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Dementia is progressive, which means the
symptoms will gradually get worse as
more brain cells become damaged and
eventually die.
Dementia is not a specific disease. Many
diseases can cause dementia, including
Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia
(due to strokes), Lewy Body disease,
head trauma, fronto-temporal dementia,
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Parkinson’s
disease, and Huntington’s disease. These
conditions can have similar and
overlapping symptoms.
Some treatable conditions can
produce symptoms similar to dementia,
for example, vitamin deficiencies,
thyroid disease, sleep disorders, or
mental illness. It is therefore
important to arrange for a full medical
assessment as early as possible.
Getting a timely diagnosis can
help you access information, resources
and support through the Alzheimer
Society, benefit from treatment, and
plan ahead.
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