Pathophysiology of Dementia
The interesting thing of the symptoms of dementia patients (age greater than 65 years) is the change in personality and behavior that affect daily activities. Elderly people with dementia do not show symptoms are prominent in the early stages, they are as elderly in general are aging and degenerative. Initial awkwardness felt by patients themselves, they are difficult to remember and often forgotten when putting an object. They often cover up the matter and ensure that it is not unusual at their age. Similar confusion began to be felt by those closest living with them, they feel concerned about memory loss that is getting into, but once again the family feel that the fatigue and the elderly may need more rest.
The next dementia symptoms appear usually in the form of depression in elderly, they keep a distance with the environment and more sensitive. Such conditions can be followed by the emergence of other diseases and usually will aggravate the Elderly. At this time may be elderly become very frightened even to hallucinate. This is where the family invites Elderly people with dementia to a hospital where dementia is not be the main focus of the examination. Often dementia escape scrutiny and are invaluable to the health care team. Not all health workers have the ability to be able to assess and recognize the symptoms of dementia.
The severity of dementia, can be influenced by psychosocial factors. The higher intelligence and education of patients before the illness, the higher is also the ability to compensate for intellectual deficit. Patients with rapid onset dementia (rapid onset) using self defense fewer than patients who experienced a gradual onset. Anxiety and depression can reinforce and exacerbate the symptoms. Pseudodementia can occur in individuals who are depressed and complained of memory impairment, but in fact he suffered from depression. When depression successfully addressed, then the cognitive defects will disappear.
