The Differences Between Forgetfulness and Dementia

Forgetfulness and dementia are two common conditions that can affect people as they age. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are some significant differences between them. In this article, we will explore these differences in more detail.

Forgetfulness

Forgetfulness refers to the normal, age-related memory decline many experience as they age. This can include forgetting where you put your keys, forgetting someone's name, or forgetting an appointment. 

While forgetfulness can be frustrating, it is a normal part of aging and does not typically interfere with daily life.

Dementia

On the other hand, dementia is a more serious condition that affects cognitive function, such as memory, language, and problem-solving abilities. 

Dementia can be caused by a number of different factors, including Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and brain injury. 

It typically worsens over time and can significantly impact a person's ability to function independently.

Differences

One of the main differences between forgetfulness and dementia is the severity of the symptoms. Forgetfulness is a normal part of aging and does not typically interfere with daily life, while dementia can significantly impact a person's ability to function.

Another key difference is the cause of the symptoms. Forgetfulness is a normal part of aging and is not caused by any specific underlying condition, while dementia is usually caused by a specific underlying condition, such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke.

Treatment

The treatment of forgetfulness and dementia is also different. There is no specific treatment for forgetfulness, but strategies can help improve memory, such as staying mentally active, getting enough sleep, and reducing stress. 

Dementia, on the other hand, is a more serious condition that requires medical treatment, such as medication or therapy.

It is important to note that forgetfulness and dementia are not the same, and it is important to seek medical advice if you are experiencing any concerning changes in your cognitive function. 

While forgetfulness is a normal part of aging, dementia is a serious condition that requires medical attention.

In conclusion, forgetfulness and dementia are two different conditions that can affect people as they age. 

Forgetfulness is a normal part of aging and does not typically interfere with daily life, while dementia is a more serious condition that affects cognitive function and requires medical treatment. 

If you are experiencing any concerning changes in your cognitive function, it is important to seek medical advice.

Understanding Dementia

Dementia isn't actually a disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. It's a catch-all term for changes in the brain that cause a loss of functioning that interferes with daily life. 

It is a condition that diminishes with age and doesn't respond to conventional anti-aging treatments. Dementia can reduce focus, attention, language skills, problem-solving and visual perception.

What causes dementia? 

No one knows, though. It's thought to be related to stress. Its thought to be the brains way of coping with life. It is not associated with aging, and there is no known cure. When present, it usually develops over several months.

The Mayo Clinic writes, "The condition usually begins in late adulthood, which is the time when the brain is most susceptible to demineralization because of its physical activity."

Demineralization

Demineralization refers to reducing the number of salts and minerals in the brain. When our brain gets salty or basic, it can cause a loss of functioning, showing up as losing memory or language skills. 

At times the brain changes its structure, too. A change in the brain called dementia is the most common type of dementia. It occurs most often in older adults. 

It's characterized by a decline in intellectual abilities so that people cannot recall words, comprehend language, and enjoy the sights around them.

Demineralization is not a disease. It's an adjective that describes changes in the brain. Like, say, gray hair, the condition of demineralization refers to a state of the brain. In dementia, the brain's ability to hold information and make decisions diminishes.

Demineralization can develop at any age but is more likely to show up in older adults who are stressed or lonely.

In both cases, the brain is trying to cope with the changes in the outside environment and has been found to decrease in volume as the brain shrinks.

Brain Atrophy

The Mayo Clinic defines "brain atrophy" as "a gradual loss of brain tissue. Although the brain shrinks during aging, this is not the same as a loss of brain shrinkage. When the brain has atrophied, there is less volume or area available for nerve fibers."

The brain gets smaller as we age, but when the brain is less dense and loses volume, it doesn't mean the part that controls functions are affected. The part of the brain that regulates actions and memory is more affected than that of purely analytical and reasoning functions. 

As we age and the brain loses volume, more brain areas are affected. As it is typical for the part of the brain that controls certain parts of our cognitive functions to shrink, if not wholly lose volume, the portion that controls those portions of our cognitive functions may also be affected.

Dementia

Brain atrophy is the most common form of dementia, affecting one in five older adults. This also affects almost one-third of those over 80. It is the most common kind of dementia in people aged 65 to 79, affecting about half of those in this age bracket. It also occurs in 10 percent of those in the 80 to 84 age bracket.

The word dementia is from the Ancient Greek word daimon, meaning dumb. This came from the word daimon, meaning "used up" in reference to the human being's potential. This is a familiar concept that has been present in many philosophies of life and health for many years.

Brain Shrinkage

Brain shrinkage can be measured through a tool known as the "volume of the brain" measurement. This is accomplished by measuring the volume of the brain by wrapping a piece of foil around the brain. 

The volume of the brain should be similar to the volume of the head measured from the top of the cranium (the top of the head) to the eyebrows. When this volume is greater than that number, the part of the brain that controls functions is lessened or affected by dementia. 

When the measurement is smaller, the other portion of the brain is more vital. The measurement of the volume of the brain is not precise, however. And the measuring of the location of the forehead on the top of the head is much more accurate. 

The location should match the location on the head that indicates which area of the brain is weaker. This is why brain volume measurements are the more accurate.

Dementia can make walking and dressing difficult. It causes the affected person to have impaired judgment and ability to perform. To carry out daily activities such as dressing, eating, and bathing, the affected person has to be helped. 

There may also be some symptoms of restlessness, confusion, anxiety, and agitation. As dementia progresses, the person may become helpless and require constant supervision. There may be some vision problems due to the deterioration of the brain tissue. 

If it is severe, there may be vision loss. The person may also show difficulty swallowing, slow speech, and slurred speech. The person may also show symptoms of weakness on one side of the body, known as a leg drop.

Other symptoms may be anorexia, tremors, seizures, blurred vision, involuntary movements, muscle rigidity, unsteadiness, twitching, stiffness, hunched posture, and muscle spasms.