Key takeaways
- Dementia can cause cognitive issues like memory loss, confusion, and difficulty communicating, which worsen as the condition progresses.
- The condition can lead to physical complications, such as falls, mobility issues, and difficulty performing everyday tasks, potentially resulting in muscle problems and pressure ulcers.
- Dementia can also result in medical and social challenges, including a weakened immune system, digestive issues, social withdrawal, and the need for increased caregiving.
Dementia is a neurodegenerative condition that refers to a
As dementia progresses, you may experience health complications that affect your psychological, physical, social, and medical well-being.
Some complications may result from the underlying causes of dementia, while others may arise from dementia itself.
Keep reading to learn more about the complications of dementia.
Cognitive complications of dementia may affect several aspects of your memory, behavior, and ability to process language. Dementia may also make it more difficult to perform daily tasks.
In the earlier stages of dementia, you may find that you or someone you know with dementia may start to:
- forget recent events, conversations, and names
- get lost on familiar routes
- misplace objects
- make poor judgments and lose the ability to recognize danger
- use the wrong word, mispronounce words, and speak in confusing sentences
- lose interest in things once enjoyed
- have more difficulty solving problems
- have more difficulty performing tasks that used to be easy, such as balancing a checkbook
- experience behavioral changes, such as agitation, irritability, isolation
As dementia progresses, memory loss typically becomes more severe. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, some cognitive symptoms of late-stage dementia may include:
- inability to recognize family members
- “time shifting,” which is when you think you’re in an earlier period of your life
- forgetting events in your own life history
- losing awareness of who you are, such as not recognizing yourself in a mirror
- difficulty speaking more than a few words
- difficulty understanding what someone is saying to you
- hallucinating, such as hearing or seeing things that aren’t there
- further behavioral changes, such as agitation and restlessness
Depression can also occur with dementia. Research suggests that
Learn more about how Alzheimer’s disease progresses.
The progression of dementia may lead to physical complications that can affect your mobility.
A 2022 review found that people with dementia are more likely to experience falls due to the cognitive, behavioral, and functional changes that occur with the condition.
Falling may increase your risk of bone fractures, further restricting your mobility.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, other physical complications of dementia may include:
- difficulty walking, standing up, or balancing
- vision problems, such as decreased eyesight
- difficulty or inability to perform basic activities, such as eating, dressing, going to the bathroom, and bathing
- difficulty swallowing foods and liquids, which may increase your risk of malnutrition
- changes in bowel habits, such as urinary incontinence
- changes in sleep patterns, such as often waking up at night and sleeping during the day
As dementia progresses and mobility becomes more difficult, you’re more likely to be sedentary.
Decreased mobility with dementia may also lead to muscle contractures, which refers to joint deformities caused by a loss of muscle function.
The cognitive and physical complications of dementia may also contribute to several medical complications.
According to the
Dementia may also affect your digestive system. In the later stages, this may lead to urinary incontinence and bowel changes, such as diarrhea or constipation.
According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), dementia may affect social well-being, including relationships with friends and family.
This may be due to cognitive complications that develop over time, such as difficulty communicating and remembering people’s names.
As dementia progresses, you may also become aware of these cognitive changes occurring.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, this may lead to behavioral changes like social withdrawal, quietness, and agitation, which could affect your social well-being.
If you received a diagnosis of dementia, consider speaking with a family member, friend, or healthcare professional about how you’re feeling.
Other people may not know how you’re feeling, what you may need, or how to respond to your changes in behavior. Speaking with them could help you both better understand each other’s needs.
People with dementia may eventually need additional care from a family member or professional caregiver.
If you’re providing care for someone with dementia, you may find it physically, financially, and emotionally difficult.
However, know that you’re not alone. There are many resources available for caregivers to provide support and guidance, including:
Healthline also has a range of sources to help you provide care to someone with dementia. Learn more about how to:
Mild cognitive impairment doesn’t always lead to dementia. However, most dementia is progressive, which means it gradually worsens over time.
A healthcare professional could help you develop a treatment plan and supportive team to help you manage your condition and slow the progression of the disease.
What is the final cause of death in dementia?
There isn’t a singular cause of death in dementia. This can depend on many factors, such as the type of dementia and the complications you experience. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, the most common cause of death in dementia is pneumonia.
What is the average age of death for someone with dementia?
There isn’t a single average age of death. The outlook for dementia depends on several factors, such as your age and the type and stage at the time of diagnosis. One
Dementia is a neurodegenerative condition in which progressive cognitive decline may lead to psychological, physical, medical, and social complications.
If you’re living with dementia, try speaking regularly with family, friends, caregivers, or your healthcare team about how you’re feeling. This may feel difficult, but maintaining an open dialogue could help everyone get the support they need.