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  1. What are the symptoms of dementia?

    Answered by verified global health professionals

    Dr. Nancy Anoruo

    Dr. Nancy Anoruo community page M.D. Faculty - Harvard Medical School · 5 years of exp


    Dementia is a pattern of mental decline caused by different diseases or conditions. Most commonly, dement...Read more

    Dr. Gustavo Campos

    Dr. Gustavo Campos community page Doctor of Medicine · 9 years of exp


    Dementia impairs cognitive function, and the most noticeable symptoms are memory loss and confusion. It can, however, manifes...Read more

    Dr. Carlos Augusto Lima De Campos

    Dr. Carlos Augusto Lima De Campos community page Doctor of Medicine (MD) · 8 years of exp


    The symptoms of dementia depend on the severity of the condition. Usually the individual will experience memory loss, difficu...Read more

    Dr. Manju Narayani

    Dr. Manju Narayani community page Doctor of Medicine (MD) · 10 years of exp


    Dementia is not a disease, it is a symptom. The symptom od dementia ere memorry loss, confusion, difficulty on concentration,...Read more
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  2. Also known as: major neurocognitive disorder
    Content medically reviewed by
    Dr. Rakshith Bharadwajverified specialist
    MD, Internal Medicine
    View full profile onLinkedIn logoLinkedIn
    Symptoms
    If you are experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms, contact a health care provider.

    The symptoms include:

    Cognitive and sensory changes:

    • Memory loss, generally noticed by the near and dear ones
    • Difficulty in communication, especially finding the right words to communicate
    • Reduced ability to organize, plan, reason, or solve problems
    • Difficulty handling complex tasks
    • Confusion and disorientation
    • Difficulty with coordination and motor functions
    • Loss of or Reduced visual perception
    • Metallic taste in mouth, decreased sense of smell
    • Agnosia - unable to identify objects or persons

    Psychological changes:

    • Changes in personality and behavior
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Hallucinations
    • Mood swings
    • Agitation
    • Apathy - lack of interest or emotions

    Causes

    • Damage to brain cells is the primary cause of dementia. Causes for this damage include:
    • Advance age, as in case of Alzheimer’s disease
    • Family history
    • Damage to blood vessels of the brain
    • Accumulation of clumps of protein in the brain
    • Genetic disorders such as Huntington's disease
    • Mental and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and depression
    • Traumatic brain injury or repetitive brain injury as seen in boxers
    • Infections which cause high fever
    • Metabolic disorders such as thyroid problems and diabetes
    • Certain medications
    • Vitamin deficiencies
    • Poisoning with heavy metals or pesticides
    • Alcohol abuse
    • Brain tumor or cancer
    • Enlarged structures of the brain

    Complications

    After a prolonged period it may lead to:

    • Loss of appetite
    • Malnutrition
    • Weight loss
    • Pneumonia
    • Inability to perform tasks without help
    • Inability to perform self-care or hygienic tasks such as bathing, dressing, using toilets, etc
    • Protecting self from any harmful situations

    Source: Focus Medica . For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice. Learn more
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  3. People also ask
    Signs and symptoms of dementia result when once-healthy neurons (nerve cells) in the brain stop working, lose connections with other brain cells, and die. While everyone loses some neurons as they age, people with dementia experience far greater loss. The signs and symptoms can vary depending on the type and may include:
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    Dr. Howard E. LeWine

    M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of exp

    People with dementia often don’t recognize they have a problem. So, once you have dementia, you usually can’t self-diagnose it. The stage prior to dementia is known as mild cognitive impairment, when memory and thinking are somewhat impaired but function is normal. With age, people often worry about subjective cognitive decline, when individuals are concerned about their thinking and memory, but both cognition and function are normal.
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    3 more answers
    microsoftstart.msn.com
    Losing or misplacing multiple objects. Having a hard time coming up with the right word consistently. Trouble planning, organizing, managing or completing tasks. Consistently forgetting what you just read. People in the middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease can be in this stage for many years. They can take part in everyday activities with help.
    Symptoms include movement and balance problems, changes in sleep patterns, memory loss, planning and problem-solving difficulties, and visual hallucinations and delusions. About 5% to 10% of dementias are Lewy Body dementia. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD): This dementia results from damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of your brain.
  4. Dementia - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

  5. Alzheimer's disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

  6. What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis

  7. 11 Early Signs of Dementia: What to Watch Out For - Healthline