4. Welche Begleiterscheinungen der Symptome von Demenz gibt es?

What symptoms accompany the symptoms of dementia?

What are the differences between forgetfulness in old age and the onset of Alzheimer's dementia?

The onset of Alzheimer's dementia is gradual. This is why relatives of ageing people often worry when something is forgotten from time to time. However, forgetfulness can be distinguished from dementia.

Forgetting time and place

Not knowing what day it is, especially if the daily routines are the same, is nothing to worry about. Getting lost in unfamiliar surroundings is also not a sign of dementia. People with dementia, on the other hand, can suddenly find themselves in a familiar place and no longer know how they got there or how to find their way back.

Relocation of important things

Forgetting and misplacing things can happen. However, if keys are left in the oven or fridge, medicines in the flower pots and this happens frequently and the person concerned has no idea how the things got there, a medical diagnosis is required.

Word-finding disorders

If old people lose certain words or terms, they sometimes worry. In the case of dementia, word-finding disorders occur, and subsequently also the use of filler or substitute words that are used instead of everyday language, so that it is sometimes no longer possible to understand what is meant.

Misjudgements

It is also possible to make mistakes when assessing the weather and dress incorrectly. In the case of dementia, however, there is a massive misjudgement: for example, in summer two coats are put on, several blouses are worn on top of each other or, at the other extreme, a lightly dressed walk in the forest is undertaken in the wind.

(Care of the elderly, 2016, Esther Matolycz, page 66-67)

What are the symptoms of dementia?

In principle, many different symptoms and symptom complexes can be observed.

The following symptoms may indicate the onset of dementia:

- Decreasing ability to retain new information
(e.g. an affected person forgets that her daughter has registered for coffee, although they had spoken on the phone in the morning)
- Disturbance of thinking
- Impairment of judgement

– Orientation disorder
(e.g. an affected person stands in front of the supermarket where he always shops and suddenly no longer knows how to get to his home)
- Personality change
(e.g. an affected person who was rather reserved and quiet as a person becomes gruff, loud and strict if she does not understand something)

– Lack of drive
- Conspicuous social behaviour
- Restlessness
- Word-finding disorders
(e.g. names of relatives are forgotten, the seasons can no longer be named)

- Mood swings
- Loss of family, social and professional skills
- Inability to plan, organise and follow sequences
- Agitation (the phenomenon of wandering)
- Reversal of the day-night rhythm

(Textbook Health and Nursing Assistance, 2019, ed. Sens-Dobritzsch, page 554)

In principle, many different symptoms and symptom complexes can be observed for dementia. Many different types of cognitive deficits are categorised and diagnosed by professionals. Three will be briefly discussed and defined here. These are repeatedly mentioned in the literature.

Concomitant diseases

What is FAQ?

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What is FAQ?

Agnosia

u003cstrongu003eAgnosieu003c/strongu003e is a disorder in the area of recognising and assigning objects without a disorder of sensory functions (vision, touch). Those affected no longer know what to do with the cutlery, but feel it when they reach for it and see it in front of them.

Aphasia

u003cstrongu003eAphasiau003c/strongu003e is a language disorder of varying severity that can affect both the ability to find words and the ability to understand language.

Akathisia

The u003cstrongu003eAcathisieu003c/strongu003e is a perceived unpleasant urge to move, whereby the movement provides no relief.

Picture: geralt (pixabay)

The severe stage of dementia is often characterised by complete helplessness and dependence on the family and other people. The risk of concomitant illnesses is also increased and life expectancy is shortened. This is why dementia is accompanied by anxiety for those affected and their relatives. There is currently no absolute cure for dementia.

(Textbook Health and Nursing Assistance, 2019, ed. Sens-Dobritzsch, page 552)