symptoms of dementia in the elderly

Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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The symptoms of dementia mainly include:

First, impaired memory function, where the patient’s memory loss is very noticeable. Initially, they may not remember recent events, and as the disease progresses, they may not remember past events, such as forgetting how many children they have or their children’s names.

Second, it mainly involves symptoms of impairment in other cognitive areas, such as visual spatial dysfunction, manifesting as not being able to find the bathroom at home, getting lost after going out, and not being able to find the way back home. Additionally, the patient's ability to understand, calculate, and judge will also be significantly impaired, and they cannot master previously learned knowledge and skills.

Third, in the late stages, some psychiatric symptoms appear, including visual and auditory hallucinations, and agitated behaviors such as hitting and cursing. Additionally, the patient may also experience some physical weakness, muscle atrophy, and incontinence.

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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Mild manifestations of senile dementia

Mild dementia, especially in its early stages, often goes unnoticed by family members. The initial symptoms generally include being particularly forgetful. This particularly affects short-term memory; for example, a person might repeat what was just said or be repeatedly clumsy in daily tasks, sometimes losing keys or forgetting to turn off the stove while cooking. This might seem like a lack of concentration, but in reality, it is due to forgetfulness. Emotionally, individuals who were once lively might become indifferent or detached, sometimes showing signs of excitement or agitation. Behaviorally, there can be changes, such as previously generous individuals becoming stingy. Interests and hobbies that were once loved may no longer hold appeal, and individuals may become lethargic and less concerned with cleanliness and personal appearance.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Is senile dementia hereditary?

Dementia primarily refers to Alzheimer's disease, which mainly has two types: The first type is sporadic Alzheimer's disease, which does not have a clear familial history. It is caused by the degeneration and death of neurons due to various reasons, leading to certain clinical symptoms. This type of sporadic dementia does not have a genetic predisposition. The other type of dementia has a clear family history, where patients typically exhibit mutations in the APP gene, leading to increased secretion, which in turn causes the death of neurons and results in the symptoms of dementia. This familial type of dementia has a genetic predisposition. Dementia is a common condition in neurology and is the most common neurodegenerative disease. Currently, there are no effective treatments available. Family members must pay attention to caregiving, and patients can take cholinesterase inhibitors, which can improve symptoms to a certain extent.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Alzheimer's disease is also called dementia.

Alzheimer's disease, also known as dementia in the elderly, was first identified abroad and thus named after the discoverer, Alzheimer. It is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in neurology, with a very high incidence among people over 65 in China and worldwide. The disease mainly affects patients' cognitive functions. Initially, patients do not meet the criteria for dementia and primarily exhibit a decline in memory. As the disease progresses, the decline in memory worsens, and patients begin to forget both recent and past events. Additionally, they may experience impairments in visuospatial abilities, judgment, comprehension, and learning capabilities. In the later stages, psychiatric symptoms and personality changes may appear, such as visual hallucinations, shouting, and gesturing wildly, among various other clinical manifestations.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 2sec home-news-image

symptoms of dementia in the elderly

The symptoms of dementia mainly include: First, impaired memory function, where the patient’s memory loss is very noticeable. Initially, they may not remember recent events, and as the disease progresses, they may not remember past events, such as forgetting how many children they have or their children’s names. Second, it mainly involves symptoms of impairment in other cognitive areas, such as visual spatial dysfunction, manifesting as not being able to find the bathroom at home, getting lost after going out, and not being able to find the way back home. Additionally, the patient's ability to understand, calculate, and judge will also be significantly impaired, and they cannot master previously learned knowledge and skills. Third, in the late stages, some psychiatric symptoms appear, including visual and auditory hallucinations, and agitated behaviors such as hitting and cursing. Additionally, the patient may also experience some physical weakness, muscle atrophy, and incontinence.

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home-news-image
Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
1min 5sec home-news-image

How to alleviate senile dementia?

Dementia brings a heavy burden to both the patient and their family, severely affecting the quality of life. Fundamentally, there is no particularly effective treatment for this disease. To achieve relief, the following measures are recommended: Firstly, it is generally necessary for the patient to take medication for treatment. Commonly used medications include cholinesterase inhibitors, which can increase the content of acetylcholine in the brain and can to some extent delay the progression of the disease. In addition, one can also take some NMDA receptor antagonists to improve dementia. Secondly, encourage the elderly to learn more and read more, which can increase knowledge reserves and delay progression. Thirdly, it is essential to encourage the elderly to go out and interact with others, and of course, precautions should be taken to prevent them from getting lost. In addition, they should engage in appropriate aerobic exercise. (Specific medication use should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor)