Dementia

Dementia is a disorder that affects how the brain works. Symptoms of dementia vary from person to person, but can include:

• loss of memory
• difficulty thinking things through and understanding
• problems with language (reading and writing)
• confusion and agitation
• hallucinations and delusions
• difficulty controlling movements of the body.

Symptoms of dementia usually get worse over time and can become very severe, so that it is difficult for the person to do many daily activities or to care for him or herself.

Dementia is more likely to affect older people, but younger people can also develop the condition.

There are different types of dementia; the most common are:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• vascular dementia
• dementia with Lewy bodies
• frontotemporal dementia.

Extract from 'Understanding NICE–SCIE guidance - Information for people who use NHS and social care services - Dementia: supporting people with dementia and their carers'.

More information about dementia

• NICE
• NHS Choices
• Royal College of Psychiatrists
• Dementia: what it is and how to give you and your family the best chance of avoiding it.  Presentation delivered by Ethna Parker at the trust's annual general meeting on 27 July 2011.  Ethna is a graduate student at Durham University's School of Applied Social Sciences where she is currently undertaking research for a PhD.
  

Treatments

Medication

For information about medications prescribed to treat dementia see the trust’s Choice and Medication website.