While dementia can affect your mental and behavioral functioning, it is not considered a mental health condition.
Dementia is an umbrella term for several conditions that affect the brain, such as memory loss and difficulty thinking and reasoning. Living with dementia can also affect your mental health and lead to significant changes in your mood and personality.
Dementia is a progressive condition, which means that signs and symptoms may appear mild at first but then gradually get worse.
Some common signs of dementia can
- finding it difficult to speak or express what you’re thinking
- repeating questions or not remembering what you’ve already said or done
- getting lost in a familiar place
- asking questions repeatedly
- getting confused regularly
- losing interest in activities you used to enjoy
- being insensitive or acting without thinking
- losing your balance
- experiencing hallucinations, delusions, or paranoia
- having poor judgment
- finding it difficult to manage your money
The signs and symptoms of dementia can vary and depend on the type of dementia you have.
When diagnosing dementia, a doctor will begin by ruling out any underlying conditions that may cause your symptoms. They will then typically ask you the following:
- What symptoms have you been experiencing and when did they begin?
- Are your symptoms affecting your daily life?
- Does dementia run in your family?
- Are you taking any medications or supplements?
They may then give you some tests to check your cognitive function, such as your ability to think and remember information. This can help the doctor determine if further testing, such as an MRI scan, is needed to confirm a diagnosis.
If you’re experiencing difficulty with your memory, it’s important to speak with a doctor to identify any potential health conditions and get the care you need.