Dementia

Dementia

Dementia
Dementia refers to loss of cognitive function that affects memory along with the ability to think, solve problems and control emotions. Dementia itself is not a disease, but describes a group of symptoms caused by a brain disorder. There are numerous causes of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, Huntingdon's disease and stroke. Since personality changes are common, living with dementia can be difficult for patients and caregivers alike. Learn more about dementia challenges and solutions with expert advice from Sharecare.

Recently Answered

  • QHow does regular exercise affect my risk for developing dementia?
    1 Answer
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    HealthyWomen
    A answered
    Physical activity and exercise has been shown to reduce the risk for developing dementia. Not only does exercise strengthen muscles, it improves heart and lung function, helps prevent osteoporosis and improves mood and overall well-being. From animal studies to epidemiological studies and human clinical trials, evidence is mounting to suggest physical activity and exercise can affect brain functioning.

    In animal studies, exercise has been shown to increase the number of blood vessels and capillaries that supply the brain and improve learning and memory. In humans, high levels of physical activity have been associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline and risk of dementia. Brisk walking in particular has been shown to reduce risk of developing dementia. 
  • QCan sleep deprivation cause dementia?
    1 Answer
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    Dr. Christopher E. Morgan, MD - Grand Rapids, MI - Neurology
    A Neurology, answered on behalf of
    If there are signs of the early stages of dementia, a person should see a sleep specialist. Sleep issues may contribute or even cause cognitive impairment. Some research shows that sleep plays an important role in removing toxins known to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease from the brain. With so many people experiencing sleep deprivation and occasional memory loss, a better understanding of how sleep and memory are intertwined is needed.

    Trinity Health recognizes that people seek medical information on a variety of topics for a variety of reasons. Trinity Health does not condone or support all practices covered in this site. As a Catholic health care organization, Trinity Health acts in accordance with the Catholic tradition.

    Please note, the information contained on this website is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care provider if you have questions regarding your medical condition or before starting any new treatment. In the event of a medical emergency always call 911 or proceed to your nearest emergency care facility.
     
  • QWhat is pseudodementia?
    1 Answer
    A
    Dr. Susan J. Steen, MD - Tampa, FL - Neurology
    A Neurology, answered on behalf of
    What Is Pseudodementia?
    Pseudodementia is a term for memory complaints that don't signify true dementia. In this video, Susan Steen, MD, a neurologist at Memorial Hospital of Tampa, discusses how these memory problems might be caused and how to treat them.
  • QWhat is frontal-temporal lobe dementia?
    1 Answer
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    Amen Clinics, Inc.
    A answered
    Frontal-temporal lobe dementia is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the function of the frontal and temporal lobes, as its name suggests. This disease causes decreased blood flow and low activity in these important areas of the brain that are in charge of thinking, behaving and memory.

    It’s estimated that 10-15% of people with dementia have this type. People with frontal-temporal lobe dementia often develop it in their 50s and 60s, although earlier onset is possible. Sometimes this type of dementia is incorrectly diagnosed as late onset bipolar disorder because some of the symptoms look similar. 
  • QHow can I prepare to visit someone with dementia or Alzheimer's disease?
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    HealthyWomen
    A answered
    Here are a few things to keep in mind if you'll be visiting someone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia:
    • Understand your feelings. It's important to admit and articulate to yourself and to other family members why you're stressed and upset.
    • Manage your expectations. Although it sounds Scrooge-like, it's wise to hope for the best while preparing for the worst.
    • Acknowledge the elephant in the room. Discuss with others you're close to the possibility that your relative with Alzheimer's or dementia may become sicker or even die. You might be surprised to learn that they've considered the same possibility.
    • Educate yourself. Learn how people at various stages of Alzheimer's or dementia handle different levels of interaction and activity. Check with her caregiver to make sure you understand what's normal for your loved one. 
  • QWhat can I ask someone with dementia to find out about his or her driving?
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    Dr. Linda Ercoli, PhD - Los Angeles, CA - Psychology
    A Psychology, answered on behalf of
    If you think a loved one with dementia is not driving safely, you could have conversations about his or her driving: short conversations, such as asking, “How did it go on your way to the store today?” This way, you can find out how your loved one actually feels. Did he or she have any nervousness or any near-misses? You can use these conversations to see if he or she feels confident in his or her driving.
  • QHow can I stop someone with dementia from driving?
    1 Answer
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    Dr. Linda Ercoli, PhD - Los Angeles, CA - Psychology
    A Psychology, answered on behalf of
    One of the first things you can do if you think a loved one with dementia is not driving safely is to actually observe him or her driving. The next step is to have conversations about his or her driving. Then, over time, one can strike up longer and more serious conversations.

    You may have to actually address him or her when a time comes when he or she cannot drive safely. The idea is to have this conversation earlier rather than later. This is a process, and it’s important to begin early. Start with a small conversation, and work your way up to a more heartfelt conversation. Share your concerns with your loved ones, and be frank. For example, “I’m worried about how you merged onto the freeway -- I am concerned that you could get into an accident.”
     
    When discussion fails or in situations where driving must stop immediately, one can take the keys away, disable or sell the vehicle or remove the vehicle from the premises. If the car is removed, some caregivers will explain that the car is in the repair shop (and it stays there essentially indefinitely).  Because literally taking keys away can be upsetting. Another approach is to replace the working keys with a set of imposter keys.
  • QWhat can I do to learn whether someone with dementia is driving unsafely?
    1 Answer
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    Dr. Linda Ercoli, PhD - Los Angeles, CA - Psychology
    A Psychology, answered on behalf of
    One of the first things you can do if you think a loved one with dementia is driving unsafely is to actually observe him or her driving. Have the person drive with someone in different areas and situations, and take notes on how the person is driving in certain situations. How is he or she driving at intersections? Intersections and turns are some of the most high-risk situations for someone who is driving with dementia. That may mean taking a left turn into oncoming traffic or not yielding to the right of way -- for example, not paying attention to who was in the crosswalk while making a turn. Does the person stay in the lane while on the road? How does he or she behave with activity around him or her on the road, such as cyclists or pedestrians. How are people managing at crosswalks? Are people checking their blind spots? How do they manage merging onto the freeway? These are the things you can take note of if someone is having a problem in these kinds of circumstances.

    You would want to go on a few ride-alongs because this is not about having one bad day driving. Some people may not have problems driving in familiar areas, while other people might. So you want to get a good sense of someone’s driving ability across numerous situations.
  • QHow can I tell if someone with dementia can drive safely?
    1 Answer
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    Dr. Linda Ercoli, PhD - Los Angeles, CA - Psychology
    A Psychology, answered on behalf of
    There are a few warning signs that are associated with dementia and dangerous driving. Sometimes a single question might help address this, and it’s simply: Would you let your child ride with your loved one by themselves? If the answer to that question is no, then you need to ask yourself why you don't feel comfortable with that. This will help you determine if you have concerns with your loved one being a safe driver.

    There are three very important signs that somebody should stop driving immediately. The first would be confusing the gas and the brake, and this is a very serious problem. The second is somebody needing a copilot -- people should be able to drive by themselves and navigate without having problems. Determining if there are people in the crosswalk and having problems judging if they should make a turn or not are examples of this. Having a copilot in the car to help somebody make those decisions is a sign of dangerousness or higher risk. The third sign would be stopping in traffic for no apparent reason, and this is a sign of very high risk.

    There are other signs that you may have noticed in a loved one or may have seen on the road in your travels -- for example, riding the brakes, not noticing road signs, rolling through stop signs, taking a right turn where not allowed, near misses or scrapes and dents appearing on the car are all signs. Some drivers with dementia may hit the curb or receive poor reactions from other drivers who may honk their horn. This makes people feel like they’ve lost confidence in driving, and this is very important. If somebody feels like they can’t drive anymore and don’t want to drive anymore, then they shouldn’t be pushed to continue driving.

    Now, all of us might do these activities now and then. For example, I’m sure we’ve had somebody honk the horn at us. We all hit the curb now and then when we’re trying to park or making a turn that’s too close, but this is not about having a bad day. This is about driving patterns that are evident in a person and not a once-in-a-while thing.
  • QWhy is it hard for families to stop a loved one with dementia from driving?
    1 Answer
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    Dr. Linda Ercoli, PhD - Los Angeles, CA - Psychology
    A Psychology, answered on behalf of
    Families can be very influential in getting a person with dementia to stop or cut back his or her driving, but they might be hesitant to intervene. First of all, people are afraid that if they bring up the topic they’re going to damage their relationship with their loved one. This can happen, and people get into arguments over this topic. Feelings get hurt and people get defensive, so a lot of family members feel like they can’t bring this up.

    Another reason that families are conflicted about this topic is because if somebody does have to turn in his or her keys or stop driving, then the burden is placed on the family to provide transportation for that individual. This means more burden, more expense and more time. People have very busy lives, making it difficult to do this.

    Finally, people sometimes just don’t know how to intervene. They don’t get a lot of help or education in this area, so they may want to but not know how to approach their loved one.