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
Problems 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
All contacts with the Boise Psychological Center are confidential, except in situations where laws or ethics require notification of a family member or others. Boise Psychological Center does not release any information regarding testing, testing results, whether a patient has used our services nor matters discussed in counseling.
DEMENTIA
Problems planning an carrying out task, such as balancing a checkbook, following a recipe, or writing a letter