At least 7 million Americans over 65 have dementia today. At The Neurology Institute in Coral Springs and Sunrise, Florida, the area’s foremost team of neurology experts provides comprehensive dementia care for patients and their families. If you or a loved one has dementia or symptoms that concern you, call the office nearest you or book your consultation online today.
Dementia describes reduced cognitive functioning leading to problems with thinking, memory, reasoning, and behavior. There are many types of dementia, each affecting a different part of the brain.
Alzheimer’s disease is the best-known and most common type of dementia. Other types of dementia, including vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, are called non-Alzheimer’s dementias.
Although dementia symptoms can vary depending on the part of the brain affected, symptoms common to many types of dementias include:
In many cases, memory loss is the first sign of dementia. Family members often notice it before the affected person realizes it’s an issue.
The Neurology Institute team diagnoses dementia with physical, neurological, and psychiatric exams as well as a complete medical history review.
Specific tests can help diagnose dementia, including lab tests, cognitive tests, and brain scans (CT, MRI, or PET scans). An electroencephalogram (EEG) may help to diagnose certain types of dementia because it can identify abnormal brain activity.
The Neurology Institute helps people with dementia and their loved ones to maintain the best possible quality of life. Several drugs can reduce dementia symptoms like confusion and memory loss and even slow symptom progression.
Depending on the specific type of dementia, other treatments may improve symptoms, for example, restoring brain blood flow in people with vascular dementia.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy can be a major part of treatment for people with dementia, as they can help patients maintain independence. Most people with dementia also need neuropsychiatric care.
The Neurology Institute is a multispecialty practice with experts in all areas of dementia care conveniently located under one roof.
If you or a loved one has dementia or signs of cognitive decline, empathetic and comprehensive dementia care is available at The Neurology Institute. Call the office nearest you or click the online scheduling link to make an appointment today.