Dementia Diagnosis? Why You Shouldn’t Give Up Hope

Dementia isn’t just a case of being unable to remember things, nor is it a single disease or a normal part of aging. Instead, dementia describes a collection of symptoms caused by a variety of brain disorders that all affect a person’s mood, thinking, memory, and behavior.

Dementia can affect anybody, but it’s more common to be diagnosed with the condition after age 65. Some of the most common conditions responsible for the symptoms of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

While dementia has no cure, you can do things to reduce your risk, and treatments that address many of the symptoms are available. And if the disease is caught in its early stages, some people can go on to lead active, meaningful lives for years after their diagnosis.

At Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC, board-certified neurologist Dr. Cory Lamar and our team provide treatments to help slow down dementia’s effects, allowing patients to retain a good quality of life for longer. If you’re concerned about symptoms that may indicate dementia, getting an early diagnosis can make a world of difference. Here’s what you need to know.

What are common types of dementia?

Dementia comes in many different forms, each with a different cause. However, symptoms are similar among the different types; they include memory impairment and difficulty focusing.

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, and it’s characterized by the formation of two proteins inside the brain, beta-amyloid and tau, which form clumps known as plaques and tangles, respectively. These structures make it more difficult for the brain to function properly.

Early symptoms of the disease include forgetfulness and disorientation, a state known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but the disease starts long before even these mild symptoms begin to show. As the disease progresses, additional changes occur. Certain parts of the brain become smaller, and the levels of neurotransmitters (chemical-signaling molecules) diminish.

Eventually, Alzheimer’s causes so much damage that the person develops dementia — the loss of short-term memory, a reduction in thinking skills, and difficulty carrying out everyday tasks.

Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia. The specific symptoms depend on the individual; the underlying cause, such as leaky blood vessels; and the areas of the brain that are affected.

The most common symptoms include difficulty planning, organizing, making decisions, and solving problems; problems following a series of steps, such as in a recipe; problems focusing; and sudden confusion. The person may also have difficulty with memory and language.

Dementia with Lewy bodies

Lewy bodies are clumps of protein that develop in the brain’s nerve cells; an interruption of nerve function leads to dementia.

Lewy bodies cause a variety of symptoms, some of which are shared by Alzheimer’s disease and some by Parkinson’s disease; that can lead to misdiagnosis. About 1 in 10 people with dementia have DLB.

DLB develops over the course of years, meaning the Lewy bodies can be present long before any symptoms show. Early symptoms are similar to those of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and many older patients also develop the beta-amyloid plaques and tau protein tangles characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, quickly worsening dementia symptoms.

Treating dementia symptoms

If you diagnose dementia early, a number of therapies that can help slow cognitive decline are available.

Medications

Cholinesterase inhibitors work by boosting levels of a neurotransmitter involved in memory and judgment. They’re used for Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and DLB.

Memantine works by regulating the activity of glutamate, a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory. This is sometimes prescribed along with a cholinesterase inhibitor.

Two FDA-approved medications, lecanemab-irmb (Leqembi) and donanemab-azbt (Kisunla), slow the decline in function and thinking in patients with early Alzheimer’s. They prevent amyloid plaques from forming.

Other medications can help treat side effects of dementia, including depression, trouble sleeping, hallucinations, agitation, and slow and stiff movements.

Lifestyle adjustments

Reducing clutter and noise in the home can make it easier for someone with dementia to focus and function, and breaking tasks into simpler steps and focusing on successes, not failures, can be helpful. In addition, adhering to a structured routine can help reduce confusion in people with dementia.

Some research shows that exercise, combined with a healthy diet, may slow the progression in Alzheimer’s patients along with aiding strength, balance, and cardiovascular health.

If you think you or a loved one might be dealing with the early symptoms of dementia, Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC, in Naples, Florida, can help mitigate the symptoms. Call our office at 239-667-5878 to set up a consultation with Dr. Lamar, or book online with us today.