Dementia: Symptoms & Causes

Dementia is an umbrella term for diseases that can cause memory loss, thinking, and social functioning in a person. Various types of diseases and conditions can cause dementia. Even though Alzheimer’s and dementia are used interchangeably, in reality, Alzheimer's is just a type of dementia. Here, you will learn about the main symptoms and causes of dementia. You will also know about the risk factors and complications caused by dementia.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of dementia remains memory loss. Dementia symptoms are progressive. Some of the main dementia symptoms are as follows:

• Memory loss

• Difficulty in concentrating

• Difficulty in carrying out familiar tasks

• Inability to find correct words while speaking

• Being in a confused state

• Frequent mood changes

• Getting lost while driving on a familiar road like the way home

• Poor coordination

• Paranoia

• Hallucination

• Agitation

Causes

Dementia is a condition that results from damage to or loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. The symptoms of dementia vary depending on part of the brain that is affected. Dementia can affect people in different ways. Some medications can cause a reaction that involves dementia symptoms. The lack of certain vitamins or minerals can also cause dementia symptoms. In such cases, treatment may lead to an improvement in the symptoms of dementia.

Risk factors

Various factors can contribute to dementia, some of which are beyond our control, such as age. However, there are other factors that also contribute to the risk of developing dementia.

1. Age

The risk of dementia rises, especially after age 65.

2. Family history

A family history of dementia increases the risk, but it doesn't guarantee its development.

3. Diet and exercise

A Mediterranean-style diet rich in produce, whole grains, nuts, and seeds may improve cognitive function, but no specific diet is known to reduce dementia risk.

4. Drinking too much alcohol

Drinking large amounts of alcohol can cause brain changes.

5. Cardiovascular risk factors

Obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and smoking are all cardiovascular risk factors. Diabetes and smoking can also increase the risk of dementia and blood vessel disease.

6. Depression

Late-life depression might indicate the development of dementia.

7. Air pollution

Air pollution is linked to higher dementia risk.

8. Head trauma

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

9. Sleep problems

People who have sleep apnoea and other sleep disturbances might develop dementia.

10. Low levels of certain vitamins and nutrients

Low levels of vitamin D, B-6, B-12, and folate can increase the risk of dementia.

11. Medicines that can worsen memory

These include sleep aids that contain Diphenhydramine and medicines prescribed to treat urinary urgency, such as Oxybutynin.

Complications

Dementia can affect the body’s functionality and cause severe complications like:

• Inabilities to chew, swallow, and eat. This can cause malnutrition

• Risk of choking

• Pneumonia

• Worsened self-care

• Safety challenges while cooking, driving, or walking alone

• Death