Dementia Information - Warning Signs That a Loved One Has a Problem

If you suspect that a loved one might be suffering from a cognitive disease, you need the right dementia information to help you take the next steps in diagnosing and treating the problem. A wide range of brain-related impairments cause these types of diseases, and it is impossible to diagnose them without the help of a medical professional. Understanding the signs and symptoms can help you to know when it's time to get help.

The Signs and Symptoms of Cognitive Diseases

Cognitive disease symptoms range from memory impairment to changes in the personality of the patient. Obtaining the right dementia information will help you to determine whether your family member's condition is permanent or simply due to environmental circumstances.

We all forget things now and again. It's not unusual for older relatives to experience more serious memory lapses. However, if you see a marked decrease in memory, it may be a sign. This is often accompanied by unusual behavioral changes. They may begin to withdraw from friends and family, or say things that sound strange. If left untreated, these changes will become increasingly worse over time.

Patients with this disease will also shows signs of distress in social situations and anxiety over losses in memory. They will ask repetitive questions and, once the disease worsens, they will start to forget their own name, the days of the week or where they are staying. Typically, as people get older, their short-term memory lapses; they may forget things that were said only minutes ago. But forgetting things like the names of loved ones or days of the week is a sure sign that there is a problem. This might be confusing and painful for family members to witness but it is even more so for the patient that is suffering from this disease.

Consulting with a Medical Practitioner

In order to diagnose someone with a cognitive disorder, medical practitioners will usually administer a range of medical and psychological tests. These tests will focus on certain aspects of cognitive functioning and they will determine whether the patient is suffering from this specific type of cognitive disease, or something else altogether. Only once these tests have been administered and the results have confirmed the diagnosis can you be sure that your family member is suffering from this disease.

Taking the Next Step

It is important to obtain dementia information to determine whether your family member is suffering from this disorder or not as this will help you to take the next step in determining the most appropriate treatment. This disease will only get worse over time and, if the diagnosis confirms this disease, it is important that you and your family member begin taking the appropriate steps to slow the disease down and maintain cognitive functioning as much as possible.