Understanding Dementia Causes, Types, and Symptoms

Dementia is a complex condition that affects millions of people across the globe and results in a gradual decline in memory, thinking, and daily functioning. Navigating dementia can be daunting, but utilising advancements in technology to manage health conditions like dementia can be less complicated. Cellmaflex makes it simple to book appointments online without making any phone calls and access health records, anytime, anywhere. Additionally, discover local pharmacies, labs, and imaging centres to make the care process less complicated.  

In this blog, we will address the following aspects of dementia: its causes, risk factors, types and stages, how it affects daily living and mental health, and strategies for effectively managing care. 

What is Dementia? 

Dementia is not a disease but a blanket term that describes a number of brain pathologies that create shared symptoms of the decline of cognitive functioning in a progressive manner. In the clinical world, we typically describe dementia by the presence of memory, language, reasoning, problem-solving and more cognitive capacity issues that are so severe they interfere with activities of daily living.  

According to the World Health Organisation, as of 2021, there are an estimated 57 million people living with dementia in the world and there are nearly 10 million new cases each year. Dementia is becoming one of the top contributors to disability and dependency amongst older adults on a worldwide scale, creating vast emotional and financial implications for individuals, families, and health care systems. 

What are the Symptoms of Dementia? 

Some of the first symptoms of dementia are: 

• Forgetting recent events or information. 
• Repeating comments or questions over a very short period. 
• Misplacing commonly used items or placing them in unusual spots. 
• Not knowing the season, year or month. 
• Having difficulty coming up with the right words. 
• Experiencing a change in mood, behaviour or interests.
  
  

Signs that dementia is getting worse include: 

• Your ability to remember and make decisions further declines. 
• Talking and finding the right words becomes more difficult. 
• Daily complex tasks, such as brushing your teeth, making a cup of coffee, working a TV remote, cooking and paying bills, become more challenging. 
• Lessening of rational thinking and behaviour, and your ability to problem-solve. 
• Sleeping pattern changes. 
• Increases or worsening of anxiety, frustration, confusion, agitation, suspiciousness, sadness and/or depression. 
• Needing more help with activities of daily living, such as grooming, toileting, bathing and eating. 
• Experiencing hallucinations (seeing people or objects that aren’t there).
  
  

These symptoms are general symptoms of dementia. Each person diagnosed with dementia has different symptoms, depending on which area of their brain is damaged. Additional symptoms and/or unique symptoms occur with specific types of dementia. 

Dementia Causes 

Understanding the dementia causes offers insight into prevention and clinical intervention. These can be broadly classified into pathological causes and modifiable risk factors. 

a. Pathological Causes

• Neurodegenerative Disorders (largely Alzheimer’s disease) 
• Cerebrovascular Disease such as ischaemic injuries due to stroke 
• Infections such as encephalitis, HIV, and neurosyphilis can lead to inflammatory or infective dementia. 
• Hypothyroidism, vitamin B12 deficiency
  
  

b. Modifiable risk factors 

• Cardiovascular health such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, etc.   
• Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol use, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, poor diet.  
• Psychosocial factors such as increased risk based on social isolation, depression, or lower cognitive reserve due to little or no education.

Types/Stages of Dementia  

a. Common types 

• Alzheimer’s Disease  
• Vascular Dementia 
• Lewy Body Dementia  
• Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
  
  

b. Stages of Dementia

Early Stage: A mild memory deficit, difficulty concentrating on a task and mood fluctuations.  

Mild Stage: Increased memory loss, significantly greater loss of independence, behaviour changes and increased supervision.  

Late Stage: The person’s thinking and memory problems will worsen. They may not be able to walk unassisted, lose bowel and/or bladder control, and require help with day-to-day living on a full-time basis. 

Cellmaflex enhances continuity of care at all levels, by being able to provide access to real-time, transferable medical records, imaging referrals, and an organised appointment cascade. 

Dementia Changes Your Life and Influence Mental Well-being  

Dementia is framed often in terms of memory loss, but dementia affects every area of your life, not just memory. Most people struggle with: 

• Communication and independence: What were once basic daily routines, suddenly become confusing or inflexible. 
• Emotional distress: Constant companions become anxiety, depression, and frustration. 
• Social withdrawal: People begin to avoid others for the fear of not being understood or being embarrassed. 
• Caregiver burden: Family and loved ones suffer chronic stress and fatigue, which can be prolonged into a loss of identity.
  
  

Care Strategies and Management

Care plans and clinical care address dementia causes with accuracy, which allows more proactive clinical care. 

a. Pharmacological treatment as the prescribing health professional recommends.

b. Non-pharmacological and lifestyle treatments

• Cognitive rehabilitation: Individualised strategies to maximise residual functioning and increase independence. 
• Occupational therapy: Assists patients, using their strengths to modify their home environment and daily routines. 
• Nutrition and exercise: Evidence supports the influence of the Mediterranean diet and aerobic exercise on slowing cognitive decline. 
• Social participation: Structured group therapy, and memory cafes help individuals combat isolation.
  
  

c. Caregiver and systems support

• Multidisciplinary teams: Important contributors of support. Geriatricians, psychiatrists, social workers and dementia nurses. 
• Technology in care: Cellmaflex helps to communicate with others on your care team, to book emergency appointments, and to order repeat prescription medications. 
• Advance Directives and Legal Planning: Essential for building a framework to ensure a person’s autonomy in later stages.
  

The complexity of dementia demands an equally structured response. Understanding dementia causes is not only the first step towards prevention but also essential for targeted therapy and long-term care planning. With digital platforms like Cellmaflex, families and clinicians gain real-time access to vital tools for coordinated care. 

Whether you are a patient, a caregiver, or a healthcare provider, early intervention matters. Explore the root of dementia causes and let Cellmaflex empower the care journey with clarity and compassion.