Risk Factors

• Age: Dementia classically is a disease of the elderly, and there is a common belief within the medical fraternity that of we all lived enough we all will develop dementia one day.

• Family History: Certain forms of dementia like early onset Alzheimer’s disease (before 70 years of age) tend to run in families. Researchers have found a particular gene called APO E4. About 50% of patients with this gene develop Alzheimer’s disease by age 90. This does NOT mean that if a person has dementia then their children will develop dementia.

• Vascular Risk Factors: Smoking, diabetes, blood pressure and high cholesterol are thought to be risk factors for developing vascular dementia.

• Lifestyle Factors: People with higher education, better social skills remain more engaged mentally and this seems to have a protective element.

Symptoms

The most important aspect of the diagnosis of dementia is the timeline described in history. The hallmark of a dementia syndrome is the slow onset of symptoms and a very gradual decline. It is never of sudden onset over a day or two but seems to come on over months to years. Also, the patient with dementia in the early and middle stages of the disease remains physically well.

Dementia represents a gradual decline in global brain function across many areas including speech, memory, language, reasoning, judgment etc. The symptoms with each form of dementia are often slightly different but this may only be recognisable to skilled healthcare providers who have experience working with people with dementia. Sometimes family members notice changes but mistakenly blame them on old age.

Early changes: The earliest symptoms of dementia are gradual and subtle. Many people and their families first notice difficulty remembering recent events or information (short term memory loss). Others can include the following.

• • Confusion (gradual onset)
  • Difficulties with language, like not finding the right word or not understanding speech of others
  • Difficulty with concentration and reasoning
  • Problems with executive function or complex tasks (driving, banking, cooking etc.)
  • Getting lost in familiar places

Late Changes: As dementia progresses the symptoms gradually worsen and often include behavioural and personality changes. The physical wellbeing of the patient also starts to decline gradually with increasing frequency of infections. Physical symptoms like appetite and weight loss and incontinence mark advanced stages of the disease.

• • Increased anger, hostility, and aggressive behaviour; alternatively some people become very passive
  • Hallucinations and/or delusions
  • Disorientation
  • Needing help with basic tasks (eating, bathing, dressing)
  • Incontinence (leaking urine or faeces without knowing)

The speed at which symptoms develop and decline vary in different persons. In the majority of cases the disease reaches advanced stages by 7 years from diagnosis. Most people with dementia do not die from the disease itself, but instead from a secondary illness such as pneumonia or urinary infection.

Investigations & Treatment

• Mental Tests: There are several tests available to test a person’s memory and functioning of brain. They test various actions of the brain like memory, analytical skills, naming, recognising objects, speech formation and complex multitasking. Common tests include Abbreviated Mental Score (AMT, a 10 point score), MMSE (a 30 point score) and MOCA (a 30 point score).A full neuropsychological assessment is also very helpful but is time consuming and may need up to 2 hours.

• MRI Brain: this may show shrinkage of certain areas of the brain and help in diagnosis of the type of dementia. 

• Blood tests: Certain causes of dementia are reversible like vitamin deficiencies, underactive thyroid gland, infections like syphilis etc.  Blood tests to find out any reversible causes should be done.

Treatment For Dementia

• Acetylcholine Esterase Inhibitors: There are three medicine called Donepezil, Galantamine and Rivastigmine available in this group. This treatment is effective only in Alzheimer’s Dementia and Dementia of Lewy Body. They do not cure the disease but offers some slowing down of the progression of symptoms over time.

• Memantine: This medicine is again effective in Alzheimer’s dementia and Dementia of Lewy Body only; it may have some advantage in controlling agitation and aggression in dementia.

• Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Control: These are important measures in controlling the progression of vascular dementia.