Aging parents and dementia – what you need to know

Sooner or later, most people will have to deal with the aging and increasing frailty of at least one parent. Some of them may age very gracefully and pass away peacefully at a ripe old age, but sadly that's not the case for all people. A few of them will develop dementia or other similar diseases – such as Alzheimer's – and when that happens there is no cure. There is only treatment and some options for prolonging their ability to function.

There are new medications that are available today that can slow dementia down a bit, so if you really feel that a person may have the disease it's very important that they are seen by a doctor who can properly diagnose them. If they aren't treated, the progression of the disease will generally be faster than it would be if they were treated, and so getting them help as early as possible can really make a difference.

When you're thinking about whether to have someone evaluated for dementia, there are symptoms to look for. People forget things, but those people who have dementia forget a lot of things, and they tend to remember events from long ago better than events that are more recent. They also may become angry, accusatory, or paranoid. It's very important to remember not to take anything that they say or do personally, and to give them the love and care that they need.

Depression and Nutritional Deficiencies as the Causes of Reversible Dementia

Depression and Nutritional Deficiencies as the Causes of Reversible Dementia

Depression is not only a symptom of dementia, but it can cause other symptoms typical of dementia, as well. Consequently, depression is often misdiagnosed as dementia, particularly in the elderly. This misdiagnosis is tragic, because the majority of people with depression can be effectively treated. In addition to the depressed mood, loss of interest and social withdrawal we commonly think of as depression, both syndromes can produce sleep disorders, weight loss or weight gain, psychomotor retardation (an abnormal slowing down of activities and mental processes) and a diminished ability to think or concentrate. In many instances, depressed people, particularly older individuals, may appear confused and may suffer memory loss. Read more