Dementia

Dementia is a sign that you have one of several brain conditions that gradually erode your memory and affect your ability to think, reason, and carry out everyday tasks. If you or someone you love shows signs of dementia, don’t wait to see Randi Baculi, MD, and Sanam Zaidi, PA-C, at RHBNeuro. An early diagnosis opens the door to cutting-edge care and support that help you function longer. Book your appointment online or call the office in Dallas, Texas.

What is dementia?

Dementia refers to losing your memory and experiencing a decline in brain-related activities, including reasoning, communicating, concentrating, and making decisions.

Many people develop similar problems as they get older, but the changes aren’t severe enough to affect their lives. If you have dementia, your memory loss is so significant that it interferes with your ability to carry out daily tasks.

What kinds of dementia are there? 

The three kinds of dementia are:

Primary dementia

Primary dementia causes progressive brain damage, can’t be cured, and develops due to: 

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Lewy body dementia
• Frontotemporal dementia
• Vascular dementia 

The first three happen when proteins build up around the nerves in your brain, killing the nerves and damaging that part of the brain. Vascular dementia begins when the blood supply to your brain is disrupted due to fatty plaque or a stroke.

Dementia due to other diseases

You can develop dementia due to incurable neurological problems like Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease.

Reversible dementia

Some health conditions, like infections, vitamin deficiencies, and thyroid disease, cause dementia. But your symptoms improve when your provider treats the problem.

What symptoms does dementia cause?

Dementia progresses at a different rate for each person, causing symptoms like:

• Memory loss (forgetting recent events)
• Difficulty communicating
• Trouble concentrating, planning, and organizing
• Struggling with directions
• Repeating comments or questions
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Frequently misplacing items
• Changes in personality, mood, and behaviors
• Inability to complete everyday tasks
• Problems with balance and movement
• Changes in your gait (walking slower)

The location of the brain damage determines your symptoms. For example, memory loss is an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease. But if you have frontotemporal dementia, the first symptoms are personality and behavioral changes because the protein buildup begins in a different part of the brain.

How is dementia treated?

RHBNeuro treats any underlying medical conditions and provides medical care for dementia. Your provider can prescribe medications that slow memory loss and improve your cognitive function.

They might also recommend behavioral or physical therapy to support problems like mood swings or difficulty carrying out daily tasks like cooking or getting dressed.

If you have Alzheimer’s, have mild memory loss, and have amyloid proteins in your brain, you may be a candidate for aducanumab. This medication slows nerve destruction by reducing amyloid plaques.

Book an appointment online or call RHBNeuro if you have questions about dementia or need ongoing care.