Dementia: 10 warning signs to look out for
Expert Marieta Janse van Rensburg says dementia can affect anyone.
At first, you might not even realise a loved one suffers from dementia. Small things can start to happen like forgetting where they placed their keys, telling the same story more than once or even being agitated when they are in strange surroundings.
Polokwane Observer spoke to expert Marieta Janse van Rensburg about dementia.
“Dementia is the umbrella term which includes illnesses like Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s is the physical disease of the brain. Dementia is the short-term situation of forgetfulness. As the disease progresses, the brain will become more and more damaged. A person’s performance and judgment will deteriorate until he is unable to lead a normal life. Although it is not contagious, it can affect anyone.”
According to Alzheimer’s South Africa, there are 10 warning signs to look out for.
1. A memory problem which worsens with time that is not caused by alcohol abuse or a head injury.
2. Language problems like having difficulty to name objects or find the right word to use.
3. When they find zips and buttons difficult to fasten. They may also find it hard to dress themselves.
4. People who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s may not care about how they look and they may not want to bath.
5. They might experience extreme mood swings. Sometimes there will be a change of mood for no reason.
6. They may have impaired judgment and strange behaviours.
7. Many Alzheimer’s victims get lost in familiar places.
8. They even have difficulty recognising family and friends.
9. They can recall memories from childhood but more recent events are forgotten.
10. They are suspicious of other people and may accuse them of stealing or hiding things.
Marieta explained dementia progresses at different rates. “How the disease starts and progress will vary from person to person. Over time the signs and symptoms will become more persistent and a combination of symptoms can be experienced at the same time.”
Signs in the mild and moderate phase includes difficulty with abstract thinking, judgment loss, personality changes and difficulty with communication.
“As there is no cure for dementia, the first goal of managing the illness is to have holistic physical and emotional care. The key to cope with dementia is to focus on what the person can do rather than what they are not able to do. Caregivers need to be patient and understanding and a constantly creative attitude is essential. Every person experiences the disease differently and techniques to care for a person will vary.
