Cedars Sinai Medical Center
08/13/2024 | News release | Archived content
Dementia: Why a Diagnosis Is Important
Dementia: Why a Diagnosis Is Important
Aug 13, 2024 Cassie Tomlin
More than 10 million people globally are diagnosed with dementia every year. But dementia has several underlying causes that result in various symptoms that progress differently.
An accurate dementia diagnosis is crucial, said Golnaz Yadollahikhales, MD, a neurologist at Cedars-Sinai. A specific diagnosis guides doctors in how to manage the condition and can help patients and families know what to expect.
Golnaz Yadollahikhales, MD
Neurology
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Dementia Types and Symptoms
Dementia is an umbrella term for cognitive impairment that disrupts activities of daily living, such as grocery shopping, making appointments and managing medications. Dementia doesn't always involve memory problems. Its underlying causes are connected to different areas of the brain, which leads to different symptoms. The main causes of dementia are:
- Alzheimer's disease, which usually causes short-term memory problems. Patients with Alzheimer's might ask the same question repeatedly.
- Vascular dementia, which usually results in executive dysfunction (a breakdown in planning, organization and multitasking). People who have vascular dementia may forget why they entered a room.
- Frontotemporal dementia, which generally causes language issues and behavioral problems such as impulsivity. Frontotemporal dementia can cause people to become disinhibited or obsessive or to develop unusual dietary habits.
- Lewy body dementia, which is more common in patients over the age of 80, can cause trouble walking and visual hallucinations. Lewy body dementia also can lead to frequent falls.
- Parkinson's disease, which can cause cognitive symptoms about 10 years after the disease develops. Patients with dementia related to Parkinson's may lose executive function.
How Dementia Types Are Diagnosed
If you notice two or three dementia symptoms in yourself or a loved one, that's reason to get checked out by a doctor, Yadollahikhales said.
"It's a common notion that only people with memory problems can be diagnosed with dementia, but behavioral changes or language difficulties can also be a sign of a neurodegenerative disease," she said. "It's never wrong to seek medical advice about your concerns if something has changed in yourself or a loved one."
A biomarker test can detect Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia, but there is no single test to detect other causes of dementia. To evaluate a patient for the condition, doctors collect a thorough history and may perform cognitive testing, a neuropsychological evaluation and a neurological exam. Brain imaging can help doctors confirm the diagnosis they develop based on symptoms.
Dementia Prognosis and Management
Dementia is progressive, which means it can't be cured. Typically, neurodegenerative diseases develop slowly, but there are no certain guidelines for when dementia will transition from a mild form to an advanced stage, said Yadollahikhales.
With an exact diagnosis, doctors can help predict symptoms that a patient might develop, depending on the cause of dementia and the person's baseline health. These insights can help patients and families prepare. For example, patients with frontotemporal dementia may not experience behavioral symptoms early in their disease but will likely develop such issues eventually.
"It's a common notion that only people with memory problems can be diagnosed with dementia, but behavioral changes or language difficulties can also be a sign of a neurodegenerative disease."
"It's better to be prepared for what to expect than to wait to face symptoms at the stage where they're developing," said Yadollahikhales. "When family members know that certain symptoms are a part of a disease, it can be less alarming when they do show up."
In the case of an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis, doctors can help families be proactive with medications and enrolling in clinical trials. With a vascular dementia diagnosis, doctors can guide patients on how to slow the progression of their dementia through managing their vascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes.
Support groups can help patients and families adapt, and clinicians can guide families through their questions.
Slowing Dementia Progression
Even after a dementia diagnosis, it's never too late to benefit from a healthy lifestyle, said Yadollahikhales. The same things that help prevent dementia can slow its progression: avoid alcohol and cigarettes, exercise, maintain a healthy diet, and stay in touch with family and friends.
"Exercise not only slows down disease, but it can also boost mood and help improve sleep disruptions that are common in dementia," she said. "More than medications, lifestyle modifications can be very, very helpful."