Symptoms of Dementia
Symptoms of Dementia: Introduction
The symptoms of dementia generally develop gradually and progressively get worse over time. However, symptoms and progression of dementia vary depending on the severity, underlying cause, age, medical history, coexisting diseases, and other factors.
The hallmark symptoms of dementia are problems with memory and other cognitive functions. Symptoms include forgetfulness and other problems with memory that become progressively worse. Early symptoms of dementia include a mild forgetfulness, most often of recent events. There is also a slowing down of the thinking and learning processes.
These early mild symptoms can also be a normal part of the aging process. However, in the normal aging process, the accuracy of memory or thoughts does not decline, just the speed. For example, people who are experiencing changes in the brain due to the normal aging process might take longer to remember a familiar person's name, but they generally will remember it. In contrast, a person with dementia develops progressive memory problems that are severe enough to impact daily functioning. For example, a person with dementia can become completely unable to remember a familiar person's name. Eventually, a person with dementia may not even recognize family members or close friends.
Other symptoms of dementia include loss of appetite and weight loss, which can appear very early before noticeable memory problems develop. As dementia progresses, symptoms also include disorientation, poor judgement, speech difficulties, personality changes, and difficulty with organizational skills, problem solving and completing familiar tasks.
People with dementia can wander and get lost in a familiar place. Other symptoms include difficulty with reading and writing, losing items, social withdrawal, difficulty speaking and communicating, and changes in emotion. People with dementia may become restless, paranoid, anxious, angry, and agitated. Depression is common. In some cases psychosis, including delusions and hallucinations may occur.
Symptoms become more severe as the disease progresses, leading to disability in many cases and making it difficult and eventually impossible for a person with dementia to safely care for themselves....more about Dementia »
Symptoms of Dementia
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources
for Dementia includes the 19
symptoms listed below:
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Dementia: Symptom Checkers
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Dementia: Symptom Assessment Questionnaires
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Review medical complications possibly associated with Dementia:
Research More About Dementia
Do I have Dementia?
Dementia: Medical Mistakes
Dementia: Undiagnosed Conditions
Diseases that may be commonly undiagnosed in related medical areas:
Home Diagnostic Testing
Home medical tests related to Dementia:
- Child Behavior: Home Testing
- Mental Health (Adults): Home Testing
- Mental Health: Home Testing:
- Nerve Neuropathy: Related Home Testing:
- Brain & Neurological Disorders: Related Home Testing:
- more home tests...»
Wrongly Diagnosed with Dementia?
The list of other diseases or medical conditions
that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses
for Dementia includes:
See the full list of 46
Dementia: Research Doctors & Specialists
- Nerve Specialists:
- Mental Health Specialists:
- Neurology (Brain/CNS Specialists):
- more specialists...»
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
More about symptoms of Dementia:
More information about symptoms of Dementia and related conditions:
Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms
Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list
of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions,
or drug side effect causes of that symptom.
Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Dementia:
The term dementia describes a group of symptoms that are caused
by changes in brain function. Dementia symptoms may include asking
the same questions repeatedly; becoming lost in familiar places;
being unable to follow directions; getting disoriented about time,
people, and places; and neglecting personal safety, hygiene, and
nutrition. People with dementia lose their abilities at different
rates. (Source: excerpt from Forgetfulness It's Not Always What You Think -- Age Page -- Health Information: NIA)
Dementia as a symptom:
For a more detailed analysis of Dementia as a symptom, including causes, drug side effect causes, and drug interaction causes, please see our Symptom Center information for Dementia.
Medical articles and books on symptoms:
These general reference articles may be of interest
in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
About signs and symptoms of Dementia:
The symptom information on this page
attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Dementia.
This signs and symptoms information for Dementia has been gathered from various sources,
may not be fully accurate,
and may not be the full list of Dementia signs or Dementia symptoms.
Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Dementia may vary on an individual basis for each patient.
Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they
are indeed Dementia symptoms.