Dementia is a group of symptoms affecting intellectual and social abilities. It is caused by conditions or changes that occur in the brain. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia but it is not the sole cause. The two primary areas that are affected by the onset of dementia are memory and judgment; however, there are a number of other behaviors that are affected.
Impaired Behaviors
The most common occurrence with dementia is the impairment of regular behaviors. Many patients experience difficulty in communicating, whether it's having trouble expressing themselves or understanding what others are communicating to them. Memory loss is quite common. Some have difficulty remembering names of friends or family members as well as everyday details such as their home address, phone number or date of birth. In severe cases, coordination and motor functions become impaired.
Changes in Behaviors
Many dementia patients maintain the ability to perform daily tasks; however, they sometimes become confused and repeat tasks multiple times throughout the day. Some patients repeat certain behaviors as a sense of comfort or to feel in control when they are experiencing symptoms of dementia that seem uncontrollable.
Elimination of Behaviors
As dementia progresses, many patients lose their ability to complete certain tasks, or they no longer will exhibit certain behaviors. It can be very difficult for dementia patients to learn or remember new information as they may be experiencing memory loss. For this reason, they may have difficulty with reasoning or relating to others. In severe cases, some patients have difficulty managing everyday tasks such personal hygiene or eating. While it may appear that the patient is being obstinate, he may not remember that he should do these things or even how to do them.
Occurrence of New Behaviors
It is common for dementia patients to experience a change in personality, typically becoming withdrawn or agitated. They may exhibit some inappropriate behavior due to their inability to understand what is required in various environments or their amnesia of what is appropriate or inappropriate. As a caregiver or family member attempts to assist a patient with necessary tasks, the patient may become extremely agitated, irritable and sometimes aggressive. Patients with severe cases of dementia may experience hallucinations or delusions.
