary brain tumor is a group (mass) of abnormal cells that start in the brain.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Long-term (chronic) infection
- Intoxication from medicines
- Severe depression
- Thyroid disease
- Vitamin deficiency
The following tests and procedures may be done:
- B12 level
B12 level
The vitamin B12 level is a blood test that measures how much vitamin B12 is in your blood.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Blood ammonia level
Blood ammonia level
The ammonia test measures the level of ammonia in a blood sample.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Blood chemistry (chem-20)
Blood chemistry
A comprehensive metabolic panel is a group of blood tests. They provide an overall picture of your body's chemical balance and metabolism. Metaboli...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Blood gas analysis
Blood gas analysis
Blood gases are a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. They also determine the acidity (pH) of your blood.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is a group of laboratory tests that measure chemicals in the cerebrospinal fluid. CSF is a clear fluid that surro...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Drug or alcohol levels (toxicology screen)
Drug or alcohol levels
A toxicology screen refers to various tests that determine the type and approximate amount of legal and illegal drugs a person has taken by measuring...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Electroencephalograph (EEG)
Electroencephalograph
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test to measure the electrical activity of the brain.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Head CT
Head CT
A head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
- Mental status test
- Neuropsychological test
- MRI of head
MRI of head
A head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Thyroid function tests, including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Thyroid function tests
Thyroid function tests are used to check whether your thyroid is working normally. The most common thyroid function tests are:Free T4 (free thyroxine...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleThyroid stimulating hormone
A TSH test measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland. It prompts the thyroid g...
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Urinalysis
Urinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...
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- PET scan
Treatment
Treatment depends on the condition causing the dementia. Some people may need to stay in the hospital for a short time.
Sometimes, medicines given for any condition, including dementia, can make a person's confusion worse. Stopping or changing these medicines is part of the treatment.
Certain mental exercises can help with dementia.
Treating conditions that can lead to dementia symptoms often greatly improve mental function. Such conditions include:
- Anemia
- Decreased blood oxygen (hypoxia)
- Depression
- Heart failure
Heart failure
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...
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- Nutritional disorders
- Thyroid disorders
Medicines may be used to:
- Slow the rate at which symptoms get worse, though improvement with these medicines may be small
- Control problems with behavior, such as loss of judgment or confusion
Newer treatments can reduce levels of amyloid in the brains of people with Alzheimer disease. While they offer hope, they haven’t been proven to slow the disease.
Someone with dementia will need support in the home as the condition gets worse. Family members or other caregivers can assist by helping the person cope with memory loss and behavior and sleep problems. It is important to make sure the homes of people who have dementia are safe for them.
Support in the home
Dementia is a loss of cognitive function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleMemory loss
People who have dementia may have trouble with: Language and communicationEatingHandling their own personal care
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleBehavior and sleep problems
People with dementia often have certain problems when it gets dark at the end of the day and into the night. This problem is called sundowning. The...
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It is important to make sure the homes of people who have dementia are safe for them.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleOutlook (Prognosis)
People with MCI do not always develop dementia. When dementia does occur, it usually gets worse over time. Dementia often decreases quality of life and lifespan. Families will likely need to plan for their loved one's future care. The prognosis depends on the underlying cause. Some dementias rapidly progress to death while others can take years to get worse.
Future care
Dementia is a loss of cognitive function that occurs with certain diseases. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if:
- Dementia symptoms develop or a sudden change in mental status occurs
Change in mental status
Confusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - The condition of a person with dementia gets worse
- You are unable to care for a person with dementia at home
Prevention
Most causes of dementia are not preventable.
The risk of vascular dementia may be reduced by preventing strokes through:
- Eating healthy foods
- Exercising
- Quitting smoking
Quitting smoking
There are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...
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Controlling high blood pressure
Hypertension is another term used to describe high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to: StrokeHeart attackHeart failureKidney diseaseEar...
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Diabetes
Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) disease in which the body cannot regulate the amount of sugar in the blood.
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Reviewed By
Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Budson AE, Solomon PR. Evaluating the patient with memory loss or dementia. In: Budson AE, Solomon PR, eds. Memory Loss, Alzheimer's Disease, and Dementia. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 2.
Knopman DS. Cognitive impairment and dementia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 371.
Peterson R, Graff-Radford J. Alzheimer disease and other dementias. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 95.
Petersen RC, Lopez O, Armstrong MJ, et al. Practice guideline update summary: mild cognitive impairment: report of the Guideline Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2018;90(3):126-135. PMID: 29282327 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29282327/.