Five Things You Should Know About Dementia

If you know someone with dementia, you will know someone that has some other form of disease, that's attacking their brain and nervous system. There is a common misconception about dementia, so you need to know what to look for, and what it is and what exactly is isn't. At first, don't be concerned that you will not understand the difference completely. With a little time and effort, you will be able to see and understand the difference, and most of all you will be able to know how to get help for that someone you love, or even yourself.

Dementia is not a disease that's separate from other diseases; it is only a symptom of what's going on in the body, with another disease that is producing the symptoms of dementia. Remember, dementia is not a normal part of getting older, but one that is symptom. The symptoms can be compared to that of a sore throat. An unseen infection sets up in the throat or sinus passages, and it spreads to the throat area or tonsils. A bacterium irritates the area and your body starts producing fever, letting you know through soreness and fever that you're sick. Even though dementia isn't a bacterial infection, it is the symptoms that something else is going on inside the body that needs immediate attention.

The symptoms of dementia are seen as the continued and slow decline of the ability to use mental abilities, or cognitive functions. Some of the losses of abilities are listed below.

• Memory loss of recent events, such as what they last ate.
• Memory loss for language communication, such as remembering what words are for a particular situation or object is, such as finding the word for - coffee pot.
• Memory loss for familiar tasks, such as knowing how to tie shoes, or balance a checkbook.
• Memory loss for knowing the relationship of time and space, such as navigating back home from a familiar trip.
• Memory loss of emotional stability and personality.

Extreme fluctuations of emotions and a dulling or over exaggeration of personality are common too. Finally, you will see a withdrawal from social activities and interest at some point during the disease. A lot of people use this detachment because they realize that they cannot understand what is going on and become frustrated and angry, or they are just not physically or mentally able to participate.

Dementia is found in a lot of different diseases or trauma to the body, especially to the head and spinal cord area. If you suspect that you or someone you love is experiencing these symptoms of dementia, look for help as soon as you can. By delaying treatment, you will risk health and happiness without treatment.

Three of the most common diseases that cause dementia are Alzheimer's, and Huntington's; dementia is also caused by heart and vascular disease too. My father was never diagnosed with heart disease, but he did have diabetes, which causes damage to arteries in the body, it was suspected that this made his Alzheimer's worse. Only a qualified doctor can make the determinations of dementia and the causes for it, so make sure to get in and see one for yourself, or a loved one. Hope is always on the horizon with new medications, therapy and research.

There are good sources on the Internet that you can check out online, or write to them for more information in the form of publications and helpful articles. A few excellent sources for information are listed below. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at www.ninds.nih.gov has a lot of help with the different disorders, where to find the top hospitals and doctors that treat dementia and a newsletter in PDF format that you can read. Another resource online is the website http://www.cdc.gov. There is general information and lost of other resources to help you learn more about dementia and the diseases that cause it.