Delirium and Dementia
Delirium may arise due to any biological, psychological or social factor. It most commonly affects the aged and those of ill health.
Some of the reasons are:
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration or Electrolyte imbalance
- Anaemia
- Hypoxia (Deficiency of Oxygen)
- Infections
- Physical or Psychological Stress
- Substance intoxication or withdrawl
- Traumatic head injury
Dementia
The symptoms of dementia vary across types and stages of the diagnosis. The symptoms which begin initially are very difficult to notice, but soon symptoms increase and start to interfere with daily activities. The person may begin to have difficulty with more complicated chores and tasks around the house or at work. The person can usually still take care of him or herself but may forget things like taking pills or doing laundry and may need prompting or reminders.
Symptoms of early dementia include memory difficulty, but can also include some word-finding problems and problems with planning and organizational skills. One very good way of assessing a person's impairment is by asking if he/she is still able to handle his/her finances independently. This is often one of the first things to become problematic. Other signs might be getting lost in new places, repeating things, personality changes, social withdrawal and difficulties at work.
Some symptoms which appear at a later stage are:
- Balancing problem
- Speech and language difficulty
- Trouble eating and swallowing
- Confusion between old and new memories
- Agitation or depressed behaviour
- Change in sleep and appetite
If you have some of these initial problems of forgetfulness or difficulty in word finding, or know someone who is suffering from these symptoms, you may like to seek help for better diagnosis and prevent further deterioration.