Dementia

Dementia describes the loss of mental functions that affect your daily life. People with dementia struggle with:

• Changes in memory
• Speaking and recalling words
• Problem-solving
• Focus and attention
• Completing daily tasks

It’s normal to be more forgetful as you get older. However, dementia is a more severe disorder that affects your ability to take care of yourself.

Many conditions cause dementia. Some of them are:

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It’s a progressive condition that causes permanent changes to the brain.

Lewy bodies are abnormal protein clumps found in the brains of people with Lewy body dementia.

Vascular dementia shows up in people with blood vessel conditions (atherosclerosis, stroke) that affect the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain.

Mixed dementia means you have more than one kind. It’s not uncommon for people to have Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

The Sunset Neurological & Psychiatry Group team completes a thorough physical and neurological exam to diagnose dementia. The goal of the exam is to find the root cause of the memory and cognition changes so that you or your loved one can get the proper care.

During the exam, your provider reviews your symptoms and medical history, completes a physical, and runs various tests. Testing can include lab work to check hormones, nutrients, and other substances that might help find the underlying cause of your dementia.

The team also does neurological and cognitive tests, brain scans, and psychiatric evaluations.

The Sunset Neurological & Psychiatry Group team customizes care for dementia depending on its underlying cause. Treatment can include correcting nutritional deficiencies, treating underlying medical conditions, and improving chemical imbalances.

The team can also prescribe disease-specific medication based on the form of dementia you have. For Alzheimer’s disease, your provider will recommend a cholinesterase inhibitor to improve nerve signaling in the brain.

The board-certified psychiatrists at Sunset Neurological & Psychiatry Group also treat the psychological conditions, like anxiety and depression, that often come with dementia.

For compassionate dementia care of your loved one, call Sunset Neurological & Psychiatry Group today.