How can depression be mistaken for dementia

Making patients with serious illness more comfortable. Diseases often times mimic one another yet have distinct differences as well. This is no different with depression and dementia.

Both can display the same symptoms, from lethargy to confusion, yet they have notable differences that define them. One can even mask the other. Alzheimer's drugs Alzheimer's genes Alzheimer's nose spray: New Alzheimer's treatment? Alzheimer's prevention: Does it exist? Alzheimer's stages Alzheimer's test: Detection at the earliest stages Alzheimer's and holidays Antidepressant withdrawal: Is there such a thing?

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Clinicians and caregivers need to learn to distinguish the differences. Delirium is a neuropsychiatric syndrome with an acute onset and a fluctuating course.

Somnolence : sleepiness or drowsiness, a desire to sleep for long periods of time during the day, falling asleep while working, during meals, or even in the middle of a conversation. Delirium develops acutely—over hours or days—and is temporary and reversible.

The most common causes of delirium, which are usually identifiable, are related to medication side effects, hypo- or hyperglycemia, fecal impactions, urinary retention, electrolyte disorders and dehydration, infection, stress, metabolic changes, an unfamiliar environment, injury, or severe pain. Inattention is the most frequent clinical finding in a delirium episode. If severe enough, it can be detected during a clinical interview.

In mild cases, impairment of attention can be uncovered only by formal cognitive testing eg, naming the months in reverse order. Delirium is under-diagnosed in almost two-thirds of cases or is misdiagnosed as depression or dementia Hope et al. Early diagnosis of delirium can lead to rapid improvement.

Nevertheless, diagnosis is often delayed, and problems remain with recognition and documentation of delirium by healthcare providers.

Although there are no definitive quantitative markers available to diagnose delirium, qualitative tools such as the Confusion Assessment Method CAM and modified Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale have been validated. Although it presents with an array of physical symptoms, depression is considered a disorder of mood.

It is also called an affective disorder to signify that one of its key aspects is a disturbance of emotions or feelings Diamond, The diagnosis of depression depends on the presence of two cardinal symptoms: 1 persistent and pervasive low mood, and 2 loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities.

Most of the differences between the two conditions have to do with memory loss. There can also be mood and behavioural changes in dementia, but this is due more to cognitive decline than a mood disorder like depression. However, depression can also cause confusion and forgetfulness, which can easily be mistaken for dementia. Depression and dementia are closely related in many ways. Symptoms that can indicate that depression is really dementia include:. This is why the cognitive, mental, and emotional challenges of aging adults need to be handled with patience, empathy, and loving care.

The need to maintain a positive, joyful quality of life should always be fulfilled. If you need any support at all on a full or part-time basis, or have any questions about our services, please reach out to us anytime. Generally, the distinction can be made by understanding what is generally behind both conditions: Dementia : A chronic, progressive disease caused by brain disease or injury that presents itself through impaired memory, personality change, and decreased reasoning Depression : A mental health disorder that affects behaviour, thinking, and disposition Delirium: Often caused by being put into a new place, dehydration, or medication out of the norm Another important distinction between the two is that depression is considered a mental health issue, while dementia, although it can affect overall mental well-being, is not.

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