Dementia, often called senility, describes a group of conditions that affect the brain. Although the most common symptom is memory loss, this alone does not indicate the presence of dementia. Dementia interrupts normal activities, interferes with problem solving, changes personalities and affects emotions. Dementia affects approximately 6.8 million people in the United States, according to 2010 information from the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke. Several different diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, cause dementia, which doctors classify into three different phases.
Early
The early signs of dementia are often subtle, making it easy for the one affected to deny the presence of a problem. Early changes include intermittent short-term memory loss, such as not remembering the details of an article recently read or the inability to remember something that just happened. The changes can affect daily activities such as going to the grocery store and then forgetting the items that prompted the trip.
Early signs also include changes in communication. Patients often cannot remember the right word to say, or fail to follow a simple conversation. Difficulties in problem solving, such as simple adding, subtracting or keeping score, may become apparent. Those in the early stages of dementia often find it difficult to express their emotions.
The early stages of dementia cause confusion and frustration, as even simple tasks become more difficult. Patients often offer excuses, such as feeling ill or being worried, to cover for the difficulties in thinking skills.
Middle
As dementia progresses, additional changes in thinking, problem solving and memory emerge. Patients in the middle phase become increasingly forgetful, forgetting names, dates and events. They begin to confuse people, even those close to them, with others, or fail to recognize them at all. Because their forgetfulness can become a danger, such as forgetting to light the gas on the stove, they require additional supervision to complete daily tasks. Those in the middle phase of dementia can feel frustrated, which they may express as anger or aggressiveness.
Late
The late stage of dementia usually leads to total dependency and the need for continual nursing care, as described by the Alzheimer’s Society. The memory loss becomes more significant as patients fail to recognize familiar people and surroundings. Walking becomes difficult, often leading to confinement to a bed or wheelchair. Eating difficulties lead to considerable weight loss, resulting in frailty.
Patients in the late phase of dementia often feel threatened, causing them to become aggressive, even to those providing them daily care. Patients gradually lose speech abilities making communication difficult; however, they can still respond to soothing voices, music and the comfort of a pet.
