What condition can be mistaken for dementia?

What condition can be mistaken for dementia?

Depression, nutritional deficiencies, side-effects from medications and emotional distress can all produce symptoms that can be mistaken as early signs of dementia, such as communication and memory difficulties and behavioural changes.

Can you be wrongly diagnosed with dementia?

TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Alzheimer’s disease is often misdiagnosed, possibly causing undue stress for those who don’t have the disease but are told they do, and delays in treatment for others, two new studies reveal.

How do you rule out dementia?

The following procedures also may be used to diagnose dementia:

1. Cognitive and neurological tests. These tests are used to assess thinking and physical functioning.
2. Brain scans. These tests can identify strokes, tumors, and other problems that can cause dementia.
3. Psychiatric evaluation.
4. Genetic tests.
5. Blood tests.

What mental illness is similar to dementia?

Late-onset bipolar: This can be tough to diagnose in late stages due to its similarities to dementia symptoms such as manic behavior, agitation, and delusions. Late-onset schizophrenia: This manifests in adults after age 45, and also has symptoms similar to dementia, such as hallucinations and paranoia.

Can dementia be seen on an MRI?

MRI may also assist the differential diagnosis in dementia associated with metabolic or inflammatory diseases. MRI has the potential to detect focal signal abnormalities which may assist the clinical differentiation between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD).

Can anxiety be mistaken for dementia?

There are some anxiety symptoms that also occur in dementia, including restlessness, poor concentration, irritability and disturbed sleep. Poor concentration makes it difficult for people to take in information, which can be mistaken for poor memory.

How do neurologists test for dementia?

They typically include: A mental status exam, which tests your loved one’s abilities to recall current events and perform routine activities. A cranial nerve evaluation, which may include an eye test and an evaluation of their hearing and sense of smell. A motor system exam to assess muscle tone and strength.

What is a reversible condition which could be mistaken for dementia?

Delirium refers to a neurocognitive condition where a person becomes confused and cannot fully make sense of their environment. Delirium may be mistaken for dementia in some people. In many cases if doctors can find what caused the delirium and treat the cause, then the dysfunction may be reversed.

What kills someone with dementia?

The Alzheimer’s Society reported that a person may die because of a clot on the lung or a heart attack. Pneumonia is listed as the ultimate cause of death in up to two-thirds of people with dementia.

What are the end signs of dementia?

In the end stages of dementia, many of the symptoms are a result of the body shutting down. The patient will probably be bedridden, and uncommunicative. Other common symptoms can include. Difficulties communicating. Weight loss. Seizures.

Is dementia a curable disease?

Most forms of dementia are treatable, but not curable. For treatable, but degenerative forms (which get worse over time) of dementia, medication can help manage symptoms, although for most people, there are only modest benefits to treatment.

What are the symptoms of rapid onset of dementia?

Symptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. The rapid onset of the symptoms of dementia is an indicator of possible diagnosis of Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease, although it can on a superficial diagnosis be misattributed to being caused by Alzheimer’s disease or Huntington’s Disease. Symptoms include impaired memory, thinking, hallucinations, psychosis,…