Old age can bring several problems that could be sometimes difficult to cure. Dementia is just one of them.

What Can You Expect?

Dementia is a not exactly a disorder or illness. It is a group of symptoms that could be caused by another illness.

Most commonly, dementia occurs as old age begins to creep in.

Alzheimer's disease is also one of the main illnesses that cause dementia.

Apart from that, even head injuries and depression can cause symptoms of dementia.

How Can You Tell?

The most primary symptom of dementia is forgetfulness. This forgetfulness could occur for recent and immediate memories or even older memories.

Immediate memories would include forgetting smaller insignificant things, like what he ate last night or where he went just a couple of hours ago.

Older memories would be forgetting simple things like directions to their house, the way to the toilet in the house, etc.

Apart from this, you might notice certain personality changes. For example, they might become suspicious of even close family members. They even might behave erratically or irrationally in an otherwise normal situation.

Working Through It

If you have noticed these symptoms in elder members of your family, take them to a psychiatrist.

Dementia can be cured or "slowed down" by medication. However, in old age, it is almost impossible to cure these symptoms.

So, you need to be understanding and supportive of your parents. Don't force them to remember, it will only increase their frustration.

Once your little one understands the reason behind his grandpa's loss of memory, he too will start to help rather than move away.

Remember, grandparents need love and acceptance at this age. This is the best way to keep them healthy and boost their memory.

For more information, read "Has Your Mother Forgotten You?"