Senile Dementia Symptoms

Patients with senile dementia have a physical disorder that can cause deterioration of physical and mental abilities. It occurs when nerve cells in the brain lose the ability to function, stop building links with neurons, and eventually die. Senile dementia is characterized by heavily impaired cognitive function that diminishes the ability to participate in normal activities and communicate with other people. The severity of senile dementia symptoms increases with time and may cause a loss of the ability to function independently.

Loss of Mental Agility

Decreased skills with problem-solving and multi-tasking activities are symptoms of senile dementia, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Patients with senile dementia might lose agility in their brains, making it difficult to move easily from one task to another or to handle complex issues.

Personality Changes

Symptoms of senile dementia include a lack of emotional control and development of hostility or an easily aroused temper. Vast personality changes may occur as senile dementia progresses.

Delusions and Hallucinations

Delusions and hallucinations are a sign that the brain is becoming diseased by senile dementia. Psychosis can develop with senile dementia. It might prevent the sufferer from staying anchored to reality and prevent them from being cognizant of the ebb and flow of everyday life.

Forgetfulness

Becoming forgetful may be an early sign of senile dementia, according to the National Institutes of Health. Small moments of forgetfulness may be the first symptom noticed when senile dementia is beginning.

Impaired Judgement

Senile dementia may lead to a loss of ability to use good judgment. Reasoning skills might be heavily damaged as dementia progresses.

Communication Problems

People who develop senile dementia might lose their ability to communicate with others. Verbal skills become compromised with senile dementia, sometimes disappearing quite suddenly.

Loss of Recognition

Another symptom of senile dementia is the inability to recognize family members. This symptom may be ongoing or it may be sporadic. It causes a lot of pain for family members who must endure knowing that a beloved relative can no longer recognize them.

References

Article reviewed by Libby Swope Wiersema Last updated on: Feb 2, 2010

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