Speech problems as an indication of Alzheimer's dementia

Word-finding difficulties and understanding problems are a sign of dementia

21/09/2012

Dementia and Alzheimer's manifest themselves early on by different symptoms. Among the best known is the increasing forgetfulness. But speech and comprehension problems can be an indication of dementia. In case of conspicuous difficulties in following conversations or answering questions and increasing word finding problems, a doctor should be consulted and clarify the possibility of dementia.

In everyday life, affected persons or their relatives are usually diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease due to memory problems and memory gaps. Names are forgotten, the house keys are constantly being misplaced or appointments forgotten. But other symptoms such as listlessness or speech problems can be an indication of dementia. If the diagnosis is clear, this is usually a shock to the patients, their friends and family. Especially since a cure is not possible so far and can be gained by existing therapies only a little time in the interests of those affected. Not only the patients, but also people in their environment have to adjust to the disease. This coexistence with the dementia and Alzheimer's patients forms the main focus of today's World Alzheimer's Day.

Word finding problems as a sign of dementia?
To be sure, not all gaps in memory are an indication of the neurodegenerative disease dementia or Alzheimer's disease as its most common manifestation. However, if other symptoms, such as speech and comprehension problems, or a general listlessness occur in parallel, the suspicion of dementia is especially close in older patients. Professor Jörg Schulz, Director of the Neurological Clinic at the University of Aachen, explained on the occasion of the World Alzheimer's Day: „If relatives no longer engage in conversations, are no longer aware of appointments, or have difficulty finding the right words, they may be the first sign of dementia, such as Alzheimer's.“ In order to interpret the complex symptoms correctly, a medical diagnosis is required in which the individual building blocks are put together. There must also be a distinction from other possible diseases. Because individual symptoms may well be caused by other diseases A continued listlessness, for example, may be based on depression. According to the expert, the first contact person should be his or her own family doctor, who will refer the patients to specialists such as a neurologist or psychiatrist for further examinations if they receive appropriate information.

Environment must be adjusted to dementia patients
If the diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's is confirmed, the question arises as to how to properly deal with the disease. As long as patients are reasonably able to work in everyday life, they should decide for themselves who they would like to inform about their illness. According to Professor Schulz, it would be good if the patients still do this themselves, „because talking helps to understand the disease itself.“ If those affected decide not to talk about their condition, relatives and friends must also respect that decision.

With the progression of the disease, those affected are no longer able to independently inform their environment, so that the relatives here one „representative role“ and decide who should be initiated, explained the expert. According to Prof. Schulz, dealing openly with the disease can be relieving for the family. Help them build a network of support. Conceal the disease can scarcely anyway and if nothing is said, „Rumors quickly come up“, explained the neurologist.

Avoid questions about current events
Dementia has far-reaching consequences for everyday life. Family and friends have to adjust to those affected and should, for example, not constantly comment on or correct false statements or confused behavior of the patients. This only leads to Alzheimer's patients feeling even worse, according to Prof. Schulz. Instead of addressing the declining cognitive abilities, people around patients should therefore prefer the „Use the resources that still exist“, explained the expert of the University Hospital Aachen.

Professor Schulz referred to things that patients have already learned or experienced at a young age. Because while the short-term memory is usually hardly effective at those affected, they can still remember their youth or long-ago events relatively well. What she learned at a young age is still there. You can build on that. For example, anyone who used to be a baker can help with baking in the kitchen today. Relatives should also try to build on these points in conversations, explained Prof. Schulz. On questions about current events like „What did you eat yesterday??“, However, the environment of dementia patients should do without it better, because those affected in the advanced stage of the disease "usually can not remember".

Doubling of dementia patients by the year 2050
The significance of dementia and Alzheimer's for social interaction can be guessed from the number of cases. According to the German Alzheimer's Association, about 1.4 million people in Germany already suffer from dementia today, almost two thirds of them with Alzheimer's disease. Every year, around 300,000 new cases are added. Less deaths, the number of dementia patients increases by about 40,000 per year. By 2050, the experts expect a doubling of patient numbers. In view of the current calculations at the beginning of September, the chairman of the "German Alzheimer's Association", Heike von Lützau-Hohlbein, spoke of „alarming numbers that should be an incentive for all concerned to do more to ensure that people with dementia can lead a decent life today and in the future, and that their families receive adequate support.“ (Fp)

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Picture: Gerd Altmann