Types of Dementia

Dementia is a an illness that usually occurs slowly over time, and usually includes a progressive state of deterioration. 

The earliest signs of dementia are usually memory problems, confusion, and changes in the way a person behaves and communicates.

Cognitive symptoms of dementia can include poor problem solving, difficulty learning new skills, and impaired decision making. Behavior changes can include fear, insecurity, anger, and often, depression like symptoms.

Dementia is caused by various diseases and conditions that result in damaged brain cells. Brain cells can be destroyed by brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, or strokes (called vascular or multi-infarct dementia), which decrease blood flow to the brain.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Dementia and Eight Types of Dementia

To learn more about Alzheimer's and Dementia care visit the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Simple word games dementia

Activities as simple as structured discussion groups and word games can benefit memory and thinking for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

A Yahoo keyword search from a person looking for information on dementia and word games lead to the following article in the Alzheimer's Reading Room.

Yahoo Keywords - Simple word games dementia

Simple Structured Discussions and Word Games Beneficial for People with Dementia

Activities for Dementia Patients

A search of Google using these keywords 

activities for dementia patients,

led to the following suggested articles.

The Unmet Needs of Dementia Patients and Caregivers

More than half of Alzheimer's and dementia patients had inadequate meaningful daily activities at a senior center or at home.

Socialization and Alzheimers Disease

The following keyword search on Google

socialization and alzheimers disease

lead the reader to this article.

Google Search - Short Term Memory Problems

One of the first signs of dementia is short term memory loss. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia; and, a cause of short term memory problems.

Frigid weather can pose special risks to older adults

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has some advice for helping older people avoid hypothermia—when the body gets too cold—during cold weather.

Hypothermia is generally defined as having a core body temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or lower and can occur when the outside environment gets too cold or the body's heat production decreases.

Older adults are especially vulnerable to hypothermia because their bodies’ response to cold can be diminished by underlying medical conditions such as diabetes and by use of some medicines, including over-the-counter cold remedies.

Hypothermia can develop in older adults after relatively short exposure to cold weather or even a small drop in temperature.

Leaving Alzheimer's Alone at Home

It took me a while to understand how my mother might be feeling when I went out and left her alone at home.

Persons living with Alzheimer's or a related dementia often become mean or agitated when left alone even for a very small amount of time.

A reader searched Google using these keywords

leaving altzhmers alone at home

Can you leave a person living with Alzheimer's alone?

This is Not the Person I Knew

In order to communicate effectively with a person living with Alzheimer's disease you need to come to an understanding that they are now living in a new world -- I refer to this as Alzheimer's World.

This is Not the Person I Knew

+Bob DeMarco +Dementia Reading Room +AlzheimersReadingRoom

Aricept and Namenda Combination Therapy

After reading a research study indicating that the combination of Aricept and Namenda might help slow the rate of decline in Alzheimer's patients, I immediately scheduled an appointment with our doctor to discuss this information.

Dementia and Driving Ability

When does a person with dementia need to stop driving and how to tell them to stop driving in a respectful and considerate manner.

Warning Signs of Decreased Driving Abilities in People Who Have Alzheimer’s

Early Signs of Dementia During the Holiday Season

Most people think Alzheimer's occurs when a person loses their memory.

Unfamiliar with the disease, they are unlikely to notice the more subtle behavior changes that accompany the very early stages of Alzheimer's or a related dementia.

Continue reading this article in the

Alzheimer's Reading Room

Original content +Bob DeMarco , +Alzheimer's Reading Room 

Alzheimer's and Obsessive Behavior

Do you have any suggestions on how to deal with a recurring obsession Mom has about leaving the house to find her kids (us, when we were little)?

8 Tips for a Great Holiday Season

When you are a caregiver of a spouse or parent with Alzheimer’s, the holiday season can be overwhelming. A little understanding and preparation can make the holiday season enjoyable and special.

By Angil Tarach-Ritchey
Alzheimer's Reading Room

Here are some tips to make the holidays great!

1. Involve your loved one in the preparation. You can give your loved one small tasks such as signing holiday cards, hanging ornaments on the tree, assisting with holiday baking, and cooking, sorting decorations, flower arranging, table setting, and household chores, such as folding laundry, and dusting.

Plan their involvement during family gatherings.

Peeling vegetables, stirring ingredients, folding napkins, helping set the table, passing out gifts, can all benefit you and your loved ones holiday experience.

Leaving a loved one with Alzheimer’s sitting alone or without appropriate activity and inclusion can evoke distress, sadness, or behavior problems.

Idea Bags Alzheimer's

Sometimes you can come up with a great idea that will not only improve the life of a person living with dementia, it can also improve the attitude and life of the caregiver.

I just finished reading a terrific article that contains an idea for reducing dementia patient anxiety. 

Memory Loss

One of the first signs of dementia is short term memory loss. Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia.

Google Search - meanness in elderly

The confusion about Alzheimer's like behavior occurs because early dementia is like a chicken/egg disease.

Google Search -- walking problems for seniors

Balance and walking problems often present before the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's or dementia.

Google Search - is it normal for an alzheimer patient to have loose stools

This article is about implementing a solution to a problem for someone living with Alzheimer's disease and having a problem with bowel movements.

Google Search - alzheimer's quotes

The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.

~ Thomas Moore, Care of the Soul

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