Dementia
Alternate Names : Senility
What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
Symptoms of dementia often aren't noticed right away. Or if they are, people
sometimes assume that dementia is just a part of
aging.
However, as more brain cells die, more brain functions
are lost, and symptoms become more severe. Common symptoms of dementia
include the following:
being disoriented to time and place
changes in mood, including depression
and anxiety
delusions, or believing things that are not true
hallucinations, which include hearing, seeing, feeling, and smelling things
that do not exist
impaired ability to orient the body to the surrounding space
language breakdown, with slurred speech and trouble finding the right words
loss of bowel and bladder control
a loss of interest in activities that gave pleasure before
memory loss that
affects the person's skills. Short-term memory, or memory of recent events, is
particularly affected in people with dementia.
misplacing belongings
personality changes, including agitation, irritability, paranoia, and hostility
poor or decreased judgment
trouble doing familiar activities
Sometimes, family members may not want to face how serious
their loved one's decline is. Doctors may misdiagnose the condition.
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