Karen Perry: Dementia is not a disease | NevadaAppeal.com

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Karen Perry: Dementia is not a disease

When a loved one begins demonstrating signs of forgetfulness, repetitive stories, wandering and other memory-related symptoms, physicians will often note the term &#8220;dementia&#8221; in their medical charting. It may be due to insurance and Medicare billing codes for reimbursement. In any case, the diagnosis does not identify the cause.Dementia is not a disease; rather it is a group of symptoms including memory loss, changes in language and skills, and disorientation. When someone exhibits these symptoms, it is essential to have a thorough medical evaluation to determine the cause. Some of the conditions can be treated and even cured. Examples include: thyroid disorders, vitamin deficiencies, urinary tract infections, depression, dehydration, infection, alcohol or other substance abuse, and brain tumors.Other forms of dementia that are not curable include: Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, traumatic brain injury, fronto-temporal dementia and Parkinson&#8217;s disease.Evaluations should include a complete history to uncover the person&#8217;s lifestyle and past history for head injuries (even as a child), military service and health history.A thorough exam by a neurologist should include: physical and neurological evaluation, complete review of all medications, including prescribed, herbal and over-the-counter, neuropsychological testing to assess thinking and memory skills, complete blood count, screening metabolic panel, thyroid function test, vitamin B levels, urinalysis, electrocardiogram and a brain scan.A brain scan could include one of the following: Magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, positron emission tomography, single proton emission computerized topography.Remember that dementia is not a complete diagnosis. Some drugs used to treat certain forms of dementia can actually cause extreme adverse reactions in other forms of dementia. Like every other challenge in life, you can&#8217;t play the game if you don&#8217;t know the rules.&#8226; Karen Perry is the executive director of The Lodge Assisted Living Facility in Carson City.