The main thing about dementia

What to know about this topic

Dementia - what kind of disease is it?

Dementia (senile dementia)is a set of symptoms that arise as a result of disorders of the brain (reduction or cessation of blood supply to certain parts of it). Dementia can develop in a person's body for years or decades before the first symptoms appear. Dementia syndrome is quite insidious: it affects the brain and, as a result, the cognitive and physical functions of the body are impaired.

How does dementia manifest itself?

Manifestations of dementia are associated with a deterioration in higher nervous activity: weakening of memory, intelligence, and social connections. A person’s mental abilities sharply decrease, existing knowledge is lost, and new ones are not acquired. Each person is different, so dementia can have different manifestations and depends on the use of medications (antidepressants).

Expert opinion

“Depression affects people differently and manifests itself in different symptoms: from prolonged low mood and feelings of hopelessness to loss of interest in everything. Physical symptoms are also possible, such as feeling tired, poor sleep, lack of appetite, sexual desire, and pain. This is an insidious condition that can lead to eating disorders, phobias, and loss of social contacts. Therefore, it is important to diagnose depression promptly and begin treatment. People often confuse a bad mood with depression. Mood is a temporary state that can be caused by stress, fatigue, or even appear out of nowhere. A bad mood usually goes away on its own and does not affect a person’s ability to function,” - Kristina Zhivago, PhD, psychiatrist of the highest category, child psychiatrist.