People often assume a senior who is starting to exhibit signs of dementia will always have problems, but in some cases, the dementia may be treatable. Being aware of the reversible causes of dementia may help you keep an eye out for symptoms that could be making it difficult for your senior loved one to think clearly and recall memories. These reversible causes of dementia may easily be listed with the mnemonic DEMENTIA.
Drugs
If your loved one is being treated for Parkinson’s disease, asthma, an overactive bladder, or COPD, he or she may be taking anticholinergics, a type of drug that frequently causes reversible dementia. Any time your loved one is exhibiting dementia symptoms while taking medications, talk to the doctor about the potential for side effects.
Aging in place may present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they may still live independently at home with the help of professional dementia care. Columbus families may rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life.
Emotional Disorders
When your loved one has an emotional disorder such as depression, he or she may have difficulty thinking clearly due to feeling so overwhelmed or hopeless. In addition to memory loss and mental confusion, an emotional disorder may also be characterized by extreme apathy, anger, sadness, loss of interest in hobbies, insomnia, and changes in eating patterns.
Metabolic Disorders
If your loved one has a metabolic disorder such as hypothyroidism, his or her body may not be able to provide the brain with the energy it needs to think clearly. Seniors with metabolic disorders often experience weight changes, fatigue, confusion, pale skin, and hair loss. In many cases, treatment is as simple as taking hormone replacements.
Ear & Eye Problems
Vision and hearing loss are quite common among seniors, and the lack of information from the senses may lead to hallucinations or other confusing episodes. Seniors with this type of reversible dementia tend to have worse symptoms in dark or quiet areas.
Caring for a loved one with dementia may be challenging, but compassionate help is available. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care service families may trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Seniors with normal pressure hydrocephalus have a buildup of fluid around the brain that keeps it from working properly, which causes memory loss and cognitive difficulties. It may also lead to abnormal walking, urinary incontinence, and bowel problems.
Tumors or Lesions
If your loved one has some sort of growth on the brain, the pressure could keep the brain from properly recalling memories, solving problems, or thinking logically. As long as the growth is in a spot where it may safely be removed, the dementia may be reversible.
Infections
Seniors with infections often exhibit dementia-like symptoms because their bodies are overly fatigued from fighting off the illnesses. Even a basic urinary tract infection may make a senior temporarily have dementia.
Anemia
Seniors have a higher risk of anemia because it’s difficult for the body to absorb folate and vitamin B12 in the golden years. If your loved one has a low red blood cell count, his or her brain may not be operating at maximum levels. Seniors with anemia tend to think slowly, forget things easily, breathe heavily, and sleep frequently.
A highly trained caregiver with experience in caring for seniors with dementia may be a fantastic resource for family members. Families looking for top-rated Columbus home care providers may reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we may make life easier for seniors and their loved ones. To learn about our premier in-home care plans and how we may help your loved one, give us a call at 614-678-5887 today.
