The term demential syndrome (or dementia syndrome) is often used synonymous with dementia. It marks a common intellectual removal. A dementielles syndrome manifests itself mostly in the form of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia or as a mixed form thereof. It can also occur in brain inflammation, other brain destruction diseases (such as multiple sclerosis) and chronic alcohol abuse. Read more about the Dementia syndrome!
What is a Dementia syndrome?
The term demential syndrome (chronic brain organic psychosyndrome) stands for a general intellectual degradation. This usually begins with memory and orientation disorders as well as affective (emotional) impairments. In the further course, the personality of the patient can change significantly.
Also neurological deficits accompany a dementielles syndrome, namely so-called tool malfunctions. These are disorders of “higher” brain powers caused by central nervous disorders, for example speech disorders, disorders of recognition of known objects (such as bananas), inability to write, read, calculate or execute coordinated actions.
Pseudodemenz
As pseudo-dementia, physicians describe disorders of the brain, which occur temporarily and are faked by a thought and drive inhibition (especially in severe depression).
Depressive pseudodermency is the most common form of pseudo-dementia. It is often not easy to distinguish from incipient dementia (such as Alzheimer’s disease) or the common occurrence of dementia and depression. Often, doctors can only make the correct diagnosis after a long and careful observation of the patient.
The depressive pseudo-dementia usually disappears when the depression is treated properly (with medication and non-drug measures).
Dementia syndrome: Alzheimer’s, alcohol, AIDS
A Dementiell syndrome is most common in the form of Alzheimer’s disease (Alzheimer’s disease, DAT). Also widespread are vascular dementia and mixed dementia (especially mixed forms of Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia). A rarer form of dementia is about the Lewy body dementia.
A dementing syndrome can also be the result of brain inflammation or traumatic brain injury. In the second case one speaks for example of the “Boxerdemenz”.
Other brain destruction diseases can also cause a dementia syndrome. These include, for example, Huntington’s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease (Parkinson’s dementia).
There is also a so-called AIDS dementia (primary HIV encephalopathy): It is the most common brain complication in HIV infection.
Other partially treatable diseases may also be associated with a dementia syndrome. These include metabolic and hormonal disorders (such as hypothyroidism), deficiency of certain vitamins (B12, B1, nicotinic acid), tumors and forms of hydrocephalus (Hydrocephalus communicans).
Often, chronic alcohol abuse is the trigger for dementia. Emerging memory lapses often fill those affected with invented content (Korsakoff syndrome).
Apart from alcoholism, other chronic poisonings (such as drugs, drugs, solvents) may also be involved demential syndrome cause.