What is dementia?
Dementia isn’t one specific disease. It’s a general term used to describe symptoms that happen when underlying diseases cause abnormal changes in the brain. These changes affect how the brain works, making it harder to remember things, use language, or solve problems. While it’s more common as people get older, dementia is not a normal part of aging.
Dementia care is provided by a team of brain health experts, including neurologists and specialists in aging. At Penn Medicine, our memory and cognitive disorders care providers work together to find the root cause of your symptoms and create a plan just for you. Much of this care is supported by the Penn Memory Center, a nationally recognized program. Because we are a designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, you benefit from advanced expertise in Alzheimer’s, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and other forms of memory loss.
How dementia can affect daily life
Changes in thinking and other dementia symptoms can be frightening for both the person experiencing them and their loved ones. Because different types of dementia can affect different parts of the brain, no two experiences are the same. For many people, changes begin gradually, like trouble finding the right word, and become more noticeable over time.
- Memory loss: Forgetting recent events, appointments, or conversations
- Communication difficulties: Struggling to find words, follow conversations, or understand language
- Confusion: Having trouble with planning, problem-solving, or making decisions
- Mood or personality changes: Experiencing withdrawal, irritability, or behavior changes
- Disorientation: Getting lost in familiar places or showing poor judgment
- Loss of independence: Needing help with daily activities, like dressing, eating, or bathing
Causes and types of dementia
Dementia develops when brain cells stop working properly and lose connections with each other. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers used to think that Alzheimer’s and dementia were the same, but now they understand that several diseases and disease processes can contribute to dementia. It’s also possible to have a combination of two or more dementia-causing diseases.
There are several forms of dementia, including:
Some conditions can increase the risk of dementia, including:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Traumatic brain injury
- Excess alcohol or substance misuse
- Certain infections affecting the brain
- Depression
Some causes of dementia-like symptoms may improve if treated early, including:
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Thyroid problems
- Medication side effects
- Brain tumors or infections
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Evaluating dementia
Getting an early diagnosis is the best way to help slow memory loss. Your care team will use a combination of physical exams, lab tests, and advanced imaging to see how the brain is functioning. These tests help determine if your symptoms are related to mild cognitive impairment or a form of dementia. They may also use blood and urine tests to look for other medical conditions, like thyroid problems or vitamin deficiencies, that can affect thinking.
Managing and living with dementia
While there’s currently no cure for most types of dementia, dementia care at Penn Medicine focuses on managing symptoms and keeping you safe and independent for as long as possible.
We use the latest FDA-approved treatments, including new anti-amyloid therapies that target plaques in the brain to help slow the progression of cognitive decline.
As a leading research center, we offer access to novel clinical trials. These trials provide the opportunity to try new treatments and diagnostic tests that aren’t yet available to the public.
Physical and occupational therapy can help you stay strong, move safely, and manage difficulties with walking.
Dementia can disrupt your sleep and cause changes in your mood and personality. Our specialists in sleep medicine and mental and behavioral health help you manage these changes.
For conditions like normal pressure hydrocephalus, our neurosurgeons can perform procedures to relieve pressure and reverse memory loss.
We provide guidance on making the home safe, managing medications, and helping you cope with daily challenges.
Through the Penn Memory Center, we offer resources to help the whole family. This includes caregiver support groups, psychotherapy, and assistance with planning for long-term care.