What is Dementia?
Dementia is a mental state characterized by a loss of intellectual ability that is long-lasting and consists of a significant decline in memory and other intellectual functions that are needed to carry out every-day activities. While there are many different types of dementia with many different causes, all of the types share a common set of symptoms.
If you think that a friend or relative is becoming confused and isn't quite their usual self, it may help to look at this list of common symptoms of the early stages of dementia.
Types of Dementia
Some types of dementia are irreversible and progressive. This means they are not curable and get worse over time. This is not true for all types of dementia, especially if detected early.
Types of dementia include:
- Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type
- Approximately 50 percent of all cases of dementia are caused by Alzheimer's disease.
- Vascular Dementia
- Vascular dementia is cause by small strokes that stop blood flow to parts of the brain.
- Dementia Due to Other General Medical Conditions
- Medical conditions that can cause dementia include HIV, head trauma, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Pick's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, metabolic disorders, and hypoglycemia.
- Substance-Induced Persisting Dementia
- The use of a substance such as alcohol or the sudden withdrawal from a substance can cause dementia. This is diagnosed only if the symptoms last beyond normal withdrawal time for the substance.
- Dementia Not Otherwise Specified
- This is the category for dementia that doesn't fit in an above category.
Dementia differs from delirium, which is characterized by a state of sudden confusion. Dementia is not part of the normal aging process nor is it mental retardation or psychosis. There are medications and therapies that can help manage the symptoms of the disease, making life easier for the patient and his/her family.