Growing older increases risk factors for cognitive changes that can be alarming to the person experiencing them and to those who love and care for them. Because the line between age-related cognitive issues and neurodegenerative conditions like dementia can be thin, it's important to understand the difference.
Integrated Neurology Services PLLC offers comprehensive care for individuals who have dementia and other neurological conditions, including screenings and diagnostic testing onsite.
Our board-certified neurologists can help you or your loved one manage dementia symptoms and navigate the challenges of cognitive decline.
We also value the importance of education to help people distinguish between age-related changes referred to as senility and an underlying neurological disorder.
Senility is a term used to describe characteristics of old age, especially the loss of memory and the decline in abilities to solve problems or use sound judgment.
Dementia is an umbrella term for several neurological disorders that affect language, memory, reasoning, and other cognitive abilities. The disorder results from brain cell damage, so people of any age can develop dementia. However, the condition is more common in people aged 65 or older.
In the past, senility was also used to describe Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. However, the medical community no longer uses that terminology because dementia symptoms aren’t associated with the normal processes of aging.
Early diagnosis of dementia allows you to get the treatment you need before the condition worsens. It’s helpful to know what symptoms to look for, so you or your loved one can get screened for dementia without delays.
While symptoms vary from person to person based on the area of the brain where cell damage occurs, the most common symptoms to watch for include:
As dementia progresses, a person may forget where they are, have difficulties recognizing family or friends, and forgetting words for familiar objects.
Our skilled medical team offers neuropsychological tests and cognitive assessments to evaluate your mental function. They may also order a brain scan to rule out tumors, stroke, and other medical conditions that can cause dementia or dementia-like symptoms.
Because dementia has no cure, our team focuses on strategies that keep your symptoms well controlled.
A dementia treatment plan may include medications to boost the brain chemicals that regulate judgment and memory or increase levels of glutamate, a chemical messenger in the brain that plays a role in memory and learning.
Different types of therapy, including physical therapy and occupational therapy, may be necessary if your dementia symptoms are moderate to severe. Therapy aims to help you adapt to the changes and challenges of dementia and ensure you live in a safe environment.
Integrated Neurology Services PLLC also participates in clinical trials to discover how new dementia tests and treatments can improve a person’s life.
Call the Integrated Neurology Services office in Alexandria, Falls Church, or Lorton, Virginia, today to schedule a dementia evaluation. You can also use the online feature to book an appointment.
