Blog - ReaDementia

Coping With Dementia And Behavior Changes

Trevor Howitt Blog, Prevention February 3, 2021October 16, 2021coping with dementia, dealing with dementia, dementia, dementia prevention

It is vitally important to be armed with the right information about coping with dementia and behavior changes.

A person who has dementia goes through many stages and conditions in their lives, which might surprise you if you are unaware of them.

This is because the disease affects the brain triggering the loss of thinking skills, memory, communication, and many other aspects.

People with dementia may behave differently, especially during the middle to the final stages of the illness.

It mostly happens when an individual discovers that they are no longer in control of what is happening in and out of their lives.

This can cause a lot of stress not only for the person who has dementia but their loved ones and caregivers as well.

Depending on how the illness affects a person, there are various ways you may notice changes in how they conduct themselves.

Coping with dementia behavior changes

Here are a few common behavior changes examples and what to do when they occur.

Fidgeting and Restlessness

At some point, many people with dementia will develop restlessness behaviors. This is where an individual gets into the habit of pacing up and down without reason.

They may also start fidgeting without cause from the blues. Some will get agitated very quickly and may want to lash out at people all the time.

To take care of this issue, it is important that the person with dementia have a routine that they try and stick to on a daily basis.

This can help to keep them calm because they know what they do every day; thus, there is no need to fidget around or be restless.

Regular exercise has also been known to minimize restlessness.

When you notice that a person is always fidgeting, it is advisable to keep their hands busy with items like worry beads, or other items that they consider meaningful.

In the case of agitation, it may help to create a calm, soothing environment for a person who is triggered. Talking reassuring and lovingly to the person can help cool them down.

You may also want to consider something like a massage or any other activity that helps promote relaxation.

Wandering

Individuals who have dementia may start to walk around aimlessly.

There are multiple reasons why they can do this, such as medication side effects, boredom, or they want to look for someone or something.

Wandering can put someone in danger.

A person can even get lost since they may not be able to trace their way back home.

To prevent this from happening, there are a couple of solutions you can explore to help you in the journey of coping with dementia, like:

Changing locks so that the person with the illness cannot easily get out of the house alone. It may seem a little mean, but there are times when you need to do this to keep the individual safe.
Accompanying the individuals on walks or when they go to the shops is encouraged.
Consider alarm systems, home monitoring systems, and tracking devices to enhance security.
A person fond of wandering should wear an ID bracelet with the phone number of a relative. It comes in handy when somehow they get lost because someone out there can help them get reunited with their caregiver.

Hallucinations and Delusions

A person with dementia may, at times, develop false beliefs or delusions.

At times when a person with dementia experiences delusions, it can be paranoia.

For instance, a person might think that a spouse is being unfaithful, someone is stealing from them or people are out to get them.

Delusions can also be related to loss of memory. In such an instance, one might want to wake up and go to work even when they retired long ago.

Others may feel the need to take care of children even when they do not have any or get in a car and drive when they do not have a license.

When a person is going through these episodes, it is important to go in and see the doctor. The professional will be in the best position to rule out any medical issues.

Abrupt mental status changes can be brought about by pneumonia, constipation, urinary tract infections, dehydration, and other medical conditions.

At home, loved ones can try and distract the person with dementia with a conversation that sparks their interest.

Caregivers should not tell the affected individual not to be scared.

Instead, it is better to empathize with what they are going through and offer reassurance in a comforting and respectful manner.

You should also check out the environment that triggers hallucinations.

Be on the lookout for auditory and visual cues that may make a person feel threatened.

Eliminate or minimize shadows, objects, and noises that can be misperceived as disturbing or scary.

You should also try and identify the items that make the person feel secure.

It can be anything from a stuffed animal, photography, spiritual or religious item.

Depression

A high percentage of people with dementia also suffer from depression.

Getting to know if a person who has dementia also has depression can be quite challenging since both conditions have similar symptoms.

A medical professional can, however, conduct a thorough evaluation to diagnose depression.

Thankfully, depression does not have to be a huge burden to someone coping with dementia.

Treatment is available and it normally involves a combination of counseling, medication and continuing reconnection to people and activities that bring bliss.

As a caregiver do not be the one always to tell a dementia patient to “try harder,” “snap out of it,” or “cheer up” because this rarely helps.

People who have dementia and depression cannot simply get better by themselves. They need a lot of professional help, reassurance, and support.

Sleep Problems

Many senior dementia patients complain about sleep all the time. Poor sleeping habits, certain medications, alcohol use, and stress are some contributing factors that lead to disturbed sleep.

Restlessness, agitation, and confusion can also affect how a person with dementia sleeps.

Studies reveal that sleep issues are one of the reasons individuals with dementia have to stay in nursing homes.

So that a person can function well, they must get enough quality sleep.

Some tips that can help with ensuring a person with dementia does not end up struggling to get a shut-eye include:

1. Keeping away from alcohol because it contributes to confusion and also increases anxiety.

2. Limit beverages and food that contain high caffeine levels, especially later in the day because it can lead to sleeplessness.

3. Plan the days in a way that incorporates numerous activities. When you fill-up the days with meaningful activities, it can lead to exhaustion so that a person sleeps well at night.

It can be anything from taking walks, exercising, or participating in involving hobbies. However, you must be careful not to overstimulate the individual with dementia.

This will only lead to disorientation, which is not healthy for one’s sleeping time. It is also important to limit nap time as this can also affect how a person sleeps.

It may also help to come up with a bedtime routine that mainly focuses on relaxing activities such as giving the person with the illness a massage or listening to soft music.

Hoarding

Some people will dementia will pick up a habit along the way where they cannot let go of their possessions.

As a person who is coping with dementia, several things that can lead to the development of this behavior like isolation, loss, fear, and memories of the past.

To help the individual deal with this, you can try and keep them busy with other things. For instance, you can give them a box full of different items that they can sort.

You can also learn where a person hides the things they want to hoard and remove them without the individual noticing.

You must be very careful with this so as not to agitate them further causing more problems.

Closing Remarks

There is no set of rules that you should follow when it comes to coping with dementia.

To best meet the challenges, you need to use a lot of compassion, creativity, patience, and flexibility to try and make the best out of a rather challenging situation.

Some things must be put into consideration when dealing with a person who has dementia, like:

1. It is not possible to change the person because it is a brain disorder that shapes how they behave.

2. Rather than try and control behavior, it’s best to try and accommodate the new changes in the best possible way.

For example, if a person wants to sleep on the floor, do not force them to climb on the bed. You can place a mattress on the floor instead to make them feel as comfortable as possible.

3. When there is a sudden behavior change, it is always wise to consult with a doctor. This is because some problems may come about because of various underlying medical reasons.

A person with dementia may be in pain or be experiencing side effects from the medications they are taking.

Sometimes, hallucinations or side effects may be caused by treatment or medication that is helping to manage the condition.

Vitamin D and Dementia – Deficiency Risk?

Trevor Howitt Blog, Prevention, Resources February 3, 2021October 16, 2021dementia, vitamin d

Recent studies suggest that there may be a connection between low levels of vitamin D and dementia risk.

Researchers revealed that vitamin D deficiency might play a role in dementia development.

Note that the particular vitamin is essential for good health because it plays a significant role in the prevention of various health conditions like hypertension, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes amongst others.

Vitamin D and the Risk of Dementia

Vitamin D which is a group of secosteroids helps the intestines to absorb zinc, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, and iron.

The vitamin is also important to bone metabolism.

Does Vitamin D Deficiency Enhance Aging Proces?

It is still not clear about the role that vitamin D plays concerning the aging process, cognition, and brain function.

Some studies reveal that the vitamin may be involved in several processes that relate to cognition, but more research needs to be done to understand this relationship better.

Humans mainly absorb vitamin D from sunlight and it also occurs naturally in some foods like different types of fish, cod liver oil, beef liver, orange juice, milk and yogurt that have been fortified with vitamin D.

Statistics indicate about 40-75% of adults suffer from vitamin D deficiency.

Now that you are aware of the importance of the vitamin in the human body, let’s go ahead and learn about the connection between vitamin D and dementia.

Studies Investigating the Link between Dementia and Vitamin D Deficiency

One of the studies trying to unearth the connection between the deficiency and the neurodegenerative disease was conducted by an international research team.

The experts followed over 1,600 participants for 6 years. All the participants were seniors.

The researchers discovered that elderly persons with severe vitamin D deficiency were two times likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s when compared to the seniors who had adequate vitamin D levels.

The persons with a severe deficiency (less than 25nmol/l) recorded a 125% increased dementia risk while the ones who had mild deficiency (between 25-50nmol/l) has a 53% risk.

David Llewellyn who was the lead author from the University of Exeter Medical School explained that the primary aim of conducting the research was to know if there was a connection between low levels of vitamin D and dementia & Alzheimer’s risk.

He said that the results were quite surprising because they found that the association between the diseases and the deficiency was twice as much as the team had projected.

Vitamin D Deficient Individuals Show Cognitive Decline Symptoms

Another study confirming the link between vitamin D and dementia had experts observing 858 adults who were above the age of 65. They published their findings in an issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine.

They found that the participants who had low levels of vitamin D in their blood i.e. less than 25 nanomoles for each litre of blood were 60% more likely to show cognitive decline symptoms.

31% were more likely to show a decline in executive function/prioritizing, planning, and organizing than the ones who had enough vitamin D in their blood.

A different study published in JAMA Neurology adds to the evidence that links cognitive decline to low vitamin D levels. The study had 382 participants with an average age of 75.5 years.

Among the group some people were healthy, others had mild cognitive decline, and the rest already had dementia. The research went on for 5 years and every year researchers took blood tests to evaluate the levels of vitamin D present in all the participants.

They found that the group that had dementia had a lower vitamin D average than the other two groups. The experts also conducted cognitive tests in a bid to evaluate semantic memory, episodic memory, executive function, and visual perception.

The results of these tests indicated that group members who had lower vitamin D levels demonstrated a greater decline in both episodic memory and cognitive ability.

This led the authors of the study to believe that there is a link between cognitive decline and vitamin D deficiency.

Can Vitamin D Supplementation Slow Cognitive Decline?

The researcher, however, noted that the study did not necessarily prove that the two have anything in common. The authors acknowledged that it is still not clear whether vitamin D supplementation can slow down cognitive decline.

UC Davis researchers will be conducting yet another study that will determine whether high doses of vitamin D can help in the prevention of memory loss.

This is after they got a financial boost from the National Institutes of Health to the tune of $4.7 million.

The researchers are embarking on a 5-year journey from 2018 where they will be testing the use of supplements in various populations.

They want to get first-hand information on whether supplementation can help prevent cognitive decline in seniors and whether the association is stronger in Latinos and African-Americans.

The leader of this research professor of neurology John Olichney is on record saying that vitamin D deficiency normally affects the elderly because the skin does not effectively synthesize the vitamin as people grow older.

He states that the problem is more rampant in persons who have darker skin.

The study will follow 180 participants in the East Bay and Sacramento regions.

Among the group a third will have normal cognition, another third will have isolated memory loss, while the rest of the group will have mild Alzheimer’s dementia.

Every participant will get Vitamin D supplements. Half the group will be on a high dosage- 4,000 units daily while the rest will get standard intake that comprises 800 international units as the Institute of Medicine recommends.

We have to wait for the results of this study to get a better picture of the relationship between vitamin D and dementia.

Closing Remarks

While some studies show strong links between dementia development and vitamin D deficiency, researchers cannot conclude that vitamin D deficiency results in dementia.

On the flip side, some studies have found that there is no association between vitamin D and dementia. It goes to show that further research and clinical trials are necessary to establish cause and effect.

This will give a conclusive answer on whether adequate levels of vitamin D can treat or prevent dementia.

Lewy Body Dementia Treatment: Medications, Therapies and Care

Trevor Howitt Blog, Prevention, Types February 2, 2021August 20, 2026dementia treatment, lewy body, lewy body dementia, lewy body dementia treatment

Lewy body dementia treatment and symptom management

After a diagnosis, one of the first questions people and families often ask is what Lewy body dementia treatment is available.

There is currently no cure for Lewy body dementia (LBD), and no treatment has been proven to stop or reverse the disease. However, several medications, therapies and practical approaches can help manage particular symptoms and support quality of life.

Because LBD can affect thinking, movement, sleep, mood, behavior and automatic body functions, treatment usually needs to be individualized. A medication that helps one symptom can sometimes make another symptom worse.

For this reason, people with LBD should ideally work with a healthcare professional who understands the condition and its unusual medication sensitivities.

Lewy Body Dementia Treatment: What Are the Main Options?

A comprehensive treatment plan may include medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, counseling, exercise, changes to the home and support for family caregivers.

Treatment depends on which Lewy body dementia symptoms are causing the greatest difficulty.

The National Institute on Aging explains that LBD treatment generally focuses on managing symptoms rather than treating the underlying disease itself.

Medications Used in Lewy Body Dementia Treatment

Medication needs to be selected carefully in LBD because people with the condition can be particularly sensitive to certain drugs.

Never start, stop or change prescription medication without discussing it with the person’s healthcare professional.

Cholinesterase Inhibitors for Cognitive Symptoms

Cholinesterase inhibitors are medications originally developed to treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Examples include donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine.

These medications act on acetylcholine, a brain chemical involved in memory and thinking. In people with LBD, they may help with cognitive symptoms and can sometimes also reduce hallucinations or other behavioral symptoms.

In the United States, the FDA has approved rivastigmine for cognitive symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease dementia. Other cholinesterase inhibitors may be used by clinicians for LBD depending on the person’s circumstances.

Possible side effects can include nausea, diarrhea and dizziness.

Treatment response varies, so the person’s doctor will consider whether the benefits outweigh any side effects.

Memantine

Memantine is another medication originally developed for Alzheimer’s disease.

Some healthcare professionals may consider memantine for people with Lewy body dementia, particularly when cognitive impairment has become more significant.

However, research results in LBD have been mixed, and memantine is not FDA-approved specifically for Lewy body dementia.

The decision to use it should therefore be individualized and discussed with a doctor experienced in dementia care.

Levodopa for Movement Problems

People with LBD may develop Parkinson’s-like movement symptoms such as stiffness, slow movement, difficulty walking and trouble getting out of a chair or bed.

Levodopa, commonly used for Parkinson’s disease, may improve some of these symptoms.

This can be particularly relevant for people with Parkinson’s disease dementia.

However, levodopa can sometimes worsen hallucinations, confusion or other psychiatric symptoms in people with LBD.

For this reason, doctors may avoid treating very mild movement symptoms with medication. If levodopa is considered appropriate, treatment is generally introduced cautiously and monitored closely.

Treatment for Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are relatively common in people with LBD.

A doctor may consider antidepressant medication if these symptoms significantly affect the person’s quality of life.

The National Institute on Aging notes that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may work well for some people with LBD.

You can read more about depression and dementia on ReaDementia.

Counseling and psychological support may also be valuable, particularly after a new diagnosis or when the person and family are adapting to changes in independence.

Treatment for REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Sleep disorders are an important part of LBD care.

One characteristic problem is REM sleep behavior disorder, in which a person may physically act out dreams by talking, kicking, punching or moving while asleep.

A doctor may recommend melatonin or, in some circumstances, low-dose clonazepam.

Clonazepam can cause problems such as dizziness, unsteadiness and worsening thinking, so it needs careful medical supervision.

A sleep specialist may also investigate other problems such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome or excessive daytime sleepiness.

Good daytime activity and reducing long or frequent daytime naps may also help some people sleep better at night.

Read more about dementia and sleep problems.

Hallucinations and Antipsychotics: An Important LBD Warning

Hallucinations are common in Lewy body dementia.

If hallucinations are not frightening or dangerous, medication may not always be necessary.

Sometimes reassurance, reducing stress, changing the environment or redirecting the person’s attention can be enough.

Cholinesterase inhibitors may also reduce hallucinations in some people.

However, treatment becomes more complicated when hallucinations, delusions or agitation create significant distress or safety concerns.

People with Lewy body dementia can have severe reactions to antipsychotic medications.

These reactions may include dramatically increased confusion, severe sleepiness, worsening Parkinson’s-like symptoms, low blood pressure and fainting.

Traditional antipsychotics such as haloperidol should generally be avoided in people with LBD because they can cause dangerous reactions.

Other antipsychotics, including olanzapine and risperidone, may also cause significant problems and are generally avoided where possible.

In situations where an antipsychotic is considered necessary, specialists may sometimes use medications such as quetiapine or clozapine. These decisions require careful medical supervision, with the lowest effective dose used for as short a time as practical.

A rare but potentially life-threatening reaction called neuroleptic malignant syndrome can also occur. Symptoms can include high fever and severe muscle rigidity.

If these symptoms develop after starting an antipsychotic medication, seek urgent medical attention.

Treating Blood Pressure, Constipation and Other Autonomic Symptoms

Lewy body dementia can affect the autonomic nervous system, which controls body functions that normally happen automatically.

These problems may include low blood pressure when standing, fainting, constipation, urinary problems and difficulty regulating body temperature.

Low blood pressure when standing is called orthostatic hypotension.

Simple approaches such as getting up slowly, elevating the legs or using compression stockings may help some people.

Increasing fluids or salt may sometimes be recommended, but this should only be done when a healthcare professional considers it appropriate because other health conditions can make increased fluid or salt intake unsuitable.

Constipation may respond to exercise, dietary changes or medications recommended by a doctor.

Bladder medications also need particular care because some can worsen confusion or cognitive symptoms in LBD.

Non-Drug Lewy Body Dementia Treatment Options

Medication is only one part of managing LBD.

The Lewy Body Dementia Association recommends a comprehensive approach that may involve several types of healthcare professionals.

Physical Therapy and Exercise

Physical therapists can help people with movement, balance, strength and walking.

Programs may include flexibility exercises, strengthening, cardiovascular activity and gait training.

Regular physical activity may also support general health, mobility and independence.

The appropriate type and intensity of exercise will depend on the person’s health and abilities.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists focus on helping people continue everyday activities as safely and independently as possible.

They may help with dressing, bathing, eating, using household equipment and adapting routines.

You can learn more in our guide to occupational therapy and dementia.

An occupational therapist can also assess the home and suggest practical changes that reduce fall risk or make daily activities easier.

Speech and Language Therapy

Speech-language pathologists can help when LBD affects speech volume, communication or swallowing.

Swallowing assessment becomes particularly important if a person coughs, chokes, holds food in their mouth or repeatedly develops chest infections.

The therapist may recommend strategies to make eating and drinking safer.

Psychological Support and Counseling

Mental health professionals can help people with LBD and family members adjust to the emotional effects of the diagnosis.

Counseling may help with anxiety, depression, frustration, changing relationships and future planning.

Cognitive stimulation and other structured activities may also provide opportunities for mental and social engagement.

Music and Expressive Activities

Music and other expressive activities may provide enjoyment, social interaction and relaxation.

The National Institute on Aging notes that music or expressive arts therapists may provide meaningful activities that can reduce anxiety and improve well-being.

Activities should be chosen according to the person’s interests rather than treated as a cure or replacement for medical care.

You may also be interested in our articles about music therapy and dance therapy.

What About Vitamins and Supplements?

Vitamins and supplements are sometimes promoted as natural treatments for dementia.

However, the National Institute on Aging states that vitamins and supplements have not been extensively studied as treatments for LBD symptoms and are not recommended as Lewy body dementia treatment.

Supplements can also interact with prescription medicines.

A vitamin may still be appropriate if testing shows that a person has a specific deficiency, but that is different from using supplements to treat LBD itself.

Tell the person’s doctor about all supplements, vitamins and over-the-counter medicines they take.

Home Modifications and Safety

Although home changes do not treat the underlying disease, they can make daily life considerably safer and easier.

A dementia-friendly home may include:

removing loose rugs and other trip hazards
reducing unnecessary clutter
providing good lighting
using handrails and grab bars where appropriate
arranging furniture to create clear walking paths
using simple and familiar layouts
reducing excessive noise or stimulation

These changes can be particularly important because people with LBD may experience balance problems, visual perception difficulties and fluctuations in attention.

Routines, Activities and Social Support

Simple, predictable routines can reduce unnecessary confusion and stress.

Regular times for waking, meals, activities and sleep may be helpful.

Meaningful activities can also provide enjoyment and maintain social contact.

The activity should suit the person’s abilities. A complicated task that creates frustration is unlikely to be helpful simply because it is mentally stimulating.

Support groups can be valuable for both people with LBD and caregivers.

Talking with other families who understand the condition can provide practical ideas as well as emotional support.

As the disease progresses through the Lewy body dementia stages, caregivers may also need increasing practical assistance and respite care.

Palliative Care for Lewy Body Dementia

Palliative care is not limited to the final days of life.

It focuses on symptom relief, comfort, quality of life, coordinated care and making sure treatment reflects the person’s goals and values.

According to the National Institute on Aging, palliative care can begin relatively early in LBD and continue alongside other treatments.

It can also help families with advance care planning and decisions about future support.

Building a Lewy Body Dementia Care Team

LBD often affects several different body systems, so care frequently involves more than one healthcare professional.

A care team may include:

a primary care physician
a neurologist or movement disorder specialist
a physical therapist
an occupational therapist
a speech-language pathologist
a mental health professional
a pharmacist
palliative care professionals when appropriate

If possible, include a doctor with experience treating Lewy body dementia because medication sensitivities and symptom fluctuations can make treatment more complicated than with some other dementias.

You can read more about finding an appropriate doctor for dementia.

When Should Treatment Be Reviewed?

LBD symptoms and medication responses can change over time.

Contact the healthcare team when there is a significant change, particularly after starting or changing medication.

Medical review is especially important with:

sudden or severe confusion
dramatically worsening hallucinations or delusions
repeated falls or fainting
new difficulty walking
difficulty swallowing or repeated choking
extreme sleepiness
new severe stiffness
fever or signs of infection
significant changes after taking a new medicine

Sudden changes should not automatically be assumed to represent progression of dementia. Infection, pain, constipation, medication side effects and other medical conditions can also cause rapid deterioration.

Final Thoughts

There is currently no single Lewy body dementia treatment that can cure the disease or stop its progression.

Instead, treatment focuses on managing individual symptoms while protecting the person’s independence, safety and quality of life.

Cholinesterase inhibitors may help some cognitive and behavioral symptoms, levodopa may help movement problems, and other medications may be considered for sleep, depression or anxiety.

At the same time, medication must be used particularly carefully in LBD because some drugs, especially certain antipsychotics, can cause serious reactions.

Physical, occupational and speech therapy, appropriate exercise, psychological support, safer surroundings and caregiver support can all form important parts of a comprehensive care plan.

Treatment should be reviewed as the person’s symptoms change, and decisions should be made with a healthcare professional familiar with Lewy body dementia.

References and Further Reading

National Institute on Aging. How Is Lewy Body Dementia Treated and Managed?

Lewy Body Dementia Association. Treatment Options for LBD.

NHS. Dementia With Lewy Bodies: Treatment.

Senile Dementia – What Is It & What Causes It?

Trevor Howitt Blog February 2, 2021October 16, 2021alzheimer's disease, dementia, senile dementia, senility

Dementia typically comes in various forms; one of them believed to be senile dementia. Generally, this is a term that was in the past used to describe all types of dementia.

This is no longer the case since senility is no longer in use as a diagnosis for dementia. Before going deeper into this illness, it is better to start by describing what senility is.

What is Senile or Senile Dementia?

Senility is regarded as the deterioration of the mind and body, which usually comes with advanced aging.

A majority of senile persons usually experience a mental decline or decrease in cognitive abilities.

This can be characterized by an individual’s inability to recall information, concentrate, and judge situations in the proper way.

Sadly, the word “senile” for the longest time had an undesirable connotation largely due to a lack of understanding of the challenges that come with growing older.

This leads to people using the word in the wrong way.

Meaning, making it sound like a senile person is one who is dazed, confused, or unable to function well, rather than look at it as an authentic health condition.

Nowadays, we do not use the term senile to describe older people anymore.

The term senile has also been used in combination with other phrases.

These include senile dementia, senile plaques, and senile Alzheimer’s. It has also been added as a descriptor of other medical conditions like senile osteoporosis or senile arthritis.

In such a context, senile usually refers to the age (older) when the condition started developing and has nothing to do with cognitive function or decline.

Several symptoms associate with senility such as:

Wrinkled skin
Changes in posture
Reduced muscle strength
Stiffness of joints
Brittle bones or bone loss
Changes in the eye’s muscles and lens
Brittle bones
Hardened arteries
Loss of hearing or vision
Childish behavior at times
Impaired judgment
Memory loss

A majority of the physical changes are attributed to growing older. On the other hand, we can assign psychological changes to the aging of cortical brain cells.

Senility in most cases applies to mental decline.

Factors That Cause Senility

We are familiar with many causes that can lead to senility, including:

1. Alzheimer’s disease

This tops the list when it comes to the most common senility causes. In short, Alzheimer’s disease usually begins with challenges learning and also recalling recent events.

2. Brain disorders

A person who suffers from brain disorders is a potential candidate for senility. The disorders can be caused by anything from illness, infection, or trauma.

3. Medical Conditions

An array of medical conditions is also documented to cause senility. These can include illnesses such as Pick’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, vascular dementia, stroke, Huntington disease, AIDS, Down syndrome, and many others.

4. Depression

Persons who undergo major depression are also at risk of senility.

5. Alcohol and drug abuse

People who overindulge in alcohol and abuse drugs are prone to senility. Likewise, individuals who inhale paint or any other substances so that they can become high are also at an increased risk of developing senility.

6. Dehydration and over-medication

These are factors that can make a person exhibit some senility signs which most of the time lead to a false diagnosis of dementia.

Going by the signs above it is obvious that some of the factors that lead to senility are similar to those of dementia.

For this reason, it is important for everyone who shows signs of dementia to get tested by a professional first to confirm the diagnosis.

Now that you have a little background on what senility is all about, let’s jump back to senile dementia.

What exactly is senility?

Judging by the past use of this term, it is safe to say that it is a mental deterioration that is typically associated with old age.

There are two models of this type of dementia:

1. The one that comes because of Alzheimer’s type dementia (atrophy).
2. The second one is usually the result of vascular problems, mostly strokes.

Primary Differences between Dementia and Senility

By now, it should be quite clear that senility and dementia are two different medical conditions although many may use the terms interchangeably.

Dementia is a medical term that refers to a wide range of brain conditions that can lead to a progressive decline in how a person remembers things and thinks.

In the end, the loss of these abilities can make it increasingly challenging for individuals to care for themselves and function as before.

Dementia is certainly not senility because serious mental decline is not part of the normal aging process.

Several causes can lead to dementia, such as:

When you look at the causes of both senility and dementia, there may be some similarities but there are also some major differences.

Most of the comparable causes exist because both conditions typically affect seniors as they grow older.

On one hand, dementia can be quite seriously messing up with a person’s reasoning skills, visual perception, communication skills, focusing abilities and memory.

This is an illness that can turn your life upside down.

Senility rarely interferes with a person’s daily life, especially if one is proactive in slowing down or minimizing the decline process.

Persons who have senility may occasionally struggle to remember people they know, things, events or struggle to find the right words to use at a particular moment.

While people with dementia may also go through this, it tends to happen all the time rather than occasionally as is the case with senility.

A person with senility may end up remembering things later and most of them can use organizational tools and notes successfully.

This does not usually happen with individuals who have dementia, especially if they are in the final stages of the disease.

The loved ones of a person who has senility may not have to worry about his or her memory issues.

The situation is different from dementia cases because family members continuously worry about an individual’s memory.

It is also important to note that another difference between senility and dementia is the fact that dementia is an accepted medical term.

Senility, however, is not yet accepted as an international medical term.

Similarities between Senility and Dementia

Because senile dementia is no longer a thing, it is wise to look at the conditions separately.

Even though the two conditions are not synonymous, they do share quite a few similarities, including:

1. One of the major similarities between these two is the fact that they normally affect people who are above the age of 65. This is not to say that younger individuals cannot get dementia or senility but a majority of the cases happen as people grow older.

2. Both dementia and senility do not have sure treatment methods. When talking about treatment for senility, it is safe to say that there is no cure for normal aging.

However, there are a few things that people can do to stave off its severity and decline.

These include things like keeping physically active, eating a balanced diet, and engaging the mind, among many others to stay sharp.

The same case applies to dementia because there is still no cure for the disease.

Physicians can, however, prescribe drugs and lifestyle changes that can help one cope better with their current situation.

3. Both tend to become worse as the years go by. Persons with progressive dementia usually experience a decline with time.

This happens at different paces for different individuals. With some, the decline may occur fast while others may remain semi-independent for many years.

Senility can get worse as well. It primarily happens when an individual stays for a long time without taking hands-on measures to put a halt or reduce the decline process.

4. In the end, candidates who have senility and individuals who have dementia may both end up in senior care homes such as assisted living homes or nursing care.

This happens when a person’s independence is compromised; thus, needs extra help to go about their daily activities.

5. A person who has dementia may experience changes in mental health like the decline in judgment or memory loss. This can also happen to an elderly individual with senility because the condition also leads to a decline in adult’s cognitive and physical health.

Closing Remarks

It’s not hard to see why senile dementia was a term that they commonly used in the past, seeing that senility and dementia have a few similarities.

Experiencing senility signs can be alarming and scary. As soon as you struggle to remember where you kept your keys or think of a word while having a conversation, you may immediately think that you are at the onset of dementia.

This is not always the case.

To have peace of mind, it is best to seek medical advice as soon as possible. It is the only way to get a proper diagnosis so that you can now take the right steps to stay fitter and sharper to thrive in your golden years.

Also worth noting is that a person can have dementia without being senile.

The opposite scenario is also true where an individual may experience senility without getting dementia.

Coffee and Alzheimer’s Disease – Is It Good?

Trevor Howitt Blog, Prevention February 2, 2021October 16, 2021alzheimer's disease, coffee and alzheimer's disease

There is great interest in the topic of coffee and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevention.

This is especially because there is still no cure for the neurodegenerative illness; thus, researchers are keen on factors that can help in the prevention or delayed progression of Alzheimer’s.

Coffee is one of the largest dietary caffeine sources. An ingredient that is known to have stimulating effects on the central nervous system.

Coffee also presents an array of health benefits.

It is known to improve alertness and short-term memory. Scientists are now stating that coffee may have protective effects on the human brain.

Is Caffeine Good For Alzheimer’s Disease?

Several studies also affirm that drinking coffee helps to decrease the risk of AD development.

In addition to caffeine, the positive effect may also be mediated by other mechanisms, like an increase in insulin sensitivity and antioxidant capacity.

Studies on Coffee and Alzheimer’s disease

Several studies suggest that consuming coffee regularly over your lifetime can help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Check out some of the studies below.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that EHT (Eicosanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide) a fatty acid substance in coffee beans helps to protect the brains of mice against various illnesses.

The team that led the research was from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine.

The researchers also observed that when EHT was combined with caffeine, it boosted the activity of a catalyst that aids in the prevention of accumulation of various harmful proteins that are associated with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

The researchers acknowledged the fact that more studies need to be done to determine the proper dosages of caffeine and EHT.

This will guide consumers on the best type of coffee and the number of cups that would offer the most protection.

Coffee helps limit degenerative brain illnesses

Scientists explain that caffeine and EHT are not the only protective compounds that coffee has to offer.

They say that chemical compounds, known as phenylindanes, also help to prevent the growth of proteins that relate to degenerative brain illnesses.

The compounds are formed when coffee is brewing.

Experts claim that darker roasts contain more protective compounds.

A different study on coffee and Alzheimer’s disease was published in Frontiers in Neuroscience.

Researchers from Krembil Brain Institute in Canada analyzed three samples of Starbucks through instant coffee to compare their chemical compounds.

The samples chosen were the decaffeinated dark roast, light roast, and dark roast.

They then exposed the extracts of each sample to 2 kinds of proteins. These were tau and amyloid-beta which are recognized as the hallmarks of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

Studies reveal that as the conditions become worse the proteins tend to form clumps that are referred to as tau protein tangles and amyloid plaques in the brain.

Coffee may offer protection against Alzheimer’s progression

All the 3 coffee samples prevented protein “clumping” leading the researchers to conclude that there is something in coffee that may offer protection against the progression of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Because there was no major difference in the way the coffees performed, the researchers also suggested that it was not caffeine that was in charge of those benefits.

They, nonetheless, noticed that the two darker roasts had more inhibitory effects than the lighter roast.

As a result of this, the researchers started to consider phenylindanes which are the compounds that form during the process of coffee roasting which breakdown acids and gives the beverage a bitter taste.

Espressos and dark roasts have a higher concentration of phenylindanes.

According to Donald Weaver, the lead author of the research, the heating process gives access to chemicals that are usually not present.

He continued to say that phenylindanes display potent antioxidant activity even though their interactions with tau and amyloid proteins have not been previously recorded.

Darker coffee roasts or lighter?

Further lab research in the quest to know how the consumption of coffee and Alzheimer’s disease prevention relate led the researchers to confirm that phenylindane mixture prevents protein clumping that is disease-related.

In the study, it was the only compound that showed an effect on both types of proteins.

For tau proteins, it showed more levels of inhibition than any other compound that was under investigation. The authors of the study concluded that it was majorly phenylindane that was responsible for the potent levels of protein inhibition.

They based their assumption on the fact that the darker coffee roasts did a better job than the light roast.

Because the study was still at the preliminary stage, Dr. Weaver says that at this point it would not be right to tell everyone to ditch their favorite cup of coffee for espresso or even start roasting their beans extra dark.

The researchers were hopeful that their findings would lead to more research on the relationship between coffee and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Weaver said that researchers should now focus more on studying phenylindanes which can lead to the discovery of a drug-like compound that people can use to cure neurodegenerative illnesses.

Other constituents of coffee may help fight AD and other forms of dementia. Some animal studies suggest that trigonelline might enhance memory retention and be rich in neuroprotective properties.

Polyphenol antioxidant ferulic acid present in coffee was also given to mice.

The research found that it protects against cognitive deficient especially working and spatial memory.

It also prevents the loss of acetylcholine in the cerebral cortex and suppresses inflammation factors that are common with Alzheimer’s.

Can Coffee Make Alzheimer’s Symptoms Worse?

While many studies state that coffee consumption is beneficial some say that drinking coffee may make the symptoms of Alzheimer’s worse.

An example of such a study was done by experts from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.

They reported that a study on mice revealed that exposure to caffeine for long periods is likely to increase behavioral symptoms of the illness, like anxiety.

The study reported that mice who were on caffeinated water have greater levels of BPSD including neophobia and anxiety. They also said that caffeine has little benefit for memory and learning in rodents.

The authors of the research; hence, concluded that professionals need to be careful when recommending coffee or other products with caffeine to persons with Alzheimer’s.

Closing Remarks

There are many studies underway on coffee and Alzheimer’s disease. Most state that drinking coffee can help prevent the development of AD, others find no link between cognitive impairment and coffee consumption.

Then again, some state that coffee is not good for persons who have AD. This means that more research still needs to be conducted to come up with conclusive results.

Only then, we will know whether coffee plays a significant role in dementia prevention or not.

Olive Oil and Dementia- What’s the Verdict?

Trevor Howitt Blog, Prevention February 1, 2021October 17, 2021dementia, olive oil, olive oil and dementia

There is a heightened interest in the use of olive oil and dementia prevention.

This is after recent studies on mice suggested that consuming extra virgin oil plays a significant role in the prevention of the accumulation of protein tau, which is one of the hallmarks of different types of dementia.

In the past, extra virgin oil has been known for its ability to reduce the risk of heart disease and high cholesterol.

This is because it is rich in monounsaturated or “good” fatty acids.

There may be added benefits of extra virgin oil, seeing that many studies report that it also has some cognitive and neuroprotective benefits.

Check out brief details of some of the studies below.

Does Olive Oil Help Dementia?

Olive Oil Can Help to Improve Memory and Learning

A study conducted in 2012 on mice explains that extra virgin oil enhances the rodents’ performance in memory tests and they also record improvement in learning.

The alleged reason for these findings is that the oil contains high levels of powerful antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols.

These might reverse age or disease-related memory impairment and learning.

Extra Virgin Oil May Reduce Early Neurological Dementia Signs

neurological dementia signs” width=”1000″ height=”788″ class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-11129″ />
When looking into the issue of olive oil and dementia, it is important to refer to a study that was published in the journal Aging Cell in November 2019.

It stated that in mice, olive oil reduced some of the early neurological signs of dementia specifically Alzheimer’s disease.

Intervention from the extra virgin oil helped to reduce inflammation in the brain, but most importantly, activates autophagy.

This is a process where the brain cells break down and eliminate intracellular toxins and debris like tau tangles and amyloid plaques.

The process helped to maintain the integrity of the mice’s synapses which refer to the connection between neurons.

Dr. Domenico Pratico a professor at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine in the Department of Pharmacology and Microbiology at Temple University fronted the research.

He and his team opted to take this route with their study after previous research done by investigators at the same medical institution has concluded that consuming extra virgin oil protects against Alzheimer’s disease and prevents loss of memory.

Neurological benefits of olive oil

Dr. Pratico and his team of researchers also conducted another study on the neurological benefits of olive oil. His team took to study the effect of extra virgin oil on tauopathies.

These are known as cognitive conditions that are age-related where protein tau accumulates in the brain triggering the development of dementia because of their toxicity levels.

The team, while seeking to uncover the relationship between olive oil and dementia, adopted an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model referred to as the triple transgenic model.

In this case, the mice develop three main characteristics of the illness i.e. neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid plagues, and memory impairment.

There were two groups of mice in the study to give researchers a clear picture of the results. They gave one set of mice prone to the accumulations of tau, a chow diet rich in virgin oil.

The other group of mice was put on a regular chow diet even though they were also prone to toxic levels of tau accumulations.

The extra virgin oil the experts used to feed the mice in the lab was from Italy’s Apulia region. A chemical analysis revealed that extra virgin oil had a polyphenol count of up to 253 milligrams for every kilogram.

The levels of different forms of vitamin E (tocopherol a & y) were also measured at 381 milligrams for each Kg and 23 milligrams per kilo respectively.

The researchers fed the mice with extra virgin oil from the age of 6 months, which is equivalent to about 30 years in humans.

Extra virgin olive oil has positive effects

After about one year, which is equal to around 60 years in human beings, the researchers documented their findings.

Note that in overall appearance, it did not appear as though there were significant differences in the two groups of mice.

However, the researchers found that the set of mice that were on a diet rich in extra virgin oil had 60% fewer tau deposits than the ones on the regular diet.

The results further stated that mice that were on extra virgin oil also gave a better performance in standard in various learning ability, working and spatial memory tests.

The research group went ahead to analyze brain tissues from both groups of rodents.

They discovered substantial differences in the appearance and function of the nerve cell. Among these includes synaptic integrity. Dr. Domenico explained that synapses which are the integrity of the connections between neurons were preserved in the mice that were consuming an extra virgin oil diet.

There was also an increase in autophagy activation in the nerve cells in the same group of mice, which was responsible for the reduction of phosphorylated tau and amyloid plaque levels.

The study of olive oil and dementia show positive results

As a result of the autophagy, synaptic integrity and memory were also preserved. This was a significant discovery in the study of olive oil and dementia, according to Dr. Pratico, because he believes that autophagy reduction leads to the beginning of Alzheimer’s disease.

The research team plans to further this research by investigating the effects of giving extra virgin oil to mice that are 12 years old. They want to see if it will have any positive impact on mice that have developed tangles and plaques already.

Dr. Domenico explained that in most cases when a person visits the doctor while suspecting that they have dementia, the illness is usually present.

The study aims at knowing whether extra virgin oil has the same results when added at a later time. The results may determine at what point people need to start consuming the oil to reverse or stop dementia.

Olive Oil and Dementia Closing Remarks

The studies on olive oil and dementia are not yet sufficient. Additional research needs to be done to fully understand the impact that extra virgin oil has on the protection against various forms of dementia.

Future research may be directed towards learning about the mechanisms that the oil uses to support brain health.

Reminiscence Therapy for Dementia: Benefits, Examples and How It Works

Trevor Howitt Blog, Prevention February 1, 2021August 20, 2026dementia, reminiscence therapy

Reminiscence therapy for dementia using familiar memories and prompts

Reminiscence therapy is a structured way of using memories, conversation, photographs, music and familiar objects to engage a person living with dementia.

It can provide an enjoyable way to connect with others, encourage conversation and support a person’s sense of identity.

Reminiscence does not cure dementia or stop the underlying disease from progressing. However, research suggests that it may offer modest benefits for areas such as communication, mood, cognition and quality of life for some people.

The Alzheimer’s Association describes reminiscence therapy as a structured approach that uses guided conversations about past experiences, often supported by music, photographs, storytelling, art or familiar objects.

In this article, we look at how reminiscence therapy works, examples of useful memory prompts, what research tells us about its possible benefits and how families and caregivers can use reminiscence safely.

What Is Reminiscence Therapy?

Reminiscence therapy, sometimes shortened to RT, involves encouraging a person to recall and talk about past experiences.

It may take place one-to-one or in a group and can range from an informal conversation with a family member to a structured session led by a trained professional.

Reminiscence is particularly suited to dementia care because a person may continue to recall meaningful events from earlier life even when forming or retrieving more recent memories has become difficult.

However, every person with dementia is different. Some may enjoy talking about their past in detail, while others may prefer simply listening to familiar music or looking at photographs.

The goal should be connection and enjoyment rather than testing the person’s memory.

How Does Reminiscence Therapy Help With Dementia?

Reminiscence provides opportunities for a person with dementia to talk about experiences that remain meaningful to them.

Rather than repeatedly asking questions about recent events they may struggle to remember, family members and caregivers can use familiar subjects to encourage conversation.

These may include childhood, school, work, relationships, holidays, hobbies, pets, significant events or places the person once lived.

For someone experiencing memory loss, this can create an opportunity to participate in a conversation using knowledge and experiences they still retain.

Reminiscence can take place during a casual conversation, as part of group activities, or within a professionally guided therapy session.

The Alzheimer’s Association notes that reminiscence may support well-being, identity, dignity and connection with other people.

What Does Research Say About Reminiscence Therapy?

Research into reminiscence therapy has produced encouraging but mixed results.

A Cochrane review of reminiscence therapy for dementia found evidence of some benefits for quality of life, cognition, communication and possibly mood.

However, the effects were generally small and differed according to how reminiscence was delivered and whether it took place in a care home or community setting.

More recent research has also reported possible benefits.

A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis found improvements in cognitive function, depressive symptoms and quality of life among people with cognitive impairment who received reminiscence therapy.

However, the study did not find clear improvements in behavioral and psychological symptoms or caregiver burden.

This means reminiscence therapy is best regarded as a supportive non-drug approach rather than a treatment that will produce the same result for everyone.

Reminiscence Therapy Examples and Memory Prompts

A conversation alone may be enough to begin reminiscing, but familiar objects and sensory prompts can often make the experience more engaging.

The best prompts are usually personal to the individual.

1. Photographs

Photographs are one of the simplest ways to begin reminiscence.

Family albums may contain pictures of:

parents and grandparents
children and grandchildren
weddings and celebrations
former homes
holidays
pets
workplaces
school friends
favorite hobbies

Rather than asking questions that test memory, such as “Who is this?”, try open invitations such as:

“Tell me about this photo.”
“That looks like a lovely place.”
“What did you enjoy doing there?”

If the person does not remember the photograph, there is no need to correct or pressure them.

The purpose is to create an enjoyable interaction rather than establish whether their memory is accurate.

2. Familiar Smells and Tastes

Smell and taste can also prompt memories.

The smell of coffee, spices, freshly baked bread, flowers, perfume or another familiar scent may remind someone of particular places or experiences.

Food can have similar associations.

A family recipe may encourage conversations about childhood, celebrations or people who were important to the person.

Always take allergies, swallowing difficulties and dietary requirements into account when using food or scented products.

3. Familiar Objects and Tactile Activities

Objects connected with a person’s previous interests or work can also be valuable.

Examples might include:

knitting wool or fabric
old tools
jewelry
sporting equipment
postcards
cookbooks
old household items
medals or certificates
clothing associated with special occasions

Someone who previously enjoyed painting or craft may also respond positively to brushes, fabric, pencils or other familiar materials.

You can find additional ideas in our guide to art activities and dementia.

4. Music

Music can be particularly powerful when it has personal meaning.

Songs associated with adolescence, weddings, dancing, religious services, military service or important relationships may evoke memories and emotions.

The Alzheimer’s Association recommends choosing familiar music the person enjoys and avoiding excessive background noise.

Useful activities may include:

listening to favorite songs
singing together
clapping or moving to music
playing a simple instrument
talking about concerts or dances

You can also read our guide to music therapy and dementia.

5. Familiar Places

A familiar location can sometimes be an effective reminiscence prompt.

This might involve visiting an old neighborhood, garden, beach, church, sporting club or another place associated with positive experiences.

When visiting is not practical, photographs, maps or videos of the place may provide a similar conversation starter.

Different Forms of Reminiscence

Reminiscence can be approached in several ways.

Simple Reminiscence

Simple reminiscence involves casually recalling enjoyable events or experiences.

This might happen while looking at photographs, listening to music or talking over coffee.

Family members and caregivers can use this type of reminiscence without turning it into a formal therapy session.

Structured Reminiscence Therapy

Structured reminiscence therapy involves more deliberately guided conversations and activities.

The Alzheimer’s Association notes that these sessions may be led by professionals such as therapists, nurses or activity directors.

They may take place individually or in groups.

Life Story Work

Life story work involves gathering important information about the person’s experiences, relationships, interests and achievements.

This may eventually become a:

photo album
scrapbook
memory box
life story book
digital collection of photographs, music or videos

A life story can help family members and professional caregivers understand who the person is beyond their diagnosis.

Possible Benefits of Reminiscence Therapy

Research suggests several areas in which reminiscence therapy may help some people with dementia.

Supports Conversation and Communication

Reminiscence gives the person an opportunity to talk about subjects that are familiar and personally meaningful.

This can sometimes make conversation easier than discussing recent events.

Supports Identity and Self-Esteem

Dementia can gradually affect many aspects of independence.

Talking about previous achievements, relationships, skills and experiences can help remind both the person and those around them that their identity is much broader than their diagnosis.

May Support Mood and Well-Being

Pleasant memories may bring enjoyment, comfort and social connection.

Research has found possible improvements in mood and depressive symptoms in some people who participate in reminiscence therapy, although results vary between studies.

May Provide Cognitive Stimulation

Reminiscing involves conversation, attention and retrieving information from memory.

Some studies have found modest improvements in cognitive test scores after reminiscence interventions.

However, this should not be interpreted to mean that reminiscence therapy stops or reverses dementia.

Can Strengthen Relationships

Reminiscence can give family members an opportunity to hear stories they may never have heard before.

It may also help professional caregivers learn more about a person’s preferences, relationships, occupation, culture and interests.

How to Structure a Reminiscence Therapy Session

There is no single session format that suits everyone.

Some people may enjoy a short spontaneous conversation, while others may participate in longer structured sessions.

A simple session might involve:

Choose a calm and comfortable environment.
Select one familiar subject or prompt.
Allow the person time to respond.
Use open-ended conversation rather than testing questions.
Listen without repeatedly correcting details.
Watch for signs of enjoyment, tiredness or distress.
Finish when the person appears to have had enough.

The person’s comfort is more important than completing a planned activity.

Some days they may enjoy reminiscing for a considerable period. On other days, they may not be interested at all.

What If Reminiscence Brings Up Painful Memories?

Not every memory is pleasant.

Photos, songs, places or conversations may unexpectedly remind someone of bereavement, trauma, relationship difficulties or another upsetting experience.

If the person becomes distressed, do not pressure them to continue.

The safest approach is usually to acknowledge their feelings, offer reassurance and either change the subject or stop the activity.

Dementia Australia advises that if reminiscing causes distress, caregivers should stop and do something else.

If painful or traumatic memories repeatedly cause significant distress, seek advice from an appropriately qualified healthcare or mental health professional.

Formal life review involving unresolved trauma is different from casually sharing pleasant memories with a family member.

Tips for Families and Caregivers

When using reminiscence with someone who has dementia:

Follow the person’s interests rather than your own.
Avoid treating the activity as a memory test.
Use familiar photographs, music and objects.
Ask open-ended questions.
Allow plenty of time for responses.
Do not argue over small inaccuracies.
Pay attention to body language and emotion.
Stop if the person becomes tired, anxious or distressed.
Focus on enjoyment and connection.

Reminiscence can also be incorporated into ordinary activities for people with dementia rather than requiring a formal appointment.

Is Reminiscence Therapy Suitable for Everyone?

Not necessarily.

Some people naturally enjoy talking about their past, while others may find it frustrating, boring or upsetting.

The person’s personality, culture, history and current stage of dementia should guide the approach.

Hearing and vision difficulties should also be considered when choosing prompts.

For example, someone with poor eyesight may respond better to music or familiar objects than photographs.

Reminiscence should never be forced simply because it is regarded as therapeutic.

Closing Thoughts

Reminiscence therapy can provide a meaningful way for people with dementia to connect with their past and with the people around them.

Photographs, music, familiar objects, scents and conversations can all be used to encourage memories and social interaction.

Research suggests that reminiscence therapy may provide modest benefits for cognition, communication, mood and quality of life in some people, although results differ between individuals and between different types of reminiscence programs.

It should be viewed as a supportive approach rather than a cure or a way to stop dementia progression.

Most importantly, reminiscence should be enjoyable and person-centered.

The goal is not to test whether the person can correctly remember names, dates or events. It is to create opportunities for conversation, comfort, identity and connection.

References and Further Reading

Alzheimer’s Association. Reminiscence and Reminiscence Therapy.

Cochrane. Reminiscence Therapy for Dementia.

Ni P, et al. Effects of Reminiscence Therapy for People Living With Cognitive Impairment and Their Caregivers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2026.

Dementia Australia. Talking to Someone With Dementia.

HIV-Associated Dementia – Symptoms and Causes

Trevor Howitt Blog, Types February 1, 2021October 17, 2021aids dementia, dementia, hiv-associated dementia

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) affect many organs in the human body including the brain which may lead to the development of HIV-associated dementia.

This is also known as AIDS dementia, AIDS dementia complex, or HIV/AIDS encephalopathy.

It is one of the severe consequences of HIV infection.

HIV weakens the immune system of the person it affects which makes it harder for the body to fight diseases and infections.

What is HIV associated dementia?

Dementia caused by HIV can be described as chronic cognitive deterioration that is a result of brain infection by HIV.

It is a complex syndrome that consists of various mental and nervous system symptoms that affect persons with HIV. The HIV infection normally gets to the brain at the later stages of the disease.

While dementia tends to affect elderly persons, AIDS dementia tends to occur in younger persons.

HIV encephalopathy is an infection that spreads through the brain and is one of the primary causes of dementia in persons who have HIV.

Learn about the symptoms and causes of the AIDS dementia complex below.

Causes of HIV-Associated Dementia

When a person has HIV, the virus makes its way to the brain infecting the cells in the organ. This causes encephalopathy a disease that affects the functions of the brain.

The illness then leads to the development of dementia because of the neuronal damage that HIV causes.

The virus also damages the communication between nerve cells which results in impaired cognitive function and impaired communication in the brain.

AIDS dementia is more common in people who are not on anti-HIV drugs.

According to Webmd.com, HIV-associated dementia typically occurs when a person’s CD4+ falls to fewer than 200 cells/microliter. This typically occurs after years of positive HIV diagnosis.

There are several ways HIV can affect the brain.

One of them is through the viral proteins that may directly damage nerve cells or infect the inflammatory cells in the brain as well as the spinal cord.

The virus may then trigger the cells to disable and damage the nerve cells.

HIV usually leads to generalized inflammation which can be the cause of memory problems as well as other aging processes like heart diseases.

While AIDS dementia is not an opportunist infection, since HIV causes neurodegenerative disorder, the exact causes of this disorder can be hard to pinpoint.

This is because several other causes related to HIV can damage the nervous system including:

Opportunistic infections
Direct effects of the HIV infection on the brain
Malnutrition
AIDS-related metastasis/lymphoma or other related cancers
Drug treatments toxic effects

Symptoms of HIV-Associated Dementia

Several symptoms are seen in persons with AIDS dementia. These can show up at different stages of the disease.

At the early stages some of the warning signs that may be prominent include:

Memory issues affecting both long and short-term memory
Encephalitis: this is a condition that makes the membranes of the spinal column and those of the brain swell
Reduced productivity at the workplace
Problems with spatial skills
Difficulties staying focused or concentrating
Inability to learn new skills
Cognitive impairment where a person experiences reduced ability to think clearly
Problems with speaking accurately or clearly
A gradual loss of motor skills
Apathy
Lack of enthusiasm in previously enjoyed hobbies and activities
Taking longer to complete familiar tasks
Irritability
Depression
Problems taking medicine correctly and following the proper medical advice
Decreased libido
Changes in personality and behavior
Difficulties managing finances
Trouble keeping balance or an unsteady gait
Difficulties with decision-making, organizing, and planning

The symptoms are different for people with AIDS dementia complex.

Experts state that mental status tests, as well as other mental capabilities, are usually normal during the onset of the illness.

Warning signs

Because the symptoms tend to develop slowly, some warning signs may come out during the middle stages of HIV-associated dementia like:

Signs of motor dysfunction like muscle weakness
Reversing of words or numbers
Impaired driving
Frequently dropping objects and slower responses
Poor performance on daily tasks
Increased attention and concentration required
Coordination, balance, and walking requires more effort
Slowness in activities like writing or speaking
Feelings of indifference

Worth noting is that dementia symptoms become worse as the infection in the brain becomes more widespread.

Some signs may show up during the later stages of AIDS dementia complex such as:

Spastic gait which makes walking more challenging
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Social withdrawal
Sleep disturbances
Confinement to bed
Seizures
Loss of initiative
Mania: extreme hyperactivity, restlessness, poor judgement, and rapid speech
Psychosis: this is a serious mental disorder where emotions and thoughts are impaired to an extent that a person loses touch with reality. These can also feature extreme agitation, inability to appropriately respond to the environment, delusions, and hallucinations

The above symptoms can make one confused where they are not able to make sense of the world around them.

At times, they can also result in a vegetative state where an individual is incapable of interacting and has minimal awareness of their surroundings.

Symptoms can be similar to other conditions

It is also important to note that some of the HIV-associated dementia symptoms resemble other medical problems and conditions.

These may include depression, other infections, or nutritional deficiencies. For these reasons, it is to best consult a professional health care provider for an accurate diagnosis.

Anyone who has HIV should visit an HIV specialist or GP if they start developing problems with their mood or thinking.

Medical experts acknowledge that people with AIDS dementia complex achieve the best results with early diagnosis and proper treatment.

Closing Thoughts

While some people who have HIV end up developing HIV-associated dementia, some do not.

It is advisable for persons who have been diagnosed with HIV to have their emotional and cognitive wellbeing assessed within three months of the diagnosis.

This should be re-assed after a year so that should any problems arise, they can be addressed as fast as possible.

There is on-going research to determine whether HIV causes dementia to develop faster in an individuals’ brain.

The findings will help determine how a person’s risk of dementia might increase if they have HIV.

Is Dementia Hereditary? Genetics, Family Risk & Testing

Trevor Howitt Blog, Causes January 31, 2021August 21, 2026dementia, inherited, is dementia hereditary, vascular dementia

Family discussing dementia genetics and family history

Is dementia hereditary? In most cases, dementia is not inherited in a simple parent-to-child pattern. Having a parent or sibling with dementia can increase your risk, but it does not mean that you will develop dementia yourself.

There are, however, some important exceptions. Certain rare forms of Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia can be caused by inherited genetic changes that run strongly through families.

The relationship between dementia and genetics can therefore be confusing. The important distinction is between genes that increase risk and rare genes that directly cause disease.

Is Dementia Hereditary? The Short Answer

For most people, the answer is not directly.

According to the National Institute on Aging, most cases of Alzheimer’s disease do not have a single genetic cause. Instead, multiple genes may interact with age, health, lifestyle and environmental factors.

A family history of dementia can still matter. If a parent or sibling has Alzheimer’s disease, your risk is higher than that of someone without an affected first-degree relative. Having several close relatives with dementia can increase concern further.

But increased risk is very different from certainty.

Many people with a strong family history never develop dementia, while many people who develop dementia have no known family history at all.

Does Dementia Run in Families?

Dementia can appear to run in families for several reasons.

Family members share genes, but they may also share:

Eating patterns
Physical activity levels
Smoking habits
Blood pressure risk
Diabetes risk
Cardiovascular risk
Environmental exposures

For this reason, several relatives developing dementia does not automatically mean there is one inherited dementia gene being passed through the family.

Age is also extremely important. Dementia becomes much more common as people get older. Several family members developing dementia in their 80s, for example, does not necessarily suggest the same type of inherited disorder as several relatives developing dementia in their 40s or 50s.

Risk Genes vs. Disease-Causing Genes

Understanding the difference between risk genes and disease-causing genetic variants makes the genetics of dementia much easier to understand.

Risk Genes

A risk gene changes the likelihood that someone will develop a condition.

It does not guarantee that the person will develop it.

The best-known example in Alzheimer’s disease is APOE.

The APOE Gene

Everyone inherits one copy of the APOE gene from each biological parent.

There are several common forms, or alleles, including:

APOE ε2 – may provide some protection against Alzheimer’s disease.
APOE ε3 – the most common form and generally considered neutral for Alzheimer’s risk.
APOE ε4 – associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and, in some populations, an earlier age of onset.

Having one APOE ε4 allele increases risk. Having two copies generally increases risk further.

However, APOE ε4 does not mean that Alzheimer’s disease is inevitable. Some people with APOE ε4 never develop Alzheimer’s, while many people without APOE ε4 do.

The National Institute on Aging’s Alzheimer’s genetics guide provides more information about APOE and other genetic variants.

Disease-Causing Genetic Variants

There are also rare genetic changes that can directly cause particular forms of dementia.

These are much less common but can create a very strong pattern of dementia across generations.

Is Alzheimer’s Disease Hereditary?

Most Alzheimer’s disease is not directly inherited.

The most common form is late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, which usually develops after age 65. Genetics can influence risk, but there is usually no single gene that determines whether a person will develop the disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association explains that having a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s increases risk, particularly if several first-degree relatives have been affected.

Rare Familial Alzheimer’s Disease

A very small proportion of Alzheimer’s cases are caused by inherited changes in one of three genes:

APP – amyloid precursor protein
PSEN1 – presenilin 1
PSEN2 – presenilin 2

These rare genetic variants can cause autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease.

If a biological parent carries one of these disease-causing variants, each child has a 50% chance of inheriting that altered gene.

When inherited, these variants are strongly associated with Alzheimer’s developing before age 65 and sometimes much earlier.

The National Institute on Aging estimates that fewer than 10% of people with Alzheimer’s have younger-onset disease, and only a portion of those cases are explained by APP, PSEN1 or PSEN2 variants.

Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Genetics

There is also an important genetic relationship between Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease.

People with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21. This chromosome contains the APP gene involved in amyloid production.

As a result, people with Down syndrome have a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease as they get older.

The National Institute on Aging reports that 50% or more of people living with Down syndrome may develop Alzheimer’s, often with symptoms appearing during their 50s or 60s.

Is Frontotemporal Dementia Hereditary?

Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, has a stronger genetic component than many other common dementias.

According to the U.S.-based Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, researchers have identified more than a dozen genes that can cause FTD.

Three of the most important are:

C9orf72
GRN
MAPT

At least half of people diagnosed with FTD have no known family history of the disorder. However, approximately 40% have a family history that includes another relative with a neurodegenerative condition.

When FTD is caused by one of the known autosomal dominant genetic variants, children and siblings of the affected person may have a 50% chance of inheriting the same variant.

A strong family history of FTD, ALS, unexplained early dementia, major personality changes or progressive language problems is therefore worth discussing with a specialist.

Is Lewy Body Dementia Hereditary?

Lewy body dementia is generally not considered a hereditary disease.

Having a family member with Lewy body dementia may slightly increase a person’s risk, and researchers have identified genetic variants associated with the condition.

However, hereditary forms are rare.

The Lewy Body Dementia Association notes that genetic testing is not routinely used to diagnose Lewy body dementia because currently available genetic tests cannot accurately predict who will develop it.

Is Vascular Dementia Hereditary?

Most vascular dementia is not directly inherited.

However, some of the health problems that increase vascular dementia risk can run in families. These include:

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Heart disease
Stroke risk

These conditions can be influenced by both genetics and shared lifestyle factors.

Vascular dementia results from damage to blood vessels that reduces blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Managing cardiovascular risk is therefore an important part of reducing vascular dementia risk.

CADASIL – A Rare Inherited Form

There is one particularly important exception.

CADASIL – cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy – is a rare inherited disease affecting small blood vessels in the brain.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, CADASIL can cause migraines, strokes, mood or behavior changes, and progressive problems with thinking and memory.

It is a genuine inherited cause of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia, but it is extremely uncommon compared with ordinary vascular dementia.

Other Rare Hereditary Causes of Dementia

Some other uncommon neurological disorders can also be inherited and may cause dementia.

For example, hereditary forms of prion disease can result from genetic changes affecting the prion protein gene.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains that genetic forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and related prion diseases can be passed from parent to child.

These conditions are very rare and should not be confused with the far more common forms of Alzheimer’s disease or age-related dementia.

When Is Family History More Concerning?

If you are wondering is dementia hereditary because several relatives have been affected, the pattern within the family is important.

A genetic cause may deserve closer investigation when:

Several people in successive generations have developed dementia.
Dementia repeatedly begins before age 65.
Someone develops symptoms in their 30s, 40s or 50s.
There is a family history of frontotemporal dementia or ALS.
Several relatives have similar neurological symptoms.
A known disease-causing genetic variant has already been identified in the family.

A single parent developing dementia very late in life usually presents a very different genetic picture from multiple relatives developing the same disorder at unusually young ages.

Hereditary Dementia and the 50% Inheritance Pattern

Several rare genetic forms of dementia follow what is known as an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.

This means that a person only needs to inherit one disease-causing copy of the gene from one biological parent.

If a parent carries one of these variants, each child generally has a 50% chance of inheriting that genetic variant.

This applies to conditions such as autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease and many known genetic forms of frontotemporal dementia.

Importantly, this 50% figure should not be applied to ordinary late-onset dementia.

If your mother or father develops Alzheimer’s at age 80, for example, that does not mean that you have a 50% chance of developing Alzheimer’s.

Should You Have Genetic Testing for Dementia?

Most people with a parent or grandparent who developed dementia do not need genetic testing.

The National Institute on Aging states that genetic testing is not routinely used to predict whether someone will develop Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.

Testing may be considered when there is:

Very early onset of symptoms
A strong pattern of dementia across several generations
A family history suggestive of autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease
A suspected inherited form of frontotemporal dementia
A known genetic variant already identified within the family

Testing for APOE ε4 is commercially available, but APOE is a risk gene rather than a straightforward Alzheimer’s test.

An APOE result cannot tell a healthy person with certainty whether they will or will not develop Alzheimer’s disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association recommends discussing genetic testing with a doctor or genetic counselor rather than trying to interpret the results alone.

Why Genetic Counseling Matters

Genetic information can affect more than the individual being tested.

A positive result may also provide information about siblings, children and other biological relatives.

For this reason, genetic counseling can help families understand:

What a particular genetic test can and cannot tell them
The chance of inheriting or passing on a variant
The emotional impact of learning the result
Whether testing other relatives would be useful
How the result might affect future medical decisions

If My Parent Has Dementia, Will I Get It?

No. A parent having dementia does not mean that you will inevitably develop it.

The National Institute on Aging summarizes this well: a family history of Alzheimer’s may make you more likely to develop the disease, but it does not mean that you definitely will.

Your individual risk depends on many factors, including:

Age
Genetics
Cardiovascular health
Blood pressure
Diabetes
Smoking
Physical activity
Other health and lifestyle factors

Can You Reduce Dementia Risk if It Runs in Your Family?

You cannot change the genes you inherited, but many factors related to brain and cardiovascular health can be influenced.

Helpful steps include:

Not smoking
Being physically active
Managing high blood pressure
Managing diabetes
Keeping cholesterol under control
Following a nutritious, balanced diet
Maintaining social connections
Addressing hearing problems
Discussing cardiovascular and dementia risk with your doctor

You can read more in our guide to reducing the risk of dementia.

Is Dementia Hereditary? Final Thoughts

So, is dementia hereditary? For most families, dementia is not inherited in a simple or inevitable way.

Genes can influence risk, and having close relatives with dementia can increase the likelihood of developing the condition. But genes are only part of the picture for most cases of late-onset dementia.

Rare forms are different. Specific variants in genes such as APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2 can cause inherited Alzheimer’s disease, while genetic forms of frontotemporal dementia can involve genes including C9orf72, GRN and MAPT.

Lewy body dementia is generally not considered hereditary, and most vascular dementia is not directly inherited, although rare genetic conditions such as CADASIL can cause inherited vascular dementia.

If several close relatives have developed dementia at unusually young ages, or if a known genetic condition runs in your family, talk with your doctor about whether referral to a neurologist or genetic counselor would be appropriate.

Dementia and Eyesight – How Vision Changes

Trevor Howitt Blog, Signs January 31, 2021October 17, 2021dementia, dementia and eyesight

When talking about how dementia affects a person’s life, it is important to touch on one crucial topic, which is dementia and eyesight.

In addition to causing multiple changes in the brain, dementia also affects how the brain processes information the eyes deliver as well as how the eyes see.

This implies that some behavioral changes in people with dementia may be as a result of vision changes.

Five common changes that happen to the eyes when a person has dementia explained below.

How Vision Changes With Dementia

1. The Field of Vision Becomes Narrow

One of the changes that occur when a person has dementia is the fact that the field of vision becomes narrow.

This is common with old age because, by the time a person is in their mid-70s, the normal vision peripheral reduces a little so that a person does not notice or see as much as they were able to when they were younger.

With dementia, the field of vision narrowing is not the same as what happens when a person becomes older.

The disease causes the field of vision to decrease by about 12 inches.

Experts compare this to a person who wears binoculars. It is not possible to move about normally when you are putting on binoculars.

2. Blurring

A person with dementia may not be able to see things as sharply as before because the illness causes them to experience blurring.

Because of this, everyday and familiar objects become more challenging to recognize.

3. The brain does not Effectively Process Information from the Eyes

Worth noting when talking about dementia and eyesight is that someone with the illness may find it challenging to see the things that are in front of them.

This normally happens as the disease advances, and the brain starts shutting down information that comes from the eyes.

At some point, the brain finds the details from the eyes overwhelming; thus, it cannot begin processing the information.

When this happens and you have dementia, you may be forced to only see through one eye.

As a result, you will end up losing perception of depth where you can’t tell if something is two or three-dimensional.

This makes it difficult for an individual to know different things like whether they are looking at a picture of an apple of the real fruit, whether there is a print on a fabric, or whether there is an object on a surface.

4. Pupils React to Light Slowly

Persons with dementia and eyesight problems may also have slow reactions to light that makes it difficult for them to move from a light to a dark space and vice versa.

Going out when it is sunny can also be an overwhelming experience.

5. Changes That Don’t Make Sense to “Healthy People”

When it comes to the effects of dementia on eyesight, you may start seeing a person doing things that you consider strange.

For instance, a person may be trying to flip something in the air.

While this may not make sense to you, the person with the illness may be thinking that they are switching on the lights because the switch appears to be closer than it is.

Because the persons with dementia lack the perception of depth, they will respond to the world as they see it in the best way they know-how.

Causes of Vision Problems in People with Dementia

There are several reasons thousands of people with dementia will experience issues with vision, such as:

Development of eye conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts
Health conditions like stroke
Dementia itself
Normal aging of the eyes

The above causes damage to the visual system which can lead to sight loss.

Symptoms of Eyesight Issues for People with Dementia

People with dementia can exhibit certain symptoms that show they have problems with their eyesight. This is where they can have challenges with things like:

Reading
Avoiding obstacles
Recognizing familiar faces
Finding personal items
coping with bright lights, dim lights or both
Seeing well even when they have glasses
Locating food on plates

To confirm that the symptoms are a result of dementia, a person with the neurodegenerative illness needs to go through eye-tests.

Eye-specialists can adapt the eye tests for individuals with dementia if need be to get the proper results.

Coping with Dementia and Eyesight Problems

A person with eyesight issues because of dementia is likely to experience more problems with mobility, expansive disorientation, and increased risk of falls.

They may also have increased problems communicating, learning new tasks, lack of motivation, and the need for more social isolation.

Some of the tips caregivers can work with to make the people with dementia as comfortable and productive as possible include:

Taking care of the eyes

The suffering individuals and their carers need to make the most of the individual’s sight.

This means having regular eye rests and making sure that if a person wears glasses, they are correct, current, and clean at all times.

Making adjustments to the environment

This might need simple projects like improving the lighting, keeping areas clutter-free and familiar, as well as the use of contrasting colors. In short, making a dementia-friendly home.

You might also have to go the tech-way and use equipment like audio labels and automatic lights.

Enhancing communication techniques

This might include speaking clearly to a person who has dementia and eyesight issues.

You may have to introduce yourself when talking to the person, practice patience as they try to figure out what you are saying, and even using pictures and charts for ease of communication.

Extra help

When you are at a loss of how to help, there are numerous resources online as well as support groups where you can get ideas on how to move forward without harming the person with dementia.

Professionals like occupational therapists and visual rehabilitation workers can also offer help.

Closing Thoughts

A person may become more confused and fearful when suffering from dementia and eyesight problems.

Their behavior might also change because of the alterations happening in the brain.

It is important to accord people with illnesses as much support as possible so that they can live long quality lives.