Symptoms such as memory impairment, problems with performing ordinary activities or worsening behavioral disturbances in the elderly are usually considered to be manifestations of dementia. It is certainly a common problem among seniors. However, without careful diagnosis, dementia should not be diagnosed immediately. In practice, similar problems may result from depression, thyroid dysfunction or be a side effect of medications. So how do you know when potential dementia is not?

Contents:

  1. When dementia is not dementia: depression
  2. When dementia is not dementia: cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
  3. When dementia is not dementia: liver and kidney problems
  4. When dementia is not dementia: diseases of the thyroid gland
  5. When dementia is not dementia: diabetes
  6. When dementia is not dementia: vitamin deficiencies
  7. When dementia is not dementia: medication side effects
  8. When dementia is not dementia: neurological diseases
  9. When dementia is not dementia: sensory disorders
  10. When dementia is not dementia: infections
  11. When dementia is not dementia: cancer
  12. What tests should I do to tell if dementia is not dementia?

Dementia is unfortunately not a rare entity - its incidence increases with age, and as in the group of people aged between 60 and 65, about 1% of them suffer from dementia, and among patients over 85 years, even 1/3 of them may notice various symptoms of dementia.

Dementia is the cause of many different dysfunctions - they occur in the course of:

  • memory impairment (both fresh and long-term)
  • behavioral changes (e.g. tendency to be aggressive, irritable)
  • difficulties with visual-spatial coordination
  • problems with everyday activities (such as combing or eating with cutlery)

It happens quite often that when a patient develops this kind of ailments, and he has a lot of spring behind him at the same time, he is assigned a diagnosis of dementia.

There is definitely a good chance thatthe cause of the problems are dementia disorders, but in practice some restraint is necessary here and refraining from making a diagnosis too quickly.

Well, memory problems or a sudden deterioration in the functioning of a senior may result not only from dementia, but also from a number of completely different disease entities.

When dementia is not dementia: depression

Lack of energy, loss of interests or memory difficulties in an elderly person may be caused, among others, by by depressive disorders.

A senior who suffers from them may avoid leaving home, neglect contacts even with members of their immediate family or experience sleep disorders, either in the form of insomnia or excessive sleepiness. In the course of senile depression, there may also be disturbances in appetite (whether it is an increase in appetite or a significant decrease in appetite), but the most characteristic symptom of depressive disorders is a depressed mood.

When dementia is not dementia: cardiovascular and respiratory diseases

Heart failure, arrhythmias or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can - apart from their basic symptoms - lead to ailments resembling dementia.

This possibility is due to the fact that in the case of these diseases, the supply of oxygen to various tissues of the body, including the brain, is impaired.

Chronic hypoxia of the brain may impair the functioning of the nervous system, and therefore people struggling with a chronic disease, whether it is the respiratory system or the cardiovascular system, may develop various ailments, which can make such seniors diagnosed with dementia .

When dementia is not dementia: liver and kidney problems

Dementia-like disorders may arise from liver or kidney disease. These organs correspond, inter alia, to for the processing and removal of toxic metabolites from the body.

So when a patient develops a failure of any of the above-mentioned organs, various harmful substances may simply accumulate in the body, and then adversely affect the functioning of the nervous system and lead to symptoms such as memory impairment or impairment executive functions.

When dementia is not dementia: diseases of the thyroid gland

The thyroid gland is an organ whose hormones influence the rate of various metabolic processes and the functioning of the nervous system.

In a situation where the body has abnormal amounts of these hormones, they may appear in peoplesenior, various dysfunctions resembling dementia.

In the case of hypothyroidism, in addition to symptoms such as constipation, dry skin or slowing heart rate, there may also be slow thinking, difficulty recalling or a significant reduction in vital activity.

Hyperthyroidism may, in turn, lead to increased sweating, diarrhea in an elderly person, but also to irritability, mood swings or difficulty concentrating.

When dementia is not dementia: diabetes

Diabetes, a disease not uncommon in elderly people. It is associated primarily with increased blood glucose levels, but in practice, it may also involve reverse episodes, i.e. episodes of hypoglycemia.

Glucose is the basic "fuel" for the central nervous system, and therefore a patient who experiences low blood glucose levels may experience periodic symptoms of confusion or inability to focus, and falls may also occur.

When dementia is not dementia: vitamin deficiencies

The fact that the human body needs a variety of vitamins and nutrients to function properly, you probably do not need to convince anyone.

To maintain the proper functioning of the nervous system, it is necessary, among others, vitamin B12, deficiencies of which are quite common in the elderly and which may be responsible for the occurrence of ailments suggesting dementia.

Vitamin B12 deficiency may result from general malnutrition, but it can also be favored by a vegetarian diet, but also by frequent use - especially when the supply of this vitamin in the diet is low - antacids (vitamin B12 is absorbed in an acidic environment). ).

When dementia is not dementia: medication side effects

Dementia-like symptoms sometimes develop with the intake of pharmaceuticals. Seniors are predisposed to this problem because, in general, various drugs much more often - due to the slowdown in the rate of metabolism or removal from the body - cause various side effects in them. Among the preparations that may be particularly conducive to disorders resembling dementia, there are e.g. opioid painkillers, glucocorticoids, benzodiazepines and antihistamines, and some antibiotics (e.g. fluoroquinolones).

When dementia is not dementia: neurological diseases

Dementia is considered a neurological problem, but it is really differentindividuals which also fall into this field may also lead to the development of symptoms of dementia in patients. Examples include Parkinson's disease, stroke and normotensive hydrocephalus (Hakim's syndrome).

When dementia is not dementia: sensory disorders

Sometimes the difficulties with visual-spatial coordination, irritability and mood swings, or falls are not caused by the development of dementia in the senior, but are actually due to dysfunction of the sensory organs. This is because when an elderly person begins to see or hear much worse, he or she may have difficulty functioning in their ordinary environment and eventually develop ailments that may be considered a manifestation of dementia.

When dementia is not dementia: infections

Various infectious diseases can cause some symptoms shortly after getting sick, and others - especially if not treated properly - only after many years. This is the case, for example, in the case of syphilis, Lyme disease or HIV infection. After a long time, usually just over a dozen years, in the course of these diseases, the central nervous system may be affected, leading, for example, to the appearance of memory disorders, personality changes or disorders of executive functions.

When dementia is not dementia: cancer

Sudden onset of dementia symptoms may of course be related to the disease, but also to cancer. This situation can especially be caused by neoplastic changes that develop inside the skull. These types of tumors may, for example, oppress centers involved in controlling various processes (e.g. motor activities) and cause symptoms that make the patient suspect dementia.

What tests should I do to tell if dementia is not dementia?

Taking into account all the problems described above, it is clear that the matter is not easy - the cause of symptoms that could theoretically be caused by dementia, does not have to be dementia.

For this reason, before making such a diagnosis, it is first necessary to carefully analyze his general he alth. It is worth paying attention to whether he suffers from a chronic entity (e.g. diabetes or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

You should analyze what medications an elderly person takes and whether the changes in their functioning are related to the start of taking them. Laboratory tests are also useful in carrying out the differential diagnosis of dementia.

It's hardit would be here to list all the analyzes that can be carried out in order to exclude the causes of disturbing symptoms in seniors other than dementia - the most important are usually the measurements of thyroid hormone levels, tests of liver parameters (e.g. hepatic transaminases) or kidney (e.g. creatinine).

Vitamin B12 determinations may also be requested. If you suspect that dementia-like symptoms may be due to a neurological condition or an intracranial tumor, it may be advisable to perform head imaging studies (e.g. computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging).

But when should you especially consider that potential dementia is not dementia at all? Well, first of all, when in a senior who has been functioning without major difficulties, disturbing ailments appear very rapidly in the form of either severe memory disorders, difficulties with maintaining balance or a sudden loss of previously possessed skills.

Dementias are usually tricky and their symptoms gradually increase, and when the cause of the problems is in an individual other than dementia, dysfunctions can appear suddenly, and this is especially when the need for the most accurate diagnosis before making a diagnosis of dementia in such a patient appears.

Bow. Tomasz NęckiA graduate of medicine at the Medical University of Poznań. An admirer of the Polish sea (most willingly strolling along its shores with headphones in his ears), cats and books. In working with patients, he focuses on always listening to them and spending as much time as they need.

Category:

Geriatrics