Dementia is a general term for a group of diseases that affect memory, reasoning, thinking, mood, personality, and behavior. These abilities might be affected severely enough to interfere with daily activities. Even though dementia involves memory loss, the symptom alone cannot signify the condition. Currently, around 55 million people all over the world have been affected by the condition, and it mainly affects older people. Moreover, there are 10 million cases diagnosed every year.

Causes of dementia
In most cases, dementia is caused by either damage or a loss of nerve cells and their connections in the brain. The condition may affect people differently and often depends on the area of the brain that has been affected, leading to varied symptoms. For example, if the part of the brain known as the hippocampus is affected, it might affect learning and memory, leading to memory loss.

Moreover, most changes in the brain that cause dementia are permanent and can likely worsen over time.

Signs and symptoms of dementia
Dementia affects each person differently. This usually depends on multiple factors such as cognitive functioning, other health conditions, and more. Hence, the signs and symptoms linked to dementia have been divided into three stages. These include:

• Early stage
  Usually, this stage of dementia is overlooked, as, during this time, the onset of the condition is gradual. But some of the most glaring symptoms noticed during this stage are losing track of time, forgetfulness, and getting lost in familiar places.
• Middle stage
  As the condition progresses, the chances of symptoms worsening increase. During this stage, the symptoms become clearer and easier to notice. Some of these symptoms include needing help with personal care, behavioral changes such as repeated questioning and wandering, confusion, forgetting recent events and names, and increased difficulty with communication.
• Late stage
  As one approaches the last stage of dementia, one becomes inactive and increasingly dependent on others. In this stage, patients and caretakers may notice serious memory disturbances. Furthermore, the physical signs and symptoms of the condition become more prominent, which include an increased need for assisted self-care, unawareness of time and place, difficulty recognizing friends and family, difficulty walking, and extreme behavioral changes such as aggression.

Treatment for dementia
Currently, no cure has been made available for dementia. However, some disease-modifying therapies have been developed with an inclination toward Alzheimer’s disease. Here are some of the most effective forms of treatment for dementia.

Occupational therapy
Occupational therapists can prove to be of great help to patients and caretakers. These therapists can show various ways in which homes can be made safer for the patient. Further, they can also advise coping behaviors, prevention of accidents, management of behavior, and also prepare the patient and their caretaker for the eventual progression of the condition.

Simplification of tasks
As dementia patients are prone to forgetfulness and confusion, a single task may become hard to handle. Hence, one of the methods used to manage the patient’s symptoms includes simplification of tasks. This helps patients focus on easier steps that can be achieved and also provides them with a sense of success.

As dementia is a progressive condition, people with an increased risk are advised to look out for symptoms and seek healthcare advice at the earliest.