Signs & Symptoms of Dementia in Elderly people

Dementia is a long-term and progressive disease that affects all the parts of your brain. The symptoms of dementia can be caused by disease of the arteries in your brain, Alzheimer's disease, infections and premature degeneration of neurons in your brain. According to the Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine, signs and symptoms of dementia in elderly people include memory loss and difficulty with self-care.

Communication Disorders

Communication disorders such as an inability to speak in coherent sentences or understand verbal communication are a symptom of dementia in the elderly.

Disorganization

Disorganization is a symptom of dementia in the elderly and may include difficulty planning a shopping trip or locating necessary paperwork for paying bills.

Inappropriate Behavior

Elderly people with dementia may begin to display symptoms of inappropriate behavior such as yelling or arguing with strangers or cussing in inappropriate situations.

Memory Loss

Memory loss in elderly people with dementia goes beyond simply forgetting the location of car keys; it may include forgetting the names of children or spouses, addresses and phone numbers.

Mobility Problems

Dementia in the elderly may cause problems with mobility, such as a lack of coordination and balance when walking and an inability to operate a motor vehicle.

Personality Changes

Personality changes such as irritability, agitation, frustration and outbursts of anger are symptoms of dementia in elderly people.

Resources

• National Library of Medicine: Dementia