What is dementia?
Dementia is the loss of normal cognitive function that can negatively affect your or a loved one’s ability to complete everyday tasks. Dementia might affect your memory, problem-solving skills, language, and the ability to focus. Forgetfulness is a sign of aging, but dementia is often debilitating and interferes with everyday life.
What are the symptoms of dementia?
Some common signs and symptoms of dementia include:
- Memory impairment
- Problems communicating
- Getting lost
- Difficulty with motor functions and coordination
- Confusion and disorientation
- Problems with organization and planning
- Difficulty handling complex tasks
- Diminished problem-solving skills
- Personality changes, agitation, or paranoia
- Anxiety and depression
- Inappropriate behaviors
Dementia can worsen over time. Treatment helps prevent disease progression and can optimize your quality of life.
What are the risk factors for dementia?
Dementia can happen to anyone, but it’s more common with older age. Risk factors include:
- Being older than age 65
- Family history of dementia
- Lack of exercise
- Poor dietary habits
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Heavy alcohol use
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity, diabetes, and sleep apnea
- Depression
- Smoking
Complications from untreated dementia include poor nutrition, medical problems, the inability to care for yourself properly, safety issues, or early death.
How is dementia diagnosed?
To diagnose dementia, Dr. Zafar reviews your symptoms and medical history. She and her team ask questions about your behavior patterns, complete a physical exam, and conduct a comprehensive cognitive evaluation to check your memory, thinking, and language skills.
The Axis Psychiatry team also completes a mental health evaluation and may use blood tests, brain scans, neurological evaluations, or genetic tests to diagnose your condition.
How is dementia treated?
There’s no cure for dementia, but treatment can delay the progression of the disease and help you better manage its symptoms. Dr. Zafar might recommend:
Medications
Taking medications can slow cognitive decline in some people or treat mental health problems associated with dementia.
Occupational or speech therapy
Seeing an occupational or speech therapist can improve or prevent a decline in your coordination and fine motor and language skills.
Counseling
Counseling with Dr. Zafar helps you or a loved one better manage behaviors and emotions associated with dementia, maximize your quality of life, and plan for the future.
Lifestyle changes
Healthy lifestyle habits can eliminate or reduce dementia progression. Examples include stimulating your mind with reading or puzzles, being physically and socially active, taking multivitamin supplements, not smoking, managing cardiovascular risk factors, eating a healthy diet, and getting quality sleep.
At the first sign of dementia, see the team at Axis Psychiatry for an evaluation. Schedule an appointment by phone or online today.
