Senile dementia (dementia) is a progressive and incurable disease. However, if you notice the signs of this pathology in time and turn to the right specialist, you can slow down the development of the disease and improve the quality of life.
Gradually progressive dementia, accompanied by numerous manifestations, is a very common pathology. Dementia affects older people both in large cities and in villages / townships. Despite the fact that there is no absolute cure for this mental disorder, there are methods and special medications that help to maintain an adequate condition longer, do not allow the disease to progress rapidly. You should not try to correct the condition yourself or do home treatment, this will not work. On the contrary, this can only aggravate the situation. Therefore, at the first suspicions of the development of senile dementia, one should consult a psychiatrist and a neurologist.
Some common signs of onset dementia in old age
- Loss of memory that occurs suddenly, a sharp deterioration in the ability to memorize new information. Typical of senile dementia is the inability to remember recent events.
- Abrupt mood swings, constant apathy and fatigue, avoidance of contact with friends and family, loss of interest in work or other usual activities.
- Disorientation in space and time. Inability to determine the time of day, day of the week, time of year, location. As a rule, with the progression of pathology, many cannot remember how old they are, what their names are, in which city they are, who lives with them.
- Difficulties in recognizing relatives, visual-spatial disturbances, inability to determine the distance to the object and its purpose, refusal to read books.
- Weakening of muscle activity, difficulty going outside, climbing stairs, taking a bath.
- A gradual or abrupt change in mood. Irritability, anxiety, unfounded accusations, violent reactions to minor events, refusal to contact relatives. These signals already indicate the beginning of irreversible brain processes.
- Inability to remember the name of the item that is being used (cup, spoon, stove, toothbrush, mirror, etc.).
- Indistinct expression of thoughts, inability to express them in writing. Lack of judgment, logic.
- Disregard for appearance and lack of interest in looking neat.
- Constant shifting of objects and then a long search for them. A book might end up in the refrigerator, and a plate might end up on a bookshelf. The accusation of this to relatives and friends.
