Dementia can be a scary topic for caregivers. In the United States alone, there are more than 5 million seniors with age-related dementia. That number is likely to increase as the population grows. Furthermore, 1 in 8 people above 65 are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease – a statistic that doesn’t consider other forms of dementia.
Caring for a family member with dementia adds on additional complexities, especially in terms of conversations and holiday seasons.
Symptoms of Dementia
There are many early warning signs of dementia that you can look out for, including the following:
- Memory loss that is significant enough to disrupt day-to-day life (check out this post for details on what types of memory loss are normal)
- Difficulty in completing normal tasks, one that the senior is familiar with
- Difficulties with problem-solving or planning
- Challenges in finding the right words, especially for common items
- Significant changes in mood or personality. Look for changes that cannot easily be explained by external factors.
- Paranoia or manipulative behavior
- Disorientation and confusion, often coupled with a worsening sense of direction
- A worsening of symptoms over time. Dementia is progressive, so symptoms tend to get more pronounced and have greater impacts.
Keeping an eye out for these symptoms is important for recognizing and responding to the development of dementia. But, the process isn’t straightforward.
For one thing, seniors will often hide dementia symptoms, especially if they are scared themselves. This might include avoiding activities that they are struggling with or playing down some of the symptoms.
The symptoms also aren’t definitive. Many of them are vague and may occur for other reasons. Caregivers may also struggle to determine which behaviors are of concern and which ones are normal signs of aging.
Diagnosing Dementia
If a senior has some of the symptoms of dementia, it’s important to talk to their doctor. This is particularly true if the symptoms worsen over time. But, there are some key things to be aware of.
There is No Single Test
Dementia cannot be diagnosed through a single test. Instead, doctors use a range of indicators, including medical history, laboratory tests, behavior and day-to-day function.
A Lack of Diagnosis Doesn’t Mean No Dementia
In some cases, a medical examination may fail to indicate dementia, even if the senior is suffering the symptoms. For example, some medical practices heavily rely on the Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE). This is a useful test, but it primarily focuses on recall and memory.
As a result, the MMSE can miss some dementia symptoms, such as changes in personality or paranoid behavior.
Doctors who don’t specialize in treating seniors may not know about other types of testing or may generalize based on the MMSE alone. You need to know that you cannot get a diagnosis just from the MMSE.
The doctor also shouldn’t prescribe medication based on that one test. There are other factors that can cause dementia-like symptoms, including medical conditions and medication interactions.
This may mean you need to talk to a specialist or find a doctor who specifically focuses on treating seniors.
There are Other Tests
Another type of test is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA), which the site Daily Caring discusses in detail. This test is more comprehensive and focuses on a wider range of cognitive functions. Because the test is more sensitive, it is better at testing the early stages of dementia.
You may be able to request this type of test if an MMSE doesn’t detect dementia.
There are Multiple Types of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is the most well-known type of dementia, but there are various other examples as well. The different types have overlapping symptoms, so it can be difficult to distinguish between them.
In many cases, a doctor may only be able to diagnose dementia, rather than a specific type. You may need to talk to a specialist to get a full diagnosis.
Leave a Reply