What Conditions Can Be Mistaken For Dementia? Some of these medications include statins, which are used to treat high cholesterol; acetylcholine blockers, which are often used to treat medical conditions like insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome; benzodiazepines, used to treat anxiety or insomnia; pain medications, such as opioids; corticosteroids, such as prednisone; and chemotherapy, which is used to treat cancer. Dementia doesn't affect the level of consciousness. Should I lie to him? Infections that are left untreated can spread to the kidneys and beyond, and can be life-threatening. In particular, those two words are bound to be frightening to just about anyone. 7 Reversible Health Conditions That Can Mimic Dementia. Their immune system may not be as strong as it used to be. . People who possess the MTHFR gene variant, A new study by The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging at Trinity College in Dublin, Try essential oils instead to relieve symptoms naturally, https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/Dementia/Other-forms-of-dementia/Metabolic-diseases/Thyroid-disorders, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia, https://www.amymyersmd.com/2018/01/whats-behind-brain-fog-banish/, https://www.beingpatient.com/b12-brain-health-dementia/, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/popular-drugs-for-colds-allergies-linked-to-dementia/, https://www.helpguide.org/harvard/whats-causing-your-memory-loss.htm, https://www.consultant360.com/exclusives/revisiting-dementia-s-relationship-hypothyroidism, https://www.pathwayshealth.org/home-health-topics/link-uti-dementia-older-adults/, https://bebrainfit.com/seasonal-allergies-brain-fog/, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324106.php, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/holistic-psychiatry/201708/mold-toxicity-common-cause-psychiatric-symptoms?sfns=mo, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/candida-symptoms-treatment#section8, https://www.health.com/alzheimers/memory-loss-dementia-surprising-risk-factors, https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/news/20061013/celiac-disease-linked-dementia#1, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181022-there-is-mounting-evidence-that-herpes-leads-to-alzheimers, Top Ten Longevity Practices You Can Follow to Live Beyond 100, Festive Kale, Squash, and Pomegranate Salad with Citrus Dressing, Five Convincing Reasons to Stop Drinking Forever, Five Things that can Destroy Your Thyroid, Baking Soda May Reduce Premature Death Risk, 3 Ingredient Daily Drink Tonics for Your Best Health, Drinking These Fruit Juices is Just as Bad, or Even Worse than Drinking Soda, 7 Foods That Make Your Pee Smell (Is This Good Or Bad? As a consequence, when hypothyroidism has been going on for some time, dementia is a normal consequence. Low levels of vitamin B12 can cause various symptoms to appear over time. One of them is black mold. Infection C. Medication Interactions D. Thyroid problems E. All of the above. Doubly challenging is that older individuals are more likely to catch these infections. A study showed that out of 340 patients seen in a Behavioral Neurology Outpatient Unit, around 20% of the cases were found to have reversible causes. Medication Class. But not all people with memory problems have Alzheimer's. Other causes for memory problems can include aging, medical conditions, emotional problems, mild cognitive impairment, or another type of dementia. All of these factors may affect their cognitive function, resulting in a potential dementia diagnosis or, in the best case scenario, a reversible form of dementia. Proper diet and treatment of a B12 deficiency may reverse dementia-like symptoms and help prevent them from developing in the future. Drugs and Medications That Induce Dementia-Like Symptoms | BrightFocus B vitamins should be taken in higher doses than the recommended daily amount (since they are water soluble and any excess is excreted), and should be in a form that is easily broken down and utilized in the body such as methylcobalamin for B12, and methylfolate for folate. ALZHEIMER'S TRAINING POST TEST - IA Rugby.com What Is The Difference Between Dementia And Alzheimers? Clinicians sometimes misdiagnose it because other conditions mimic dementia. Among the different infections, 55% had pneumonia and 27% had urinary tract infections. Illnesses including diabetes, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, heart disease . We all have days like that. The standard test for celiac disease, looks for a reaction to ONE specific gliadin, alpha gliadin and tissue transglutaminase, tTG-2. As a result, drugs and other toxins tend to accumulate in the body. By utilizing MRI and PET scan imaging technology, the researchers were able to show how people taking anti-cholinergic drugs experienced lower brain metabolism and higher brain atrophy. Narcotics Leading a healthy lifestyle with a memory-supporting diet may be able to partially restore their mental functioning in the long term and help prevent dementia development. If you search out dementia online, youre likely to find that it is characterized by a persistent and progressive deterioration of cognitive function.[1]Persistent and progressive. In the literature, the most frequently observed potentially reversible conditions identified in patients with cognitive impairment or dementia are depression, adverse effects of drugs, drug or alcohol abuse, space-occupying lesions, normal pressure hydrocephalus, and metabolic conditions land endocrinal conditions like hypothyroidism and In: StatPearls [Internet]. The B vitamins represent a group of essential dietary nutrients that work together and are absolutely essential for every aspect of brain and nerve function. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Sometimes its hard for them to communicate that theres something wrong. A doctor can also help you understand the specific dementia type and help you identify potential next steps: If you need help finding a suitable senior living service for your loved one, talk to aSenior Living Advisorat A Place for Mom, free of charge. Its important to note that an actual dementia diagnosis cannot be reversed, even when it coincides with a reversible condition with dementia-like symptoms. It's usually the reaction of the brain to a separate medical problem (or several medical problems at once). immune system may not be as strong as it used to be, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557444/. Available from. Other natural treatments include taking probiotics such as Saccromyces Boulardi, and anti-fungals such as oregano oil, grapefruit seed extract or nystatin. [5], Infections are a bit tricky in the elderly. Mike Geary has been a Certified Nutrition Specialist and Certified Personal Trainer for over 15 years now. This Common Condition Can Easily Be Mistaken for Dementia - MSN 60(3), 225-231. Dont be surprised when they request tests for sexually transmitted diseases-- as there is a number that can lay quiet for several years before spouting up neurologic symptoms. Estrogen actually tends to help prevent UTIs in younger females. Problems with thinking clearly, loss of memory, brain fog When the bodys immune function is low, candida (see below) and other opportunistic organisms will grow out of hand. Surgeons have set up a one-stop clinic to treat patients with a condition often mistaken for Alzheimer's disease. Depression can make a person LACK motivation and have problems with paying attention or feeling lethargic about . Cognitive decline in dementia usually means a set of behavioral changes-- sometimes they come quickly and sometimes insidiously. Instead, its a general term that comprises brain disorders marked by cognitive impairment. Prevalence of potentially reversible dementias in a dementia outpatient clinic of a tertiary university-affiliated hospital in Brasil. (2020, May 18). Laboratory tests can also identify some mold toxins that show up in the urine as well. Alternatively, if you believe your loved one does have dementia, it is important totrack their dementia symptomsand report these to their doctor so their doctor can properly diagnose them. What is a reversible condition that could be mistaken for dementia? difficulty completing tasks Depression symptoms that mimic dementia can include the following[03]: Treatment: Because depression involves ones emotional and physical health, there isnt one simple fix for it. They can range from a few simple ones, such as a complete blood count, to the more specific ones like thyroid function tests. Reversible Conditions That Could Be Mistaken For Dementia (2022) Aging loved ones are at risk of developing many health conditions due to natural changes related to aging, such as decline in immune function. My 81-year-old mom has dementia and is narcissistic. Depression. Since a vitamin B-12 deficiency can promote memory loss, it is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease. According to the Harvard Special Health Report Living Better, Living Longer: Taking steps now to ensure a happier, healthier future, a small percentage of dementia cases may be reversible dementia if treatment begins before permanent brain damage occurs. If alcohol abuse is the cause of your loved ones cognitive decline, support their sobriety and consider incorporating healthy lifestyle habits into your loved ones daily routine. Luckily, a balanced diet and vitamin supplements can help prevent vitamin B12 deficiency. Earlier, we mentioned that doctors might take a patients thyroid hormone levels when evaluating dementia. Thyroid dysfunction is often associated with cognitive impairment and dementia, including Alzheimers disease. A Place for Mom is paid by our participating communities, therefore our service is offered at no charge to families. Dietary changes will necessary to eliminate carbohydrates, alcohol, and all sugars. You might find them in the middle of a task, having forgotten what they were doing just then. Keep in mind, symptoms of candida may feel worse as the treatment causes a die-off reaction. Most Common Reversible Dementia Causes. Its a disorder caused by complex brain changes. ALL OF THE INFORMATION IS VERY INFORMATIVE FOR ME AS A SENIOR, THAT I DID NOT KNOW. But, depression is also the most treatable of all mental illnesses. Additionally, there are cases when a patient has both depression and dementia, but the former tends to appear first before the latter develops. If someone is clinically depressed, they will exhibit low mood, loss of interest and concentration, and disturbed sleep. Bruce Willis has frontotemporal dementia. What is it? - Futurity UTIs are common among women and the elderly. By Luisa Coln. Cognitive symptoms of hypothyroidism can include a decline in the following[11]: Treatment: Medications used to treat hypothyroidism, such as levothyroxine, can clear up memory impairments associated with the condition.[12]. -25% of patients with this disease has dementia-difficult to distinguish from AD-usually a history of tremors prior to onset of dementia. Some of the natural solutions to candida overgrowth include oregano extract capsules, pau darco tea or capsules, grapefruit seed extract, caprylic acid, curcumin, kombucha tea, probiotics and garlic extract. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites. Take your loved one to the doctor as soon as you notice these symptoms. What Are Some Of The Common Causes Of Dementia? Some companies specialize in mold testing and mold mitigation. Psychiatric Disorders. There are many other reasons why you may be experiencing cognitive problems, including stress, depression, and even vitamin deficiencies. 7 . Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may follow a fall, sports injury, or motor vehicle accident, and theyve been linked with dementia due to their direct impact on the brain. 7 Treatable Diseases That Mimic Alzheimer's - DailyCaring What is a reversible condition which could be mistaken for dementia? Not to be confused with hepatic encephalopathy, which is impaired brain function due to an alcohol-damaged liver--- too damaged to process the ammonia that a normal persons body can go through. It may come as a surprise that there's a type of dementia that may be reversible. Delirium is a change in mental state that develops quickly and can become very serious. From mental illnesses and medication side effects to infections and delirium, the list is lengthy. A reversible condition which could be mistaken for dementia is? What quiet "do it himself" activities are suitable and interesting for an older man with vascular dementia? Reversible Conditions That Mimic Dementia - AgingCare.com Copyright 2023 A Place for Mom, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Behavior can include confusion, agitation, withdrawal, fantasy stories, manic episodes, yelling, crying and agitation. They can also cause irritability, and even depression and anxiety. An issue with a persons ability to hear or see can reduce their ability to take in information. (2021). difficulties walking or moving around. Drug-induced dementia. Conditions that Mimic Parkinson's | Parkinson's Foundation Differences Between Delirium and Dementia - Verywell Health What is a reversible condition that could be mistaken for dementia? Dont let the doctor just diagnose dementia for you or any of your loved ones without checking into the below health issues, which can mimic dementiaand are often reversible. Difficulty concentrating Dementia: Stages, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments - WebMD However, for some people the decline can . Other things that can cause yeast to grow out of control include: Antibiotics Irreversible dementia syndrome. Mills, B. Medications are also common culprits in mental decline and dementia. The areas affected and the underlying cause can differ from that of Alzheimers. Doubly challenging is that older individuals are more likely to catch these infections. even if the test for celiac disease is negative. While this patient did not have CJD, they did have celiac disease with dementia as a result. The condition is also called pernicious anemia, and it's caused by a decrease in red blood cells due to a lack of vitamin B12. Some of these potential conditions can include the following: Over time, regular, excessive consumption of alcohol can cause memory, orientation, and attention span to deteriorate. Both are important for a healthy nervous system. What condition could be mistaken for dementia? General hypothyroidism can be tested by a simple TSH test, but this should not be the only test performed. Medical conditions, disorders, and medication side effects can often cause impairments in memory that can sometimes be misdiagnosed as dementia.