Ask the Geriatrician: Dementia
Ask the Expert
Amy Ehrlich, MD
Geriatrics Fellowship Program Director
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine/ Montefiore Medical Center
As we grow older, we may have minor problems with our memory. We may forget the name of someone we recently met or misplace our car keys. We may be slow to find a well-known word.
So, how do we know when we—or someone we love—should worry about memory changes as a sign of developing dementia?
Q: What is dementia?
A: Dementia is a word used to describe a group of different brain diseases. All dementias have in common memory loss, confusion, and problems with speech and understanding. They usually get worse and eventually keep someone from caring for him/herself. There are several different types of dementia. Some of them get better with treatment, so it is important to look for a reason for these symptoms. For example, Thyroid disease or certain medicines can cause symptoms that seem like dementia. These are treatable conditions and can be determined by a good physical and mental evaluation, a look at your medical history, plus carefully chosen lab tests.
Q: Isn't dementia just old age or senility?
A: Aging alone does not cause significant memory problems or stop us taking care of ourselves. As we get older, it might take longer to remember names or find the right word to say. This is different from the loss of memory and other mental problems associated with conditions like Alzheimer's disease. Those suffering from Alzheimer's can get lost in familiar places like home or close to home, fail to recognize family members, fail to recognize familiar objects such as a pen or a watch, and cannot compensate for these problems.
While risk for various kinds of "dementia" increases with age, dementia is not part of normal aging. All memory changes should be thoroughly evaluated.
Q: What are the different kinds of dementia?
A: The most common dementias are Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and Lewy Body dementia. But, there are many other causes of impaired brain function such as repeated injuries to the head, low vitamin B12 levels, thyroid conditions, depression, AIDS, other infections and illnesses. In addition, medicines, either prescribed or bought without prescription, or alternative and herbal remedies can affect memory and cause confusion in older people.
Q: What is Alzheimer's disease?
A: In this condition, certain cells in the brain stop working and eventually die. These cells produce important chemicals [acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine and others] needed for memory, language and other thinking functions. As the chemicals decrease, so do the person's abilities to remember and think clearly. Alzheimer’s disease usually sneaks up on the person and family. It can get worse slowly over several years before changes are noticed. Over time (usually two-to-eight years), it gets to a point where the person can no longer handle simple tasks like eating or bathing.
Q: How do you get Alzheimer's disease?
A: As we get older our chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease increase. Between the ages of 65 and 70, about one in 20 people has the disease. By the age of 85 and older, between 1 in 3 people has this disease. We also know that some families pass along genes that increase the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Some factors in our environment can increase the risk also, such as head injury with unconsciousness. When we say “increases the risk” of getting Alzheimer’s, this does not mean we will get it for sure. It just means the chances of our getting it are higher.
Q: Is there any point to seeing my healthcare provider?
A: It is very important for a person with mental and thinking changes to get a good check up. First, the changes could be a result of a treatable condition such as thyroid disease, or medication related, and second, there are now treatments available for dementias and Alzheimer’s disease that may improve the symptoms and slow the progress of the disease. Third, your healthcare provider should be able to assist you in finding community resources for information, support groups and help at home.
Q: What can we expect from the healthcare provider?
A: Your healthcare provider should take your concerns seriously. He or she should carry out a careful medical checkup and medicines review. There should be tests of memory, mood, daily function, lab tests, and sometimes a scan of the brain. A referral for detailed mental testing may be made. If the diagnosis is clear, the healthcare provider should continue to provide care throughout the illness.
Q: What treatments are there for Alzheimer's disease?
A: Medicines approved for treating Alzheimer's disease are donepezil [Aricept], galantamine [Razadyne, formerly Reminyl] and rivastigmine [Exelon]. They work by raising the levels of acetylcholine in the brain and are called cholinesterase inhibitors. If you begin a trial of these medicines, your healthcare professional should check every so often to see if these drugs are helping your thinking and memory, and to manage any negative gastrointestinal effects.
Memantine (Namenda) regulates glutamate, another brain chemical, and might help symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. None of these drugs cures or stops the disease but they might slow how quickly the disease gets worse.
Several herbal remedies and other dietary supplements are promoted as effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. However good scientific evidence of this is still lacking.
Q: How can I convince my family member to go to the healthcare professional?
A: Often, your family member already knows there is something wrong and is frightened. It is helpful to remind your family member that early detection allows decisions to be made about treatment, and will allow him or her to put affairs in order.
Q. How do I know when my loved one should stop working, banking, driving or living alone?
A: These are difficult questions that your healthcare provider should assist you in answering. In general, if there is potential for harm to your family member or to others, it is time to consider stopping certain activities. Healthcare providers rely on your reports when making recommendations about major life changes. They can be supportive in reinforcing your concerns.
Q: What else can I do as a caregiver?
A: Above all else, the person with dementia needs your care and support. You can't provide that care if you don't look after your own health. Caregiving can be rewarding, but can also be exhausting, sad and depressing. You can become sick if you ignore your own health needs. You need breaks from caregiving; you need help at home; you need to eat, sleep and exercise regularly; you need to forgive yourself for feelings of anger and guilt. A support group can help you through some tough times you may face.
Q: Is a nursing home really necessary?
A: This is an individual decision. Often families feel guilty about placing a family member permanently in a nursing home. Some nursing homes can provide respite care, to give the main caregiver a break. A good nursing home can provide care, safety and social interactions that can give your family member pleasure and security. It can also give you a chance to sleep undisturbed and do your daily tasks with some peace of mind. With good help at home, safety measures (such as removing the knobs from stoves) and day care options, the person can stay at home for a long time.
Updated: February 2014
Posted: March 2012