Effects of Dementia on Mental and Physical Health

Cognitive Impairment: Dementia can lead to issues with memory, reasoning, orientation and understanding. These are referred to as cognitive impairments and can severely affect a person’s daily living skills.
Behavioural Changes: Dementia often causes significant changes in behaviour. These may include restlessness, aggression, changes in personality, wandering, depression, or psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations.
Impaired Communication: Language skills can be gradually lost, making it difficult for individuals to express their needs, comprehend what is being said, and interact socially.
Reduced Physical Abilities: The disease can cause physical symptoms such as a dramatic reduction in mobility, a lack of coordination, muscle weakness, and difficulties with eating or swallowing.
Mental Health Issues: Along with the cognitive decline, dementia can trigger mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. These conditions often arise from the combination of physical changes in the brain and the psychological impact of dealing with the disease.
Sleeping Difficulties: Sleep patterns can be disrupted, leading to issues such as insomnia, nighttime wandering, and sundowning (increased confusion and agitation in the late afternoon and evening).
Increased Dependency: Due to the loss of cognitive and physical abilities, there tends to be increased dependency on caregivers. This reliance develops not just for medical needs, but for everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing and eating.
Health Complications: People with dementia become more susceptible to other health conditions, including chest infections, urinary tract infections, or pressure ulcers due to restricted mobility.
Sensory Changes: Some people with dementia may experience changes in their sensory perception, which can lead to an altered interpretation of the world around them. Sounds may seem louder, tastes may change, and visual hallucinations can occur.

Please keep in mind that the progression and effects of dementia can vary considerably from person to person and can depend on the type of dementia and the stage of the disease.