Common Symptoms Associated with Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disease that impairs the brain’s normal functioning. Deficits are represented by various symptoms and behavioral changes. The following problems represent the general characteristics usually seen in with a dementia type disease. However, a person may or may not exhibit all of these problems.

General Problems of Dementia

  • Memory loss, confusion
  • General loss of intellectual abilities
  • Unable to follow instructions or perform routine tasks
  • Catastrophic reactions (overreacting to overwhelming situations)
  • Loss of personality
  • Loss of sense of time
  • Aphasia – speech and communication difficulties
  • Agnosia – inability to recognize common people or objects
  • Apraxia – loss of ability to perform purposeful motor movements

General Problems of Behavior

  • Denial of problems
  • Wandering, sleep disturbances
  • Sundowner’s Syndrome (behavior worsens in the evening)
  • Inappropriate sexual behavior/comments
  • Losing/hiding things
  • Repetitious actions/questions
  • Clinging behavior (following caregiver everywhere)
  • Complaints, insults, demanding things

General Problems of Mood

  • Depression, suicidal thoughts or feelings
  • Apathy or listlessness
  • Anger, agitation, anxiety, restlessness
  • False ideas and beliefs (delusions)
  • Suspiciousness and accusing others
  • Paranoia and hallucinations
  • Misinterpretations