On this page: What is dementia and its symptoms? | What is Alzheimer’s disease and its symptoms? | What is vascular dementia and its symptoms? | What are some less common forms of dementia? | What other conditions have symptoms similar to Alzheimer's disease? | Is it possible to have dementia-like symptoms without having dementia? | Is there a normal cognitive decline or memory loss that comes with aging? | Why should memory decline be monitored?


What is dementia and its symptoms?
Dementia refers to the loss of memory and other cognitive skills due to changes in the brain caused by disease or trauma. The changes can affect thinking, memory and reasoning, and may occur gradually or quickly. Memory loss alone is not always a sign of dementia, but memory loss along with other forms of cognitive impairment is an indicator that dementia may be occurring.

Cognitive functions that might be affected by dementia include:

decision making/judgment
memory
spatial orientation
thinking/reasoning
verbal communication
neglect of personal safety, hygiene, and nutrition
coordination or balance
A person with dementia might behave in the following ways:

Repeatedly asks the same questions
Becomes lost or disoriented in familiar places
Cannot follow directions
Is disoriented as to the date or time of day
Doesn’t recognize and is confused about familiar people
Has difficulty with routine tasks such as paying the bills
Neglects personal safety, hygiene, and nutrition
What is Alzheimer's disease and its symptoms?
Alzheimer's Disease is a brain disease, characterized by lesions that gradually destroy cells in the brain. As nerve cells die, affected areas of the brain wither and become smaller. The areas of the brain that control memory, logical thinking, and personality are generally the most affected. As areas in the brain become smaller, cavities within the brain containing fluid become enlarged. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include:

Loss of recent memory
Problems with language, calculation, abstract thinking, and judgment
Depression, anxiety, and personality changes may occur
Unpredictable quirks or behavior may occur
Late in the disease, delusions and hallucinations are common
Trouble knowing time, date, or place
Alzheimer's Disease is not curable and is not a normal process of aging.

What is vascular dementia and its symptoms?
Vascular Dementia (Multi-Infarct Dementia) results from a series of small strokes or changes in the brain's blood supply. Blood clots block small blood vessels and destroy brain tissue. The strokes interfere with the function of daily activities and cause memory problems and slurred speech. The location in the brain where a stroke occurs may account for the seriousness of the problem and symptoms. Sudden symptoms may be a sign of this dementia. It is not reversible and there is no cure.

Symptoms of Vascular Dementia include:

Wandering or getting lost in familiar surroundings
Moving with rapid, shuffling steps
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Laughing or crying inappropriately
Difficulty following instructions
Problems handling money
What are some less common forms of dementia?
Pick's Disease affects personality, orientation and behavior. It may be more common in women and occurs at an early age.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is caused by an infectious organism. Symptoms include memory and behavioral problems and a loss of coordination. The disease progresses rapidly along with mental deterioration and involuntary movements.
Huntington's Disease is an inherited, degenerative disease. The disease causes involuntary movement and usually begins during mid-life. Other symptoms include disorientation, personality changes, impaired judgment, memory and speech problems.
Parkinson's Disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system. The symptoms include tremors, speech problems, stiffness of limbs and joints and physical movement. In later stages of Parkinson's Disease, some patients develop dementia..
Lewy Body Disease symptoms are similar to Alzheimer's disease, and include memory problems, confusion, language problems and difficulty with current events. Individuals with Lewy Body Disease experience hallucinations and can become fearful.
What other conditions have symptoms similar to Alzheimer's disease?
Other conditions can cause symptoms like Alzheimer’s disease:

Central nervous system conditions
Parkinson’s disease; Huntington’s disease
head injury; brain tumor; stroke
Systemic conditions
poor nutrition, dehydration, lack of sleep
high fever, infection, poisoning
hormone imbalances; vitamin deficiencies
Substance-induced conditions
side-effects of medications, drug interactions
alcoholism or drug abuse
Psychological stresses and psychoses
emotional trauma or stress
clinical depression
schizophrenia; or delirium
Many of these conditions that mimic dementia are reversible if treated early. That’s why it’s important to get a medical evaluation if you are concerned about dementia-like symptoms.

Is it possible to have dementia-like symptoms without having dementia?
Certain emotions might result in dementia-like symptoms

Boredom, extreme sadness, loneliness, anxiety, and stress all might manifest themselves in forgetfulness, memory loss and confusion. Boredom is common for people facing retirement or just beginning it, and might leave a person feeling and acting confused, indecisive, and forgetful because of lack of outside direction for the activities of the day.
Coping with the loss of a loved one might trigger, along with sadness and loneliness, a sense of bewilderment about life and an inability to move on with day-to-day routines. Oftentimes, people feeling confused about how to pull themselves out of sadness, grief or anxiety might behave unpredictably – forgetting when they normally remember, not paying attention, losing ability to focus, and seeming generally out-of-it.
The losses that occur as we age can lead to social isolation resulting in a kind of lethargy or disorientation due to lack of the mental stimulation that occurs when interacting with others.
Is there a normal cognitive decline or memory loss that comes with aging?
Some people believe that gradual decline in short-term memory and reaction times is a normal part of growing older. People start losing brain cells beginning in their 20’s, but recent brain research shows that throughout life, the brain can grow new connections between cells. Scientists have raised doubts about the “common wisdom” that gradual losses of memory and thinking capacity are a natural part of aging. Some studies suggest that most memory loss in older people is the result of lack of social stimulation or due to not “exercising” mental abilities. While many people do experience mild and gradual memory loss after age 40, severe and rapid memory loss is definitely not a part of normal aging.

The most common forms of decline that have been associated with aging are:

slower thinking and problem-solving (the speed of learning and recall slows down; short-term memory takes longer to function; reaction time increases)
decreased attention and concentration
more distractedness (all of the interruptions make learning more difficult)
a greater need for hints to jog the memory
We do see these mental changes in some people, but we can also find many examples of people who continue to improve themselves and learn new skills as they get older. For some, their greatest accomplishments have come late in life. It seems likely that exercising
mind and memory can help keep us mentally sharp just as physical exercise keeps us physically fit, no matter how old we are. Recent research suggests that good health habits and mental stimulation may prevent dementia altogether or at least delay its onset.
See Helpguide’s Guide to Preventing or Reducing Age-Related Memory Loss

Why should memory decline be monitored?
Monitoring memory decline over time is important because:

There is a lot that you can do to prevent memory loss and even to reverse mild changes
Memory problems may be due to a disease that can be successfully treated if diagnosed early
If the problem is Alzheimer's, early detection offers the possibility of slowing the disease with drugs or non-medicinal means
If you are concerned about symptoms, a geriatrician can help determine the source of your difficulties and suggest a treatment plan.