How to Get Dementia Diagnosis Without Waiting!

Dementia Diagnosis and Treatment

With our increasing age, our experience also increases. Different types of physical and psychological disorders also increase. Weakness in memory, confusion, and loss of cognition is called Dementia. It is a slowly progressive disease in which brain cells begin to die and are not replaced by new cells. It affects parts of the brain with age, which in turn affects memory, thinking, and behavioral abilities.

• Gender-related diagnostic issue: This disease is relatively more common in women.
• Age range and Prevalence: It affects about 5  percent of people over 65 years of age and about 20-40 percent over 85 years of age.

Types of Dementia 

• Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. it proceeds slowly from mild memory loss to difficulty holding conversations.
• Vascular Dementia happens because of a hindrance in blood flow to the brain that causes problems in thinking, reasoning, planning, judgment, memory, and thought processes.
• HIV-associated dementia occurs when the HIV virus spreads to the brain and it causes difficulty thinking, loss of memory, concentrating, and gradual loss of motor skills.
• Lewy Body Disease is associated with abnormal deposition of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. This can lead to problems with thinking, movement, action, and mood.

Causes of Dementia

• Alcohol
• Smoking
• Brain injury
• Depression
• diabetes
• Aging
• Tumors
• Thyroid disease

 Understanding Dementia Symptoms

Dementia affects daily routine most of the time by memory loss or forgetfulness. Many people do not realize that it is due to any disease. It is commonly believed that this is part of aging. Suffering from this disease a person himself does not realize that there is a change in his behavior and situation. The information is collected from patients and relatives of these patients. The symptoms can be as follows.

• Decrease in available memory: The current and new memory of the patient suffering from this disease is affected. Old memories are preserved.
• Lack of awareness of time and space: People suffering from this disease forget what day it is today or how to reach them back home etc.
• Decline in decision-making
• Forgetfulness
• Difficulty in complex thinking is the occurrence of a decrease in the ability to understand ideas
• Difficulty in daily activities: The daily eating, sleeping, and reading abilities of people suffering from this disease are affected, and they also forget after eating one meal. This also includes overeating, falling asleep, and forgetting daily activities.
• Difficulty speaking: A patient with dementia has difficulty speaking. They find it difficult to not only use words but also to complete sentences. As a result, they avoid speaking or talking.
• Mood Swings: A patient with dementia may experience many mood swings. For instance getting angry without any reason, panicking about daily responsibilities, Seeing unseen things, crying for no reason, Hearing voices, and so on.
• Personality change: Changes occur in the personality of a patient suffering from this disease. Which includes expression of doubt, mistrust, not caring about one's own cleanliness, etc. Most relatives complain that the patient's personality was not like this before.

Treatment

Because it is a progressive disease some drugs slow down the process of killing brain cells and some drugs also increase the blood flow of the brain. A complete cure for Alzheimer's disease has not yet been discovered. Dementia patients need special attention to adapt to their surroundings. Some psychiatric disorders with forgetfulness e.g. behavioral problems, psychosis, anxiety, and depression due to dementia are treated with different drugs, and psychological methods that can prevent the disease process and improve the quality of life. It is essential to follow the instructions given beneath.

Important Instructions:

• Tell the patients about the time, day, and date.
• Put a calendar and a bell in the patient's room.
• Continue the daily routine.
• If patients go out alone give them a home address card and telephone number.
• Use simple words in conversation.
• Take special care of lightening in the room.
• Minimize changes in the patient's environment.
• If there are chairs in the house they should have such support so that the patient's hands do not slip.
• Keep things of daily use within reach of the patient.
• When meeting the patient ask them your name and relationship such as who am I?

Preparing for a Dementia Assessment

• Gathering Relevant Medical History and Information
• Communication Strategies for Discussing Symptoms with Healthcare Providers
• Preparing Questions to Ask During the Assessment

Leveraging Support Resources for Assistance and Advocacy

• Connect patient with Support Groups for their  Guidance and Emotional Support
• Utilize Caregiver Resources for Assistance with the Diagnosis Process for the patient
• you better Advocate for Proper Treatment and Care Planning

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Seeking a dementia diagnosis can be a challenging and emotional journey. By understanding the symptoms, preparing for assessments, navigating the healthcare system efficiently, seeking second opinions, and leveraging support resources, individuals can expedite the diagnosis process and access appropriate care and treatment sooner. Remember, you are not alone in this process, and seeking help is the first step towards a better understanding and management of dementia.