A large number of seniors suffer from dementia, defined as “the loss of mental functions — such as thinking, memory, and reasoning — that is severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily functioning.”

Because it affects so many seniors, dementia is often confused with Alzheimer’s disease. However, Alzheimer’s is a specific disease whereas dementia refers to a cluster of symptoms, such as short-term memory loss and poor judgment.

Alzheimer’s is incurable, but some forms of dementia are treatable.

Having said that, the most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, which it is estimated will affect over half of people over 80 years of age. The frequency of dementia also increases with rising age from less than 2 % for the 65-69-year-olds, to 5 % for the 75-79 year-olds and to more than 20 % for the 85-89 year-olds. Every third person over 90 years of age suffers from moderate or severe dementia.

There are as many as fifty other known causes of dementia, and as many as 20% of these are considered treatable.

For instance, temporary dementia can brought on by vitamin deficiencies, hypothyroidism, high blood pressure, a reaction to certain prescription drugs or hypoglycemia. Once these conditions are brought under control, many patients experience fewer symptoms of dementia.

However, because Alzheimer’s disease is incurable, any dementia that accompanies it cannot be treated and causes permanent damage as it progresses.

Symptoms of dementia often mimic problems that even healthy people have, such as forgetfulness. However, in the case of dementia, these symptoms are more severe and debilitating.

For example:

“People who are very busy are sometimes absent-minded and for example forget the pot on the stove. People with dementia possibly not only forget the pot on the stove but also that they have cooked at all.”

“From time to time almost everybody leaves their keys or a wallet behind. Dementia sufferers however might put things in completely inappropriate places, such as for example the iron in the fridge or a watch in the sugar bowl. Afterwards they do not remember where they put them.”

Here are the most common symptoms of dementia:

• Forgetfulness
• Having trouble finding the right words to express oneself
• Spatial and temporal disorientation (not recognizing one’s own street)
• Impaired judgment (going out into the snow with sandals)
• Sudden mood swings and changes in behaviour without any cause
• Personality changes (a normally friendly person becomes hostile)
• Loss of initiative

While many resources about Alzheimer’s and dementia are available in libraries and online, only a physician is qualified to diagnose and treat them. Anti-dementia medications do exist on the market today. However, they delay the progress of dementia but don’t cure it completely.

It is important to talk with a doctor as soon as you suspect your loved one is exhibiting signs of dementia. Don’t assume the condition is untreatable or simply “part of getting older.” In some cases, the symptoms of dementia can be reduced, but only with the assistance of a doctor.