Dementia history and symptoms

Dementia Microchapters
Patient Information
Overview
Classification
Causes Alzheimer's Disease Parkinson's Disease Binswanger's Disease Dementia with Lewy bodies Thiamine deficiency Vascular dementia Marijuana abuse AIDS Neurosyphilis Normal pressure hydrocephalus Vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin B6 deficiency
Differential Diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Sabeeh Islam, MBBS[2]

Overview

Adequate time should be arranged in a follow-up appointment. A family member or close friend familiar with the patient should accompany them to the visits and remember what the patient is told. The initial step at the follow-up visit is an assessment of cognitive function, followed by a complete physical examination, including neurologic examination.

History and Symptoms

A positive history of memory loss and disorientation are suggestive of dementia. The most common symptoms of dementia include memory loss, disorientation, nominal dysphasia, getting lost, misplacing items, apathy, personality change, mood changes, constructional dyspraxia and poor abstract thinking.

The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) is a validated and reliable instrument describing the clinical progression of dementia