Dementia

Dementia is becoming a common problem worldwide with increased life expectancy. Patients with dementia have gradually progressive impairment in their mental faculties. Sometimes the progression can be quite rapid. Not all dementias are irreversible.

Symptoms

• Memory disturbances- mainly recent memory
• Behavioral problems and anger outbursts
• Difficulty in doing work that they previously used to do easily
• Forgetting way to home
• Forgetting rooms at home
• Inability to recognize the relatives
• Inability to use the objects known to them previously

These symptoms can occur in different combinations and it is usually gradually progressive.

Diagnosis

Mainly by clinical examination to find the type of dementia.

MRI brain can help

PET scan of the brain may also be necessary sometimes

CSF analysis sometimes

In addition blood investigations may also be helpful apart from the above tests to identify any reversible causes of dementia.

Treatment

Based on the type of dementia, treatment is prescribed which may include cognition enhancers. Reversible causes, if found, are treated appropriately. In addition, caregivers will be educated about the care of the patient.