Conditions
Dementia is a lasting impairment of all mental functions, which can include the functions of learning, memory, orientation and problem solving.
Description
Dementia in older adults is usually a progressive mental deterioration and involves functions such as memory, learning and problem solving. Little change is noted initially on an everyday basis, as mental deterioration usually progresses slowly over a period of months.
Cause
- Alzheimer's disease is the cause of more than half of all cases of dementia.
- In 25% of cases, dementia is caused by blockages in the small blood vessels in the brain. This is called vascular dementia. People with diabetes and hypertension are at risk.
- Trauma or head injury has been shown to result in dementia in about 15% of all cases.
Other common causes of dementia include:
- Chronic infections
- Medication side-effects
- Poor nutrition
- Heavy drinking over a long period of time
- Parkinson's disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Brain tumours
- Multiple sclerosis
- Renal failure
- Liver disorders
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine) or B12 deficiency.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually develop gradually. If symptoms develop quickly, delirium is the most likely diagnosis.
The general symptoms of dementia are:
- Short-term memory loss
- Inability to perform and complete everyday activities
- Confusion
- Impaired judgement
- Getting lost in familiar places
- Paranoia or suspicion of others
- Strange behaviour, deterioration of mood
(Reviewed by Dr Frans Hugo)