Dementia, which is a decline in a person\u2019s ability to think and remember, can be devastating to the person suffering from it and to his or her family.\u00a0 Living with dementia, or taking care of a relative who does, can be a socially isolating experience.\u00a0 Although dementia is very common, especially in the elderly, lots of misconceptions still surround it, especially in popular imagination.<\/p>\n
Myth: The Terms Dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s Disease are Interchangeable<\/strong><\/p>\n Fact: Alzheimer\u2019s disease is just one of the many kinds of dementia.\u00a0 It is one of the most common kinds, representing more than half of all dementia cases.\u00a0 Another kind is Lewy body dementia, the disorder with which Robin Williams was diagnosed shortly before his death. \u00a0Parkinson\u2019s disease and untreated syphilis can also cause dementia.<\/p>\n Myth: Forgetfulness is Always the First Sign of Dementia<\/strong><\/p>\n Fact: Fictional depictions of dementia often show affected individuals forgetting minor details or major events and even not recognizing their relatives and friends.\u00a0 Such noticeable memory loss is a sign of dementia, but it is usually not the first sign to appear.\u00a0 Patients themselves may first notice that they have difficulty concentrating.\u00a0 Family members may notice mood changes in their affected relative.\u00a0 For example, a grandfather who was once easy-going may become short-tempered.<\/p>\n