Keeping Your Mind Strong: Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
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By Sheldon Riklon, M.D.
Our brains help us think, learn, remember, solve problems, and connect with the people around us. As we age, it is normal to experience changes in memory and thinking, but significant memory loss, confusion, and changes in behavior may be signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Many people use the terms dementia and Alzheimer’s disease interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.
Dementia is not a specific disease but an umbrella term to describe a decline in memory, thinking, reasoning, or decision-making that interferes with daily activities.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of cases. It is caused by damage to nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain. One of the hallmark symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is difficulty remembering recent events.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, which means symptoms get worse over time. In the early stages, a person may have difficulty remembering recent conversations, appointments, or where they placed everyday items. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience increasing challenges with communicating, making decisions, and completing daily activities. However, how quickly the disease progresses and what abilities are affected differ from person to person.
10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s and Dementia
If you or a loved one notices any of the following warning signs, it is important to talk to your doctor about it. You may feel uncertain or nervous about discussing these changes, but early detection can help to lessen the progression of symptoms and the damage in the brain.
- Memory Loss that Disrupts Daily Life
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- This is one of the most common early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. It may include things like forgetting recently learned information, important dates, or events, or increasingly relying on family members to manage tasks that you used to do.
- Challenges in Planning or Solving Problems
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- Some people may have difficulty managing their finances, paying bills, following recipes, or concentrating on tasks that were once easy to complete.
- Difficultly Completing Familiar Tasks
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- Some people may begin to struggle with everyday activities like driving to the grocery store.
- Confusion with Time and Place
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- Some people may begin to lose track of dates, seasons, or the passing of time. They may also forget where they are or how they arrived at a location.
- Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships
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- Some people may experience vision changes, difficulty judging distance, balance problems, or trouble reading.
- New Problems with Speaking or Writing
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- People may start having issues following a conversation, struggle to find the right words, or stop in the middle of a conversation.
- Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps
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- Some people may start putting familiar items in unusual places or are unable to retrace their steps. As symptoms progress, they may even become suspicious or accuse others of taking misplaced items.
- Decreased or Poor Judgement
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- Some people experience changes in judgment and start making poor decisions, such as neglecting personal hygiene, making poor financial decisions, or showing less awareness of safety concerns.
- Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities
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- Some people may start avoiding social events, hobbies, or community activities they once enjoyed.
- Changes in Mood and Personality
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- Some people may start experiencing changes in their mood and personality as they become more confused. They may start feeling suspicious of others, fearful, anxious, depressed, angry, or sad, particularly when unfamiliar situations happen.
Other Types of Dementia
Although Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, several other types exist.
- Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia. It occurs when there is a blockage to blood flow in the brain, depriving brain cells of oxygen and nutrients. These symptoms often develop after a stroke or a series of mini strokes.
- Lewy body dementia is characterized by symptoms of dementia along with movement and balance problems, such as stiffness, tremors, or difficulty walking. People may also experience changes in alertness, daytime sleepiness, confusion, and visual hallucinations.
- Frontotemporal dementia affects the areas of the brain responsible for personality, behavior, and language. People may display inappropriate behavior or difficulty with speaking or understanding.
- Mixed dementia occurs when more than one type of dementia is present in the brain. It is most commonly seen in adults over the age of 80.
If you notice changes in memory, thinking, or behavior in yourself or a loved one, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider. Early conversations can lead to earlier support and better outcomes.
While aging brings natural changes, there are steps you can take to support cognitive health throughout life. Staying active, eating well, maintaining social connections, managing chronic conditions, and keeping the mind engaged can all support brain health and healthy aging.
For more information about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, visit www.alz.org/.
Sheldon Riklon, M.D., is a professor in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and a co-investigator with the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation.