Approximately 5 million people have dementia in the United States, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Dementia is not really a disease, but rather a collection of symptoms that can be caused by a number of brain disorders and diseases. Advanced dementia is a brain condition that occurs when the brain no longer functions properly and brain cells begin to die. It is one of the end stages of dementia, and it causes a person to have difficulty communicating, remembering, learning and caring for oneself. A person may experience intense mood swings as more and more of the brain cells die. Dementia primarily occurs in people over the age of 65.
Inability to Communicate
People with advanced dementia have trouble communicating, according to the Family Doctor, a website that is operated by the American Academy of Family Physicians. These individuals have difficulty following conversations and speaking. An individual who has advanced dementia may have trouble remembering simple words, or may use words out of context, making it challenging to understand what he wants. As the dementia progresses, this individual may start to mumble unrecognizable phrases. Eventually a person with advanced dementia may lose his ability to speak.
Loss of Memory
Loss of memory is another symptom of advanced dementia, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. People with advanced dementia have problems remembering things that they once knew. These individuals never recover their lost memories, and as the condition progresses, they remember less and less until they no longer remember relatives or even recognize themselves in the mirror. An individual with advanced dementia may ask the same question multiple times because he does not remember the answer, or he may forget that his mother died 20 years ago and may speak about her as if she were still alive.
Inability to Perform Normal Daily Tasks
According to the Family Doctor, people with advanced dementia are unable to perform normal daily tasks such as cooking a meal, paying bills, taking a bath, brushing their teeth, eating or dressing themselves. An individual with advanced dementia may choose multiple outfits to wear because he has forgotten that he has already chosen another outfit. As the dementia progresses, this individual may have trouble remembering how to chew or swallow his food, which can lead to choking, or even death.
Intense Mood Swings
Intense mood swings is a common symptom of advanced dementia, according to the American Family Physician. Individuals with this stage of the condition experience intense mood swings that may fluctuate between depression, anger and happiness every few minutes. An individual with advanced dementia may start crying for no explainable reason one minute, and begin laughing hysterically the next.
Drastic Personality Changes
People with advanced dementia have drastic personality changes, according to the American Family Physician. These individuals may drastically change from being easygoing and trusting to being short-tempered, frightened and/or suspicious. An individual who has advanced dementia may start to believe that his grandchildren are out to take all of his money when in actuality they only want to put his money in the bank for safety.
Problems with Abstract Thinking
People with advanced dementia have problems with abstract thinking, according to the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. They may lose the ability to problem solve or think in hypothetical terms. These individuals often only understand concrete concepts that they can see, hear or touch. They may have a hard time making decisions and/or completing tasks from the beginning to the end. An individual with advanced dementia may forget how to balance his checkbook, or he may forget to turn off the stove after he has finished cooking dinner.
Time and Place Disorientation
Medline Plus states that individuals with advanced dementia may become disoriented as the disease progresses. These individuals may forget where they are or where they are going. In some cases, a person with advanced dementia may forget where he lives or how to get home. This person may forget his way home from the grocery store, or he may think he is at home when he is actually in the hospital. A person with advanced dementia may miss a doctor's appointment because he cannot remember what day it is.
Misplacement
People with advanced dementia frequently misplace things, according to Medline Plus. They may forget where they placed their valuables, or they may put things in the wrong place. These individuals may forget that they placed something in a specific spot and purchase the item multiple times. An individual with advanced dementia may place money under the bed, or a watch in the refrigerator, and not remember where he put those items.
