Dementia is a cluster of symptoms that include memory impairment plus impairment of some executive functions which may include abstract problem solving, judgment, skilled sequenced movements, language, associating meaning to stimuli, and personality. These impairments are significant enough to interfere with daily living. There are many kinds of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type.
Dementia creates certain "disabilities" that interfere with a person's ability to do things. Persons with dementia may lose the ability:
- to initiate activity
- Sits staring at food instead of starting to eat
- to think in abstract terms
- Birthday party = abstract idea
- Birthday cake = concrete object
- to plan and execute complex tasks
- to knit, or write a sentence
- to make a cup of tea
- to perform a learned motor activity (apraxia)
- to pick up a cup and drink from it
- to understand sensory stimuli
- may think a TV show is happening in his room
- to focus and sustain attention
- gets up several times during meals
- to remember
- Says she just had a bath when you tell her it's time for her bath.
- to be motivated (can't appreciate consequences of participating)
- inertia with or without depression
- declines invitation to attend bingo
- to recognize, or identify objects, shapes or symbols (agnosia)
- May not recognize toothbrush, fork, food
- to articulate ideas or comprehend spoken or written language (aphasia)
- Can't make you understand what she wants causing frustration
- to be aware of own losses (Anosognosia)
- "I don't know what I don't know"
- Can't understand why she should not drive
- to interpret the environment accurately
- Can't sleep because there is a man standing by her bedroom door (Perceives coat over the door to be a person.)
There are many types of dementia but the most common forms are:
- Alzheimer's disease
- Vascular dementia
- Lewy Body Disease
- Frontal Temporal Dementia (Picks)
- Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease
A person should seek a thorough medical assessment if any of the above symptoms are present.
Regardless of the dementia, individuals can obtain information and support from the Alzheimer Society.
