The difference between aging and prognostic symptoms of dementia can be seen from this
Sep 11, 2025
|
It is not just a disease that causes memory to deteriorate, but also affects thoughts and judgments, language, emotions, and living abilities.
Therefore, unlike 'aging', it is characterized by a great disruption to daily life. It is important to distinguish the prognostic symptoms of dementia from changes caused by normal aging. In both cases, memory and attention may be reduced, but there is a difference in degree and impact on daily life.
The prognostic symptoms of dementia are mainly △ changes in memory and attention △ abnormalities in daily behavior patterns △ social and emotional changes. Normal aging is remembered by giving a hint even if you forget a fact or name for a while, whereas pre-dementia symptoms completely forget what happened recently and do not remember at all even if there is a hint. There are many cases where even very common words cannot be repeatedly recalled.
There is also a big difference in the ability of daily life. In the normal aging process, I sometimes forget and make mistakes in the housework, but there is no big obstacle to living alone. However, if there are signs of dementia, the risk of accidents increases by forgetting to turn off the fire while cooking, and it is difficult to handle basic tasks such as calculating the price of goods on your own.
Normal aging can be corrected quickly even if you mistake a specific date or day of the week for a moment, but if you have signs of dementia, you will confuse the place or time where you are and get lost near your house. In addition, in terms of personality, doubts suddenly increase or personality changes to the extreme. Depression and anxiety worsen and thoroughly avoid social activities.
"In Alzheimer's patients' brains, abnormal protein debris called beta-amyloid accumulates, and the connection between nerve cells is broken, resulting in poor memory and cognitive function," said Yoon Seung-jae, head of the neurology department at Ceran Hospital. "In the beginning, people forget about recent work or appointments, get lost, or difficult to do housework, and gradually need help from their families."
Manager Yoon Seung-jae said, `The earlier dementia is detected, the greater the treatment and management effect. The amyloid PET-CT test enables early detection of dementia through metabolic abnormalities and helps to distinguish the type of dementia before it is revealed in brain structure"Aging is close to slowing down, and dementia can be classified as 'the function itself collapses', so if you suspect a prognostic symptom of dementia, it is important to visit a neurologist and get a diagnosis."
|
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
