Boise Psychological Services

SeniorsDEMENTIA

What is Dementia?

Dementia is a loss of mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living, lasting more than six months, not present since birth, and not associated with a loss or alteration of consciousness. Dementia is a group of symptoms caused by the gradual death of brain cells. The loss of cognitive abilities that occurs with dementia leads to impairments in memory, reasoning, planning, and personality. Dementia is caused by specific diseases. Alzheimer's Disease is the most common cause, followed by vascular or multi-infarct dementia caused by heart attacks or strokes.

Some Symptoms of Dementia:

  • Memory loss is the earliest and most noticeable symptom
  • Difficulty recalling recent events
  • Not recognizing familiar people and places
  • Having trouble find the right words to express thoughts or name objects
  • Difficulty performing math calculations
  • Senior CounselingProblems planning an carrying out task, such as balancing a checkbook, following a recipe, or writing a letter
  • Trouble exercising judgment, such as knowing what to do in an emergency
  • Having difficulty controlling moods or behaviors along with agitation or aggression
  • Not keeping up personal care such as grooming or bathing
  • Getting lost or disoriented when driving a vehicle
  • If there is dementia with Lewy bodies there are highly detailed visual hallucinations and frequent falling
  • Frontotemporal dementia shows first symptoms of personality changes or unusual behavior. They may not express any caring for others, or they may say rude things, expose themselves or make sexually explicit comments.

208-376-3546

 
 

Boise Psychological Services
913 So. Latah
Boise, Idaho 83705

Phone: 208.376.3546

Fax: 208.376.9792