Ailments & Conditions

A Caregiver’s Guide to Understanding Dementia

Causes and Symptoms of Dementia

Dementia occurs when brain cells are impaired or problems in other parts of the body affect neuron functions. Common causes include:

– Neurodegenerative conditions

– Brain disorders

– Side effects of certain drugs and medications

– Some infections or tumors of the brain

– Exposure to toxins and chemicals

– Metabolic conditions, such as liver and kidney disorders, vitamin B12 deficiency, or hypothyroidism [3]

Typical signs and symptoms of dementia in the early stages may include:

– Mood changes

– Difficulty dealing with changes in surrounding environments or plans

– Problems with selecting the appropriate words

– Issues with short-term memory

– Losing interests in daily activities or hobbies

– Trouble following a description or story

– Being repetitive in asking questions or daily tasks

– Confusion in recognizing daily events, places, or even people

– Difficulty completing daily tasks [4]