Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Medically Reviewed on 7/15/2022
Doctor's Notes on Dementia
The term dementia refers to a collection of symptoms brought about by damage to or loss of brain cells. Dementia is not a disease but a group of symptoms and signs that are caused by a number of different conditions. Some causes of dementia include Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, traumatic brain injury, Huntington disease, alcoholic dementia, and Lewy body dementia.
Symptoms and signs of dementia include
- memory loss,
- difficulty finding the right word,
- impaired judgment,
- trouble with activities of daily living,
- personality changes,
- impulsivity,
- inability to care for oneself, and
- difficulty recognizing others.
Other associated symptoms and signs in people with dementia can include
- repetition of words,
- lack of ability to communicate,
- loss of bowel and bladder control,
- problems concentrating and focusing, and
- weight loss.
What Is the Treatment for Dementia?
There is no cure for most types of dementia. However, certain medications can help control the symptoms of dementia:
- Cholinesterase inhibitor drugs, often used in Alzheimer's disease but may also be used in other forms of dementia
- Memantine
- Medications to help control sleep disturbances, depression, agitation, or other symptoms
Other treatments can include modifying the environment to enhance safety or occupational therapy to simplify and manage daily tasks.
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Alzheimer's Disease Facts
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Alzheimer's Disease Medications
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Alzheimer's Disease Symptoms
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
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Cognitive Deficits
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Dementia Due to HIV Infection
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Dementia in ALS
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Dementia in Head Injury
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Dementia Medication Overview
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Encephalitis
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Head Injury (Traumatic Brain Injury)
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Huntington Disease Dementia
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Lewy Bodies Dementia (LBD)
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Mad Cow Disease (Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob)
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Meningitis in Adults
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Mild Cognitive Impairment
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Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a brain disorder that develops in older adults. Hydrocephalus happens when the drainage of the cerebro-spinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord is blocked. The fluid builds up in the hollow ventricals inside the brain, and the excess pressure can cause dementia, and physical symptoms similar to Parkinson disease. Treatment includes implanting a shunt with a valve that drains the excess fluid when the pressure reaches a certain point. -
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder of the brain. It mainly affects movements of the body. Severe cognitive impairments associated with PD are a form of dementia. Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease Dementia include various types of cognitive impairment, such as loss of decision-making ability, disorientation in familiar surroundings, inflexibility to adapting changes, and more. The condition is diagnosed via neuropsychological testing. Various classes of prescription medications are used to treat the condition. -
Pick Disease
Pick disease is a form of dementia characterized by a slow decline of mental abilities caused by damaged brain cells. The disease is similar to Alzheimer's. It is a terminal disease, but some drugs such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and others can slow the progression. -
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a disease that causes the brain to degenerate, leading to problems with movement and balance, loss of cognitive function, memory, speech, and attention. This loss ultimately leads to dementia, and PSP usually affects those over 60. There is no treatment for this disease, the symptoms of which are sometimes similar to Parkinson Disease. -
Stroke-Related Dementia
Dementia is a blanket term to describe significant cognitive and memory decay that could be caused by a number of different conditions. A stroke is a bleed or blockage in the blood vessels that may starve parts of the brain of oxygen. Thought and memory impairment due to a stroke is called vascular dementia. Medications and behavioral therapy may prevent further strokes and slow cognitive decline, but stroke damage cannot be repaired after more than a few hours after the event. -
Syphilis
Syphilis is a contagious bacterial infection transmitted most often through sexual intercourse. Flulike symptoms, body rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Late-phase syphilis attacks the heart, brain, skin, and bones. Late-stage syphilis is rare since the discovery of the antibiotic penicillin, which is used to treat this sexually transmitted disease (STD).
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.