Dementia
Dementia
Neurocognitive Disorders refer to conditions that result in cognitive decline due to injury, neurodegenerative processes (e.g., Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s Disease), or other medical causes. These disorders can occur across the lifespan, affecting both older adults (e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease) and younger adults (e.g., traumatic brain injury or post-COVID conditions).
Key Features:
Causes:
- Neurodegeneration (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Lewy Body Disease).
- Injury (e.g., traumatic brain injury, TBI).
- Medical conditions (e.g., post-COVID effects).
Types of Impairments:
- Complex attention, executive function, learning, memory, language, perceptual-motor, and social abilities.
Duration and Severity:
- Short-term: Delirium or sudden confusion.
- Rapid onset: Due to injury or acute conditions (e.g., TBI).
- Long-term: Degenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s or Lewy Body Disease).
Symptoms:
- Behavioral, functional, and personality changes.
- Ranging from mild to severe cognitive impairment.
Importance of Evaluation:
Early evaluation by a specialist is critical to identify the cause and address changes in functioning.
Support at Ally Psychiatry:
- Neuropsychological Evaluation: Comprehensive assessment of cognitive functioning.
- Treatment Services: Psychiatric medication management and therapy for neurocognitive disorders.
Early Signs of Dementia:
- Difficulty Coping with Change: Struggling to adapt to changes in schedules or environments.
- Short-Term Memory Issues: Remembering distant events clearly but forgetting recent ones, like what you had for lunch.
- Word-Finding Challenges: Difficulty recalling or associating words.
- Repetition: Repeating questions, tasks, or stories.
- Disorientation: Feeling lost in familiar places or struggling with well-known routes.
- Trouble Following Storylines: Difficulty understanding or keeping up with conversations or descriptions.
- Mood Changes: Experiencing depression, frustration, or anger.
- Loss of Interest: Apathy toward hobbies or activities previously enjoyed.
- Confusion: People, places, and events may feel unfamiliar, including failing to recognize known individuals.
- Difficulty with Everyday Tasks: Struggling to perform routine activities you’ve done for years.
Memory problems alone do not always indicate dementia, but these signs may point to a decline in memory and cognitive abilities that warrant further evaluation.
Dementia Stages
Stages of Dementia
Dementia is progressive and affects individuals differently. Key stages include:
1. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI):
- Forgetfulness and short-term memory issues.
- Difficulty recalling words or names.
2. Mild Dementia:
- Still independent but with:
- Short-term memory lapses.
- Personality changes (anger or depression).
- Difficulty with complex tasks and expressing ideas.
3. Moderate Dementia:
- Requires help with daily tasks due to:
- Poor judgment and confusion.
- Memory loss extending further into the past.
- Assistance needed for dressing or bathing.
4. Severe Dementia:
- Significant decline with:
- Loss of bodily functions and communication.
- Full-time care required.
- Increased risk of infections.
Understanding these stages can guide future care planning.
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