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Dementia is a problem faced by the elderly which affects their mental functions including memory even though forgetting things is quite normal as a person ages. As other functions carried out by the brain are affected, many normal occurrences can become confusing for a person suffering with dementia. Being a slow developing condition sometimes it is difficult to spot because memory loss is normal as we age and to make matters worse dementia is a collection of symptom caused as a result of many different illnesses or reactions to medication used to treat illnesses. However, while dementia cannot be cured, there are many instances where, when caught early on, it can be treated with varying degrees of success and often although dementia may seem to be present, it can actually be a case of the person being depressed. In cases where a person is suffering from depression, dementia like symptoms can be present leading to a false diagnosis but in others it is just a matter of treating the cause of the condition. Examples of this include dementia caused by drugs or alcohol, or hormone or vitamin imbalances but because some causes of dementia can be cured or partially treated, it is very important that your doctor is thorough when making the diagnosis. Approximately ten percent of all dementia cases can be treated and so far one hundred conditions have been discovered that can cause short-term dementia so this is why it is imperative a person's doctor does not miss anything. Dementia in the elderly can take on two different forms; reversible and chronic so when symptoms are reversible, the short-term dementia has been caused by another illness or disease. Stress is known to be a cause of temporary dementia and can be the result of the many changes older people have from losing a partner to moving home for instance. Any of these can cause depression, anxiety, and can damage physical and mental health so make sure your physician is informed of these stresses in your life. Other medical conditions can also effect how well you are coping on a daily basis and can even cause a loss of appetite and poor sleep patterns which can result in emotional problems. Of course, medical conditions like hypoglycemia, liver and kidney problems, electrolyte imbalances and hypocalcaemia can all create problems that affect sleep, appetite and cause confusion. The elderly do not always want to tell you about their problems in case they are considered to be complaining for the sake of it but if they are having trouble with their vision or hearing, this can cause symptoms of confusion which may be misinterpreted as signs of dementia. It is a common complaint amongst the elderly that they no longer enjoy their food which can be due to ill fitting dentures or a loss of taste and as a consequence they do not receive adequate nutrition. Along with this, any other form of dementia which includes Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, to name a couple, must also be considered. Medical scans can help with the diagnosis of course and then with the treatment program and the type of dementia exhibited, be it reversible or chronic. The main difference when it is a case of irreversible dementia is the need for adjustments to be made where the person lives to avoid situations that are dangerous but continuous training in behavior methods should also be carried out.
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