This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Clinical features

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Dementia may generally be described as referring to a widespread deterioration in mental function, without impairment of consciousness.

Suspect dementia when

  • family members report to the physician about memory impairment but the patient denies it (1)
  • the patient is questioned, he/she looks at the carer for an answer - the ‘head-turning sign’ (2)

widespread deterioration in mental function. This refers to the loss of a variety of abilities in the spheres of:

  • decline in memory – mostly impairment of learning new material or retaining new information (1), repetitive questioning, difficulty recalling time or date (2)
  • failure of other areas of higher cognitive functioning which will affect normal daytime activities and executive functions (1,3) –
    • difficulty in performing complex tasks
    • difficulties in judgement and planning, analytic thought
    • problems in finding one’s way around familiar places (spatial awareness) -
    • impairment in language – problems with expressing themselves or getting “lost” in conversations (1)
  • challenging behaviour (behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)
    • depression
    • apathy
    • agitation
    • disinhibition
    • psychosis (delusions or hallucinations)
    • wandering
    • aggression
    • incontinence (4)
    • challenging behaviour is frequently associated with high levels of strain and distress for the family carers and has been a common cause of admissions to institutional care (4)
  • the basic tasks of self-care

If impairment of consciousness is present together with general intellectual impairment, then the condition is defined as delirium or confusional state - acute or sub-acute.

The clinical picture at any one time is determined by:

  • the patient's previous personality and intellectual endowment
  • the nature of the pathological process and the stage that it has reached

Reference:


Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.